Carpet Beetle (Varied Carpet Beetle)

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments such as homes, warehouses, and museums; outdoors in bird nests or on flowers.

Diet & Feeding

Adults eat pollen and nectar. Larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, feathers, hair, and dried food products.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are attracted to light and often found on windowsills. Larvae are scavengers and prefer dark, secluded areas like closets or under baseboards.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite or transmit disease, but larvae can cause significant damage to household fabrics. Some people may experience allergic skin reactions (dermatitis) to larval hairs.

Identified on: 5/23/2026