The Australian Carpet Beetle is a native member of a small but significant group of beetles (family Dermestidae) that frequently invade homes and whose larvae feed on carpets and similar fabrics. These beetles are a major pest in museums as they attack dried animal skins. The adult beetles eat flowers and live mostly outdoors. As a result, treatment indoors is ineffective in the long term because the adult beetles easily re-enter and infest buildings. The larvae are small hairy grubs whose hairs break off when handled and can cause allergic reactions in some people. Before we introduced household goods into their diet, carpet beetle larvae naturally fed on spider webs, dried animal skins or other dried protein material.

Distribution:

Throughout Australia.

Habitat:

Urban areas, forests and woodlands.

Status:

Fairly common

Size:

2-3 mm long.

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