The varied carpet beetle is widely distributed in the United States.
Adults are much smaller than the black carpet beetle.
Their body shape is more rounded when viewed from above and they have a pattern of white, brown and yellow scales on the upper surface of their wing covers. Eggs are laid in various locations, where they hatch in 17 to 18 days. Larvae molt 7 or 8 times over about 7 to 11 months. These hairs can be irritating to the skin, or if breathed into the nose or lungs. Varied carpet beetle larvae are scavengers.