Carpet Beetle Larva

Natural Habitat

Found indoors in carpets, closets, under furniture, pantries, and near baseboards. In nature, they are found in bird nests or bee hives.

Diet & Feeding

Natural fibers and dead organic matter, including wool, silk, fur, leather, pet hair, feathers, and dried insect specimens.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas where they can feed on organic fibers. They are slow-moving and often leave behind molted skins (exuviae) that look like hollow shells of themselves. They often curl into a protective ball when disturbed.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: The larvae are a common household pest capable of damaging clothing, carpets, and upholstery. Their bristly hairs can cause skin irritation or allergic dermatitis (carpet beetle dermatitis) in some people. Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers of dried animal matter.

Identified on: 2/28/2026