Carpet Beetle Larva

Found indoors in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, storage boxes, under carpets, and behind baseboards. Outdoors, they inhabit bird nests and bee hives.

Larvae feed on natural animal fibers such as wool, fur, silk, feathers, leather, and dead insects. They can also feed on plant-based materials and dried food products.

Larvae prefer darkness and hide in cracks or crevices during the day. They molt multiple times, leaving behind shed skins that look like the larva itself. The larval stage is destructive as it does the feeding; adults feed on pollen outdoors.

Risks: They are a common household pest capable of causing significant damage to carpets, clothing, upholstery, and taxidermy specimens. Some people may develop dermatitis ('carpet beetle dermatitis') from contact with the larval hairs (setae). Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers by breaking down animal remains.