Carpet Beetle Larva (shed skin)

Found indoors in homes, specifically in carpets, closets, upholstered furniture, and undisturbed corners with dust or organic debris.

Scavengers that feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, fur, feathers, and lint, as well as dried food products and dead insects.

Larvae prefer dark, secluded areas and are slow-moving. They undergo several molts, leaving behind translucent, hairy shed skins (exuviae) like the one pictured.

They are significantly damaging pests to textiles and museum specimens. The bristly hairs (hastisetae) on the larvae can cause allergic reactions or skin irritation in some people.