Carpet Beetle Larva

Natural Habitat

Indoors, especially in dark, undisturbed areas like closets, attics, under furniture, and in cracks where lint and debris accumulate. They feed on natural fibers and dried animal products.

Diet & Feeding

Keratin-containing materials such as wool, silk, feathers, pet hair, furs, taxidermy, museum specimens, dried animal carcasses, and other natural fibers. Some species also feed on grains and dried food products. They do not feed on synthetic fibers.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are the destructive stage, recognizable by their hairy, often bristly bodies and slow movement. They prefer dark, undisturbed areas. Adults are typically small, oval beetles that often fly towards windows. Their life cycle varies by species but generally includes egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages, with larval development lasting several months to a year.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include significant damage to textiles, clothing, carpets, and museum collections made of natural fibers. They do not bite or transmit diseases to humans or pets. Benefits are minimal in a domestic setting; in nature, they play a role in decomposition of animal remains.

Identified on: 9/26/2025