Carpet Beetle Larva (possibly a varied carpet beetle larva)

Natural Habitat

Indoors, commonly found in homes, museums, and storage areas. They prefer dark, undisturbed places like under carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, closets, and in cracks and crevices. They can also be found in bird nests built into homes.

Diet & Feeding

Keratin-based materials such as wool, silk, feathers, leather, fur, pet hair, dried animal remains, museum specimens, taxidermy, and sometimes dried foods.

Behavior Patterns

The larvae are the destructive stage, feeding on natural fibers and animal products. They are often hairy or bristly and are slow-moving. Adults are harmless and feed on pollen and nectar outdoors. The life cycle involves egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages, with larvae often molting several times. They are known to roll into a ball when disturbed.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Infestations can cause significant damage to textiles, clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture, and museum artifacts, leading to costly repairs or loss of items. Some people may experience skin irritation from contact with the larval hairs. Benefits: In nature, they play a role in decomposition, but indoors, they are considered pests.

Identified on: 11/9/2025