- Scientific name
- Attagenus unicolor
- Size
- Adults 1/8–3/16 in; larvae up to about 1/2 in
- Color
- Adults shiny black to dark brown; larvae golden to dark brown
- Found in
- Closets, rugs, upholstered furniture, pantries
- Harmful?
- Damages wool, fur and stored food
- Active
- Larvae year-round; adults at windows in spring and summer
- DIY cost
- $13 in suppliesSee the plan
What to do
The black carpet beetle is one of the most damaging carpet beetles in homes: a small, shiny black adult whose golden-brown larvae eat wool, fur, felt and feathers, and unlike most carpet beetles also flour, cereal and pet food. It doesn’t bite. The one thing to do: find where the larvae are feeding, vacuum it, and wash, freeze or throw out what they’ve infested.
This page covers how to identify black carpet beetles and their larvae, tell them from look-alikes and find where they feed. It rests on University of Kentucky and Colorado State University Extension guidance.
How to Identify a Black Carpet Beetle: Plain Black Adult, Golden Larva
- Adults: oval, about 1/8 to 3/16 inch, shiny black or very dark brown with brownish legs.
- Larvae: up to about 1/2 inch, carrot-shaped, smooth and golden to dark brown, with a long tuft of hairs at the tail end.
- Shed skins: larvae molt many times and leave hollow skins behind, often the first thing people find.
A black carpet beetle larva: hairy, carrot-shaped and banded, usually what people find first. Photo: CSIRO (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Black Carpet Beetle vs. Look-Alikes: Color and Larva Shape
| Beetle | Adult | Larva |
|---|---|---|
| Black carpet beetle | Oval, plain shiny black | Smooth, golden brown, long tail tuft |
| Varied carpet beetle | Smaller, round, spotted white, brown and yellow | Banded and bristly all over |
| Drugstore beetle | Reddish brown, humped | Small, pale grub inside dry food |
| Larder beetle | Larger, pale band with dark spots | Hairy, two curved tail spines |
Where You’ll Find Them: Closets, Carpet Edges and Pantries
- Under heavy furniture, along carpet edges and in closets
- Inside upholstered furniture and stored woolens
- In pantries, in flour, cereal and pet food
- Lint, pet hair and dead insects in vents and light fixtures
- Adults at windows in spring and summer, flying toward light
Are Black Carpet Beetles Harmful? To Fabric and Food
They damage clothing, rugs and upholstery and contaminate stored food. They don’t bite, but larval hairs can leave itchy, bite-like bumps on some people. Damage shows as irregular holes or grazed patches with shed skins nearby and no webbing; webbing points to clothes moths instead (holes in clothes).
How to Confirm It’s Black Carpet Beetles
- Look for the larva’s long tail tuft on a smooth, golden-brown body.
- Check stored food as well as wool: this species eats both.
- Collect shed skins from closets or carpet edges and compare them with the signs of carpet beetles.
How to Get Rid of Black Carpet Beetles
The same as other carpet beetles: thorough vacuuming along edges, under furniture and in vents, then emptying the vacuum outdoors; hot-washing, dry-cleaning or freezing infested items (two weeks in a sealed bag); sealed storage for woolens; and throwing out infested food. The full plan, with a section just for this species, is in how to get rid of black carpet beetles. For other pests, browse all pest guides.
Often confused with
Sources
- Carpet Beetles (University of Kentucky Entomology, EF601)
- Dermestid Beetles (Carpet Beetles) (Colorado State University Extension)
Last reviewed Oct 8, 2026.
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