Black Carpet Beetle
Attagenus unicolor · also called carpet beetle, black carpet beetles
Quick answer
The black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor) is a small, shiny black oval beetle and one of the most common fabric pests in US homes. Its golden-brown, hairy larvae feed on wool, furs, feathers, and stored grains, damaging clothing, carpets, and pantry goods. Adults are harmless and it spreads no disease.
Small shiny black carpet beetle next to a golden-brown hairy larva on fabric
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What it does
As with other carpet beetles, the larvae cause the damage, feeding in dark, undisturbed spots on natural fibers and stored foods, while adults move toward light and windows. Larvae hide under carpets, in closets, and in pantry and storage areas, feeding slowly and often going unnoticed until holes or shed skins appear.
Where it lives
Indoors, larvae infest closets, stored clothing, carpets, upholstered furniture, and pantry goods, and gather where lint, pet hair, and dead insects accumulate in wall voids, vents, and attics. Adults are found at windows and outdoors on flowers. The black carpet beetle is among the most common and widespread fabric pests in US homes.
How it breeds
Females lay eggs near larval food such as wool, feathers, or stored grain. The elongated larvae feed and molt repeatedly, and the full life cycle can range from several months to well over a year depending on food and temperature. Adults are short-lived and feed on pollen outdoors before mating.
What it eats
Larvae feed on keratin and stored products, wool, fur, feathers, silk, and leather, as well as grains, cereals, seeds, and dry pet food; adults feed on flower pollen and nectar outdoors.
Identification
Adults are 3-5 mm, shiny black to very dark brown, and oval. The larvae are elongated and carrot-shaped, golden to dark brown, and taper to a long tail tuft of hairs; they can reach about a half inch and are usually what people notice near damaged goods.
Signs of an infestation
- Holes and grazed patches in wool, furs, or stored fabrics
- Long, golden-brown, tapering hairy larvae near damage
- Cast larval skins in closets, drawers, and pantry corners
- Small shiny black beetles near windows in spring
Prevention tips
- Vacuum carpets, closets, and under furniture frequently
- Store woolens, furs, and dry foods in sealed containers
- Clean up spilled grains, pet food, lint, and dead insects
- Inspect and clean stored clothing and pantry goods periodically
Professional solutions
Control means locating and removing the infested material, cleaning and vacuuming thoroughly, and laundering, dry-cleaning, or freezing affected items. Discard heavily infested stored food. Crack-and-crevice insecticides can treat edges and voids. A professional can trace a hidden larval food source, such as an old nest or dead animal, when infestations persist.
Health & safety
Black carpet beetles do not bite, sting, or spread disease. Their significance is property damage to clothing, carpets, and stored food, plus the waste of contaminated pantry goods. Larval hairs and shed skins can irritate the skin or trigger allergies in sensitive people, but the beetle poses no direct health hazard.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between black and varied carpet beetles?
Both damage the same materials, but the adults look different: the black carpet beetle is a solid shiny black or dark brown oval, while the varied carpet beetle is mottled with white, brown, and yellow. Their larvae also differ, with the black carpet beetle larva being longer and tapering to a distinctive tail tuft.
Are black carpet beetles harmful?
They do not bite, sting, or spread disease, so they are not a direct health threat. The problem is damage: larvae chew holes in wool, furs, and other natural fibers and contaminate stored grains and pet food. Larval hairs can irritate the skin of sensitive people.
How do I get rid of black carpet beetles?
Find and remove the infested clothing or food, vacuum thoroughly, and launder, dry-clean, or freeze affected fabrics. Store woolens and dry goods in sealed containers, and clean up lint, pet hair, and spilled food. Treat edges and voids with a labeled crack-and-crevice insecticide if needed.
Fact-checked by Morgan Vance, Editorial Director (editorial review, not a professional pest-control or medical sign-off). Last reviewed June 25, 2026. We correct anything a reader shows us is wrong — see our corrections policy.