Carpet beetle larva

Indoors around carpets, upholstery, closets, and undisturbed dust or lint; larvae hide in dark areas. Adults often occur near windows and flowers.

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

Larvae are slow-moving, bristly, and often wander when seeking food or pupation sites; shed skins may remain behind. Development can take months to over a year indoors.

They can damage natural-fiber clothing, carpets, and taxidermy, and larval hairs may irritate sensitive skin or airways. They help decompose animal-derived material outdoors.