Varied Carpet Beetle Larvae Identification

Common carpet beetle larvae take between two and three months to reach pupation varied carpet beetle larvae may need up to two years and black carpet beetle larvae develop in the larval stage for six months to just under a year.

Varied carpet beetle larvae identification.

They are so small they are often overlooked. Both adult carpet beetles and larvae can infest your home but the larvae do the most damage by eating organic materials like wool leather and silk. The varied carpet beetle anthrenus verbasci is a 3 mm long beetle belonging to the family dermestidae 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. The duration of the larval stage also depends on the type of carpet beetle species and temperature.

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. Black carpet beetle larvae are smooth with no hair and are either brown or black. Common carpet beetles have larvae that is a red brown color and covered in dark hair. In older adults the scales that form this pattern wear off so the beetles appear solid brown or black.

They have zig zag bands of yellow white brown and black on their wing coverings. Adult varied carpet beetles can be found outdoors where they feed on pollen from a variety of flowers. Their larvae however can become pests inside homes universities and museums.