The larvae of the varied carpet beetle are common pests in houses since they like to feed on natural fibers and can damage carpets, furniture, and clothing. They also consume dead insects, making them a pest in museums and other places with insect collections. It can live for 1-3 years in total.

From the moment it hatches, museum beetle embarks on a life closely intertwined with human history, often inhabiting museum collections where it feeds voraciously on dried organic materials. This tiny yet notable creature is characterized by its unique diet during larval stages, consuming natural fibers such as wool and silk. In adult form, it assumes the role of a pollinator, visiting flowers for nectar and in turn contributing to plant reproduction.

Anthrenus lepidus is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America.

Anthrenus fuscus is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in North America.

The adult common carpet beetle varies from about 2.5 - 4 mm in length. The antennae have eleven segments, three of which form a club, and the eyes are notched at the front. The head is black but is largely concealed under the prothorax, which is also black, liberally speckled with white scales apart from a band in the centre. The elytra (wing cases) are black with orange or reddish scales near the midline and variable but symmetric patches of white scales elsewhere. As the beetle gets older, the scales tend to get rubbed off so the beetle changes in appearance. The small white eggs are laid in batches of 30 to 60 and have projections which help them to adhere to carpet fibres. The larvae are brown and moult five times before pupating; the final instar larva is hairy and larger than the adult beetle. Pupation takes place in the last larval skin.

You may find the common larder Beetle (Dermestes lardarius) rummaging in your kitchen cabinet for dried foods, grains, or other dead bugs. These beetles will bore into any nearby source they can to pupate, and some have even dug into things such as books. Larder Beetle larvae are actually stronger than adults because of the bristles on their backs.

Trogoderma glabrum, known generally as the glabrous cabinet beetle or colored cabinet beetle, is a species of carpet beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America.