Varied Carpet Beetle

Indoors within carpets, clothing, upholstered furniture, attics, and natural bird or animal nests outdoor.

Adults feed on plant pollen and nectar; larvae feed on natural animal fibers like wool, feathers, fur, silk, leather, and dead insects.

Adults are attracted to light and often found near windows. Females lay eggs near larval food sources. Larvae undergo complete metamorphosis over several months to a year.

Adults do not bite or cause structural damage, but larvae can cause significant damage to fabrics, natural textiles, and museum specimens. Contact with larval hairs can cause carpet beetle dermatitis (skin irritation and allergic reactions) in sensitive individuals.