If you’ve ever seen a weird little bug crawling on your windowsill or in your closet, it might’ve been a varied carpet beetle. They’re super tiny but low-key annoying, especially because they eat stuff you probably care about. Here’s a breakdown of what these pests actually snack on—and why they’re way more destructive than they look.
What Is a Varied Carpet Beetle?
Before we get into what they eat, quick intro: varied carpet beetles are small, round insects with colorful scales (usually black, white, and yellow). They look kind of cute under a microscope, but don’t be fooledthey can totally wreck your stuff.
They go through complete metamorphosis, which means they have four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The larvae are the ones that cause most of the damage, not the adults.
So, What Do They Eat?
Lets talk about what do they actually eat.
1. Animal-Based Materials
This is their favorite kind of food. The larvae go crazy for anything that comes from animals because it’s full of keratin (a protein they love).
- Wool
- Leather
- Feathers
- Fur
- Silk
That’s why you’ll find holes in sweaters, rugs, and old coats if you’ve got an infestation. Basically, anything soft and expensive is fair game.
2. Dead Insects and Animal Remains
Gross but true these beetles will also feed on dead bugs, pet hair, or animal remains like dried-up skin or even taxidermy. If you have a bug collection or an old bird’s nest nearby, they’ll find it.
3. Natural Fibers
They also chew on stuff like:
- Cotton
- Linen
- Jute
They prefer it when these fabrics are stained with sweat, food, or oil (even more gross, but it’s the truth). Clean clothes are less attractive, but not 100% safe either.
4. Stored Food (Sometimes)
Adult carpet beetles don’t usually cause damage, but sometimes they’ll go for dry pantry items like:
- Grains
- Flour
- Pet food
- Cereals
Still, this isn’t their main thing they’d much rather be eating your cashmere sweater.
What They Don’t Eat
It’s not all bad news. There are some things varied carpet beetles won’t mess with:
- Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon
- Plastic or rubber
- Metal or glass
So your gym clothes and electronics are safe. But still… watch your rugs and sweaters.
Final Thoughts
Even though varied carpet beetles are tiny, their diet can cause a lot of damage especially to things made from animal-based materials. Knowing what they eat helps you figure out where they might be hiding and what you need to protect.
Moral of the story: check your closets, vacuum regularly, and maybe don’t leave old wool blankets sitting around for months.
