Varied Carpet Beetle

Indoors: found in carpets, upholstery, closets, and air ducts. Outdoors: found in gardens on pollen-bearing flowers.

Larvae eat natural fibers (wool, silk, fur, feathers), dried food products, and hair. Adults feed on pollen and nectar.

Adults are attracted to light and are often found on windowsills. Larvae prefer dark, undisturbed areas. They undergo a complete metamorphosis from egg to larva, pupa, and adult.

Risks: Household pest that causes damage to fabrics, clothing, and stored goods. Contact with larval hairs (setae) can cause allergic skin reactions or respiratory irritation in some people. Benefits: Play a role in nature as scavengers decomposing organic material.