Varied Carpet Beetles

Anthrenus verbasci
Anthrenus verbasci dorsal specimen courtesy of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida State Collection of Arthropods.jpg

Varied carpet beetles get their name from the rainbow of color on their back surfaces.

Pest Stats

Color

Black centers, with white, brown and yellow patches in an irregular arrangement

Legs

6

Shape

Round

Size

1/16

Antennae

Yes

Region

Found throughout U.S.

Habits

These pests enjoy dining on carpets, woolen fabrics, dead insects, furs, hides, feathers, horns, hair, silk and bones. It can take 249-354 days to three years for varied carpet beetles to grow from an egg to an adult.

Habitat

Varied carpet beetles are found in homes in attics, Oriental carpets, tapestries and wood-based wall-to-wall carpeting.

Threats

Varied carpet beetles feed on dead insects, but also feed on upholstery and carpet, so they can damage those materials. They can also damage clothing fabric.