Dear concerned evelyn this is a varied carpet beetle a common household pest and your letter is the third we opened today for a varied carpet beetle identification so we are posting your letter to assist folks visiting our site who are also troubled by carpet beetles.
Varied carpet beetle nymph.
The varied carpet beetle is a 3 mm long beetle belonging to the family dermestidae.
They are quite common in nests of birds and spiders on dead animals and in insect collections.
They are a common species often considered a pest of domestic houses and particularly natural history museums where the larvae may damage natural fibers and can damage carpets furniture clothing and insect collections.
Black white and yellow patterned coloration some species of carpet beetle may also exhibit orange coloration.
They feed on a variety of animal products such as woolens carpets hides feathers horns bone and insect pupae.
The adult varied carpet beetle anthrenus verbasci is about 1 10 inch long and black with an irregular pattern of white brown and dark yellow scales on its wing covers.
All species of carpet beetles undergo complete metamorphosis passing through the egg larval and pupal stages before developing into adults most carpet beetles develop up to four generations yearly while varied and black carpet beetles develop only one.
When carpet beetle adults are found indoors they are typically seen near windows on sills drapes or window panes.
Verbasci was also the first insect to be shown to have an annual behavioral rhythm and to date remains a classic example of circannual cycles in animals.
As well as on plant products such as rye meal corn red pepper and other similar materials.
Varied carpet beetles are found in homes in attics oriental carpets tapestries and wood based wall to wall carpeting.
Carpet beetles can be found in homes warehouses museums or anywhere else fabric furs and feathers are present.
Three distinct golden hairs are located upon the abdomen at this.
The pests can also proliferate on bird nests animal carcasses and dead insects cluster flies lady beetles stink bugs wasps etc which tend to be associated with attics chimneys basements and light fixtures.
Larvae typically are light brown to black and covered in dense sometimes barbed hairs.
Varied carpet beetle larvae are scavengers.
In older adults the scales that form this pattern wear off so the beetles appear solid brown or black.
Carpet beetles can also thrive on lint hair and debris accumulating under baseboards and inside floor vents and ducts.
Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen but larvae will eat a wide variety of organic items in the home.
Threats varied carpet beetles feed on dead insects but also feed on upholstery and carpet so they can damage those materials.
Varied carpet beetle nymph and adults.
Most species of carpet beetle measure 1 to 4 mm in length as adults.
The life cycle of a carpet beetle ranges from two months to several years in length.
