Black Carpet Beetle

Indoors, they thrive in homes, museums, and warehouses where they can find suitable food sources, especially in carpets, clothing, upholstered furniture, and stored food products.

Larvae feed on a variety of animal and plant products, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, leather, dried meat, dead insects, and cereals. Adult beetles feed on pollen and nectar.

Larvae of carpet beetles are often found in dark, undisturbed areas, feeding on natural fibers. They go through a complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). Adults are attracted to light and are often found near windows.

Potential risks include damage to natural fiber materials (carpets, clothing, furs, museum specimens) and stored food products. They are not known to bite or spread diseases to humans. They have a minor cleanup role in nature by consuming detritus.