How to Identify a Carpet Beetle (and Its Larvae)

Carpet beetles are small, round beetles about 2–4mm long, often mottled black, white, brown and yellow, or a solid dark colour. The adults are harmless and feed on pollen outdoors — it's the larvae, known as 'woolly bears', that do the damage. These small, hairy, brown, carrot-shaped larvae feed on wool, silk, leather and other natural fibres, leaving holes in carpets and clothing.

Adult carpet beetles

• Size: about 2–4mm, small and rounded, like a tiny ladybird.
• Colour: mottled black, white, brown and yellow, or solid dark brown/black.
• Behaviour: drawn to light, often found on windowsills.

The larvae (the actual pest)

• Appearance: up to about 5mm, brown or tan, hairy, carrot-shaped.
• Behaviour: shun light and hide in undisturbed spots — under furniture, along skirting, in wardrobes.
• Damage: eat natural fibres, leaving irregular holes and shed bristly skins.

Signs you have carpet beetles

• Irregular holes or bare patches in wool carpets and clothing.
• Shed larval skins in drawers, wardrobes and along skirting.
• Adult beetles on windowsills in spring and summer.

Carpet beetle or clothes moth?

Both damage natural fibres, but the culprits differ. Clothes moth damage comes from small cream caterpillars, often with webbing; carpet beetle damage comes from the hairy 'woolly bear' larvae with no webbing. If you're not sure, a quick photo through PestMatch's AI identifier will tell you in seconds.