Carpet Beetle

Anthrenus verbasci

Carpet Beetle

Anthrenus verbasci

Take care

Handle with care

It cannot bite you. Some people react to the larval hairs with an itchy rash that gets mistaken for bed bug bites, which is worth knowing because it sends people looking for the wrong animal entirely.

We identify, we don't diagnose. If you've been bitten or stung and symptoms develop, or you're worried, seek medical attention.

SizeAdult 2–3 mm; larva up to about 5 mm

MarkingsAdult 2–3 mm, rounded, mottled in white, brown and yellow scales · Larva is the damaging stage — carrot-shaped, banded, and very bristly

WhereWardrobes, under furniture, along skirting boards, in stored wool and in old bird or wasp nests in the roof.

SeasonAdults most visible in spring as they move towards windows

How to tell it apart

Adult 2–3 mm, rounded, mottled in white, brown and yellow scales
Larva is the damaging stage — carrot-shaped, banded, and very bristly
Shed larval skins accumulate where they feed, often more visible than the larvae
Adults found at windows in spring, heading for the light and outdoors
Damage is irregular holes in wool, silk and feathers, never in synthetics

Where you’ll find it

Across the whole United States, and effectively worldwide. It is one of the most common insects in buildings anywhere in the country.

Wardrobes, under furniture, along skirting boards, in stored wool and in old bird or wasp nests in the roof.

Adults most visible in spring as they move towards windows.

How it behaves

The adults eat pollen outdoors and do no damage at all. Everything people object to is the work of the larvae, which feed on keratin — wool, silk, feathers, fur, and the dust of skin and hair that collects under heavy furniture. That is why the damage turns up in places nobody vacuums rather than in the middle of a room, and why an infestation can run for a long time before anyone notices.

You’ve found one indoors

Find the source rather than spraying the room. Look under and behind furniture that never moves, in the back of wardrobes, in stored woollens, and in the loft where an old bird nest may be feeding them. Vacuuming thoroughly and washing or freezing affected textiles deals with most cases. If a rash is the reason you are here, treating the room does more than treating the skin.

Common questions

Do carpet beetles bite?

No. They have no biting mouthparts capable of it. The itchy rash associated with them is a reaction to the larval hairs, not a bite, which is why it appears without anyone ever seeing an insect on them.

Is this what is biting me at night?

Not directly. Carpet beetle dermatitis is a common alternative explanation for marks blamed on bed bugs, and the two need completely different responses. Look for shed larval skins and damaged wool before assuming bed bugs.

Why are they all at my windows?

Adults are trying to get out. They feed on pollen outdoors and head for the brightest point in the room, which is how most people first notice them in spring.

Will they eat synthetic carpet?

No. They need keratin, so wool, silk, fur and feathers are at risk and polyester is not. A wool rug on a synthetic carpet is the classic case of damage in one and none in the other.

Commonly confused with

Ladybug Harmless
Asian Lady Beetle Take care
Spider Beetle Harmless

Keep identifying

Identify another animal from a photo or return to the Beetles guide.

Next: Asian Lady Beetle

Where this was checked

iNaturalist — Anthrenus verbasci checked 2026-07-30
University of California IPM — Carpet Beetles checked 2026-07-30

Last reviewed 2026-07-30. We identify, we don’t diagnose — what we can and can’t tell you.