Carpet beetle larva

Natural Habitat

Indoors, especially in undisturbed areas like closets, under furniture, along baseboards, and in stored natural fibers. Outdoors, they can be found in nests of birds or insects.

Diet & Feeding

The larvae feed on a variety of animal-derived products, including wool, silk, feathers, fur, leather, dead insects, pet hair, and even dried foods. They are scavengers.

Behavior Patterns

Carpet beetle larvae are typically slow-moving and often prefer dark, undisturbed areas. They are known to roll up or play dead when disturbed. Their life cycle involves complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). The larval stage is the most destructive, as it's when they feed on materials.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include damage to natural fiber textiles (carpets, clothing, upholstery), museum specimens, and stored foods. They can also cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals due to their bristly hairs. They are generally not harmful to humans directly and do not transmit diseases. In nature, they play a role in decomposition by consuming dead organic matter.

Identified on: 11/15/2025