Varied Carpet Beetle, Anthrenus verbasci

Commonly found in the UK, the adult beetle fly freely, feeding on pollen and nectar on flower heads during the summer months. The larvae need a high animal-protein diet and occur naturally in dry birds’ nests. They appear in domestic situations infesting carpets, clothes, animal furs and skins and are often associated with bird nesting activity in eaves and roof spaces.

There is usually one generation per year, the adult females returing to building in the autumn for egg-laying. In cold conditions, the larvae will hibernate and resume feeding in the spring.

This species and its relatives are of particular significance in domestic properties where they will damage the fibres of carpets, bedding and clothing, animal fur, skins and leather, and sometimes the heads of sweeping brushes and mops.