Fabric Pests

Order: Coleoptera and Lepidoptera
Family: Dermestidae and Tineidae

Insects feed on a wide variety of foods. Fabric pests like carpet beetles and household casebearers are unusual in the insect world because they are among very few insects that can digest keratin, the protein in animal hair. The most commonly damaged items include those made from natural fibers such as wool, silk, feathers and fur. Adult carpet beetles and household casebearers do not damage fabrics, but feed outdoors on pollen. The larval stage of these insects causes damage to fabrics.