In New Zealand, three species of carpet beetles cause serious damage to fabrics, carpets, furs, stored food, and preserved specimens—the varied carpet beetle, the furniture carpet beetle, and the black carpet beetle. Adult carpet beetle don’t feed on fabrics but instead seek out pollen and nectar, they are attracted to sunlight and you’ll often find them feeding on the flowers that produce abundant pollen. Although it is an extremely low chance you can accidentally bring these pests inside on items such as cut flowers.

The damage to your fabric surfaces occurs during the larval stage of carpet beetles. Larvae feed in dark, undisturbed locations on a variety of dead animals and animal products such as wool, silk, leather, fur, hair brushes with natural bristles, pet hair, and feathers. Sometimes they feed on items such as certain spices and grains. They won’t feed on synthetic fibres.

It’s not always possible to tell from the damage whether clothes moths or carpet beetles are the culprits but in general carpet beetles are more likely to damage a large area on one portion of a garment or carpet while moth damage is more likely to occur as scattered holes.