Varied carpet beetle (adult)

Homes, museums, warehouses, and bird or rodent nests; adults often occur near windows and flowers.

Adults feed mainly on pollen and nectar. Larvae consume keratin-rich materials such as wool, feathers, fur, hair, and dead insects.

Adults are small, oval beetles with mottled brown, cream, and dark scales; larvae are hairy and cause most damage. Females lay eggs in sheltered indoor materials, and larvae may persist for months or years.

Larval hairs can cause skin or respiratory irritation, and infestations damage textiles and stored specimens. They also help decompose animal remains and organic debris.