Varied Carpet Beetle

Typically found indoors in homes, museums, and storage areas; outdoors they inhabit bird nests and bee hives.

Adults feed on pollen and nectar; larvae feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, fur, feathers, dead insects, and dried plant products.

Adults are attracted to light and often found on windowsills. The larvae (often called 'woolly bears') are photophobic (avoid light) and hide in cracks, crevices, and deep in piles of fabric while feeding.

Risks: Larvae can cause significant damage to carpets, clothing, upholstery, and museum specimens. Benefits: In nature, they act as decomposers by breaking down animal remains and dry organic matter.