This species infests the usual
range of household articles attacked by carpet beetles, such
as carpets, woolen goods, silks, skins, furs, feathers, hair,
horn, cereals, red pepper, fishmeal, or any processed animal
or plant food. However, the favored larval foods are dead insects
and spiders, which may account for the frequent occurrence
of the varied carpet beetle in insect collections in museums.
In common with other carpet beetles, this species will feed
on cottons, linens, and synthetic fibers if they are contaminated,
but it will not feed on rayon acetate. In California, the varied
carpet beetle is the most injurious fabric feeding dermestid,
and its prevalence has been attributed to the wasp nests around
homes, which these beetles also infest. The adult carpet beetle
feeds only on pollen and nectar of garden flowers but lays
its eggs in old birds' nests, felt, fabric or accumulated fluff
in buildings.
Description:
This species has a number of varieties. They
differ in shape, size, color, and pattern of the scales,
but in general the adults are 2 to 3 mm long, and have a
varied pattern of white, brownish, and yellowish scales on
the back and fine, long, grayish-yellow scales below. Where
the elytra terminate, they do not form a cleft as do those
of the furniture carpet beetle, A. flavipes.
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