Pictured on the next page are adult and larvae of our two most common species of carpet beetles, the black carpet beetle and varied carpet beetle. Though closely related, they vary in overall appearance.
Color is dark brown to black and the head is concealed from above.
The body is marked with a mottled pattern of yellow, white and orange scales on a black background. A fresh specimen will be brightly colored while an old, battered specimen may be nearly all black. Carpet beetle larvae are found wandering in the vicinity of the infestation source almost as often as the adults. They are stout larvae, widest at the middle or posteriorly. There are several tufts of short inconspicuous hairs on the tail end.