Varied Carpet Beetle

Natural Habitat

Indoors: closets, attics, storage areas, around baseboards, under furniture, in cracks and crevices where lint or dead insects accumulate. They can also be found in museums and natural history collections. Outdoors: nests of birds, rodents, and insects, and on flowering plants.

Diet & Feeding

Larvae feed on a wide variety of organic materials including wool, felt, furs, feathers, dead insects, animal carcasses, dried meat products, and plant-based materials like cereals and spices. Adults feed on pollen and nectar, primarily outdoors.

Behavior Patterns

Adult Varied Carpet Beetles are often found near windows as they are attracted to light. Females can lay up to 100 eggs in cracks, crevices, or on food sources. Larvae are the damaging stage, actively feeding on organic materials. They prefer undisturbed areas and can be difficult to detect until an infestation is significant. The larvae are known to 'play dead' when disturbed.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Significant pest of stored products and household items. They can damage carpets, clothing, furniture, and natural history specimens. Larval hairs can cause allergic reactions (dermatitis) in some sensitive individuals. They do not bite or sting. Benefits: In nature, they play a role as scavengers, breaking down organic matter.

Identified on: 9/3/2025