Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 500

The adult varied carpet beetle is small, round, and covered in scales of different colors, with white scales forming distinct patterns on its body. Larvae, known as 'woolly bears,' are longer and covered in hairs, with brown stripes and tufts of hair for self-defense. These beetles are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. Larvae feed on natural fibers, while adults feed on pollen and nectar from flowers. The species experiences a dormancy period before transitioning from larvae to adults.