Carpet beetles got their common name many years ago because the immature beetles (larvae) attacked carpets and other things made pf wool. Since these larvae can digest feathers and fur, in nature they are scavengers of bird nests, rodent nests and other places where they can find hair and fur.
Adult carpet beetles feed on pollen, so people often find them in flowerbeds and shrubs around the home. The adult beetles often move indoors to find a place to deposit their eggs. The adult beetles seek places where the larvae will find a food supply.
Carpet beetle larvae can eat almost anything, so almost every room of a home can be a breeding site. The adult beetles deposit their eggs in corners if there is lint or pet hair. They can deposit the eggs in cracks and crevices. They can deposit the eggs behind furniture, in air ducts, under cabinet bases, or even inside of dresser drawers if they are left open.
The number of eggs varies, but there can be almost one hundred eggs from a single female beetle. People usually are not aware of the eggs. They are small and white. Since they are tiny and they are hidden, the eggs are very hard to see.
The development time varies by species. The climate also affects the time it takes the eggs to develop. They can hatch in as few as five days, or they can take almost three weeks to hatch.
When the eggs hatch, the larvae try to stay out of the light. They feed and grow. As they grow, they shed their skins. After they have shed their skins a few times, the larvae may start to wander around to find food. People often find the cast off skins of the larvae around the home.
After the larvae have changed to adults, they will mate and produce eggs. Some species of carpet beetles can develop from egg to adult as quickly as 90 days. However, the entire life cycle can take more than two years in adverse conditions.
Some adult carpet beetles migrate outdoors for pollen before they produce eggs. Adults of some species do not seem to require pollen in order to produce eggs. These carpet beetles can produce a serious infestation by reproducing one generation after another. .