Carpet Beetle

Indoors: carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, clothing, stored foods, animal products. Outdoors: nests of birds, rodents, insects, and dead animals.

Larvae feed on a wide range of animal and plant products, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, dried meat, pet food, cereals, and fabric. Adults feed on pollen and nectar.

Larvae are the destructive stage, preferring dark, undisturbed areas. Adults are often found near windows as they are attracted to light and may seek outdoor food sources (pollen). They undergo complete metamorphosis.

Risks: Can cause significant damage to household items like carpets, clothing, and stored food products. May also cause allergic reactions (dermatitis) in some individuals due to their shed hairs. Benefits: In nature, they play a role in decomposition, cleaning up dead animals and insects.