Carpet Beetle (likely Varied Carpet Beetle or Black Carpet Beetle)
Scientific Name: Antrenus verbasci (Varied Carpet Beetle) or Attagenus unicolor (Black Carpet Beetle) - precise identification from image is difficult without clearer details.
Order & Family: Order: Coleoptera, Family: Dermestidae
Size: Larvae: 1-5 mm; Adults: 2-4 mm
Natural Habitat
Indoors, larvae are found in carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, clothing, attics, and storage areas. Outdoors, adults are found in gardens, on flowers, and in bird or rodent nests.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, fur, feathers, and dried animal products such as leather, museum specimens, pet food, and dead insects. Adults feed on pollen and nectar.
Behavior Patterns
Carpet beetle larvae actively feed on natural fibers and dried animal products. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas. Adults are typically found outdoors, feeding on pollen and nectar, and fly indoors to lay eggs.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Can cause significant damage to natural fiber textiles, clothing, and stored products. Can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals due to shed larval skins and frass. Benefits: As scavengers, they help in decomposition of organic matter in outdoor environments, though this is overshadowed by their pest status indoors.
Identified on: 9/4/2025