
Varied carpet beetle (likely)
Anthrenus verbasci
- Order & Family
- Coleoptera (beetles), family Dermestidae
- Size
- Adults are typically about 1.5–3.5 mm long; larvae are roughly 3–5 mm when mature.
Natural Habitat
Homes, especially carpets, upholstered furniture, closets, window areas, and places containing lint, pet hair, feathers, dead insects, or other organic debris. Outdoors, adults visit flowers.
Diet & Feeding
Adults mainly feed on pollen and nectar. Larvae feed on keratin-rich materials such as wool, fur, feathers, hair, shed skin, dead insects, and occasionally natural-fiber textiles.
Behavior Patterns
Adults are small, rounded, and often mottled with cream, brown, and dark scales. Larvae are more elongated and hairy, commonly hiding in dark, undisturbed areas. They may cause damage gradually over several months, while adults often appear near windows or flowers. The photograph is highly blurred and strongly blue-tinted, so identification is tentative.
Risks & Benefits
Larvae can damage wool, carpets, clothing, upholstery, and stored animal products. Their bristly hairs may cause mild skin or respiratory irritation in sensitive people, but they do not bite or sting and are not known to transmit disease. Adults contribute to pollination, and larvae help recycle animal-derived organic material.