Varied Carpet Beetle

Often found indoors in homes, museums, and warehouses, particularly in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, and underneath furniture. Outdoors, they are found on flowering plants.

Larvae feed on natural fibers and dead organic matter, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, hair, leather, and dead insects. Adults primarily feed on pollen and nectar.

Adults are active flyers attracted to light and are often seen near windows. Larvae avoid light (negative phototaxis) and prefer to stay hidden in dark cracks and crevices while feeding.

The primary risk is property damage; larvae can ruin carpets, clothing, tapestries, and taxidermy specimens. They do not bite or sting humans, but prolonged contact with the larval hairs can cause allergic skin reactions (carpet beetle dermatitis) in sensitive individuals.