Carpet Beetle Larva

Indoor environments like homes, warehouses, and museums, often found in carpets, upholstery, and stored clothing.

Scavengers that consume keratin and natural fibers found in wool, silk, feathers, fur, dead insects, and dried pet food.

Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas and can remain in the larval stage for months to years; they undergo a complete metamorphosis into small, oval-shaped beetles.

Risks: Major pest of natural textiles and stored products; their bristly hairs can cause allergic skin reactions (dermatitis) in some humans. Benefits: Small ecological role in decomposing organic animal matter in the wild.