Varied Carpet Beetle: Identification, Fabric Damage & Control
By the Clark Pest Entomology Team | Last Updated: December 4, 2025
Key Takeaways
Varied Carpet Beetles are fabric pests that eat wool, silk, and pet hair. The adult is a tiny, mottled beetle often found on windowsills. The damaging stage is the larva (a fuzzy "woolly bear" worm). Warning: The bristles on the larvae can cause an allergic skin rash that looks exactly like Bed Bug bites.
Quick answer: If you find small, round, calico-patterned beetles on your window sills or fuzzy, striped worms in your closet, you have Varied Carpet Beetles (Anthrenus verbasci). They are the most common fabric pest in California homes, often destroying rugs and clothing while you sleep.
Visual ID: The Beetle vs. The "Woolly Bear"
Most homeowners see the adults first, but the larvae are the ones eating your sweaters. You need to recognize both life stages.
Adult Beetle: Tiny (1/8"), round, with a mottled pattern of white, brown, and yellow scales.
Photo: Udo Schmidt via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Larva (The Damage Dealer): Looks like a fuzzy, striped caterpillar. Often found in dark closets or under rugs.
Photo: Arnoldius via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The "Mystery Bite": Carpet Beetle Dermatitis
We get calls every day from people who think they have Bed Bugs because they wake up with red, itchy welts. Often, it's actually Carpet Beetles.
- The Cause: The larvae are covered in tiny, needle-like hairs (hastisetae).
- The Reaction: If a larva crawls across your skin while you sleep, these hairs break off and cause an allergic reaction.
- The Difference: Bed Bugs leave bite marks in rows. Carpet Beetle rash is blotchy and random.
Watch: Identifying the Larvae
See the "Woolly Bear" larva in action so you know exactly what to look for in your carpets. Video by Insects Limited (Educational).
Video: Insects Limited
How to Get Rid of Them (7 Steps)
Sanitation is key. You must remove the hair, lint, and dead insects that the larvae feed on.
- Find the Source: Check under heavy furniture, in air ducts, and the edges of carpets where pet hair accumulates.
- Vacuum Daily: Vacuuming removes the food source (hair/lint) and the eggs. Empty the vacuum bag outside immediately.
- Wash Fabrics: Hot launder or dry clean any infested clothing or bedding to kill larvae.
- Remove Bird Nests: Old bird or wasp nests in attics/eaves are a primary breeding ground for these beetles.
- Check Flowers: Adult beetles feed on pollen. Don't bring cut flowers inside without inspecting them first.
- Store Wool Correctly: Keep wool and silk items in airtight bins or cedar chests, not cardboard boxes.
- Professional Treatment: If you have a heavy infestation in wall-to-wall carpeting, professional application of growth regulators is often necessary to break the life cycle.
Clark's Expert Insight
"If you find adult carpet beetles on your windowsill, don't just vacuum them up and forget about it. They are trying to get OUT to feed on flowers. That means they hatched from a larva that has been eating something inside your room for the last 9 months. Find that food source immediately!"
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do carpet beetles bite?
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No, they do not bite living humans or pets. However, the fuzzy hairs on the larvae can cause an allergic skin reaction in some people that looks and feels like a bug bite. This is often confused with bed bug bites.
What do they eat?
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The larvae eat natural animal fibers: wool, silk, fur, feathers, and leather. They also feed on pet hair, dead insects, and lint accumulation in corners and ducts.
How long do they live?
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The destructive larval stage can last anywhere from 9 months to nearly 2 years, depending on food availability. This means they can damage your home for a long time before turning into adults and flying away.
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