Bug Identifier
Varied carpet beetle (likely)
Community identification

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.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.