Varied Carpet Beetle (larva)

Indoor environments such as homes, warehouses, and museums; often found under baseboards, in carpets, or within natural fiber storage

Scavengers that feed on natural fibers including wool, silk, feathers, fur, dead insects, and dried animal remains

Larvae are slow-moving and avoid light. They spend several months to a year feeding and molting before pupating into adult beetles

Risk: Serious household pest that can damage clothing and upholstry; their bristly hairs can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people. Benefit: In nature, they help decompose organic animal matter.