Varied Carpet Beetle - Anthrenus verbasci
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Species Description
Widespread and fairly frequent locally in parts of the south, becoming extremely sparse in the north. It is most frequent around Bristol and Cardiff, the south-east, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, Shrewsbury, Liverpool etc. Habitat includes: houses, gardens, parks, allotments, churchyards, hedgerows, meadows, woodland rides, scrub, wasteland etc. Other names include: Woolly Bears (larvae). Life story: Adults lay eggs in bird nests but they commonly get into houses and lay eggs under carpets or in cupboards. The larvae take up to three years to develop into adults. Diet: The larvae feed on dead insects and spiders, natural fibres (including carpets and clothing) whilst adults feed on pollen from a wide variety of plants including: Oxeye Daisy and Ground Elder.