Carpet Beetle

Natural Habitat

Indoors in homes, museums, warehouses, and outdoors in nests of birds, rodents, and insects, as well as on flowers.

Diet & Feeding

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

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are the damaging stage, feeding in dark, undisturbed areas. Adults are often found near windows as they are attracted to light, or outdoors on flowers. They undergo complete metamorphosis.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include damage to personal property (clothing, carpets, furniture), museum collections, and stored food products. They can also cause skin irritation in some individuals due to contact with larval hairs. No direct benefits to humans, however, they contribute to decomposition in natural environments.

Identified on: 9/15/2025