Carpet Beetle (likely Black Carpet Beetle or Varied Carpet Beetle based on silhouette)

Natural Habitat

Indoors in homes, museums, warehouses; outdoors in nests of birds, rodents, and insects, or feeding on carrion in dry conditions.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a wide variety of animal products, including wool, silk, leather, feathers, hair, dried meat, museum specimens, and stored foods. Adults feed on pollen and nectar.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are often found in dark, undisturbed areas, such as under furniture, in closets, or within stored items. They are known for their slow movement and often hide when disturbed. Adults are attracted to light and may be found on windowsills. They undergo complete metamorphosis.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Can be significant household and museum pests, causing damage to textiles, carpets, clothing, furs, and other animal products. They do not bite or sting humans. Benefits: Some species are used in forensic entomology to determine time of death due to their carrion-feeding habits. Outdoors, they play a role in decomposition.

Identified on: 9/18/2025