Varied Carpet Beetle

Indoor environments such as homes, warehouses, and museums; outdoors in nests of birds, bees, or wasps and on flowering plants.

Adults feed on pollen and nectar. Larvae feed on natural fibers, animal products, dried insect specimens, hair, fur, and feathers.

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windows. Larvae avoid light (photophobic) and can remain in a larval state for several years depending on environmental conditions.

They are a common household pest capable of damaging woolens, carpets, and upholstery. Larval hairs can cause allergic reactions or skin irritation in some humans.