Black Carpet Beetle

Natural Habitat

Found indoors in homes, warehouses, and museums, often near organic fabrics, food pantries, or in crevices where dust and hair accumulate. Outdoors, they inhabit bird nests and animal burrows.

Diet & Feeding

Adults feed on pollen and nectar. Larvae are the destructive stage, eating animal-based materials such as wool, silk, feathers, fur, hair, and stored grains or cereals.

Behavior Patterns

They undergo complete metamorphosis. Adults are often attracted to light and are found near windows. The larval stage is slow-moving and can last from several months to years depending on environmental conditions.

Risks & Benefits

They are significant pests that cause damage to clothing, upholstery, and carpets. While they do not bite humans, the hairs on the larvae can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some individuals. They benefit the ecosystem by breaking down dead animal matter outdoors.

Identified on: 1/8/2026