Anthrenus verbasci
About
The Varied Carpet Beetle is also known as Museum Bug (German: "Museumskäfer") is feared as a pest in households and collections all around the world. While the adult beetle is an important pollinator to small flowering plants, the larvae feed on any kind of animal based fiber, pelt or feathers. For that reason, the beetle loves to breed in specimen collections in museum archives. An undetected pair of carpet beetles can destroy a big collection. In private households they usually live in the natural fiber of carpets, clothing with fur and wool and poorly cleaned animal enclosures.
Sam says
If you see one of those guys fully grown, leaving its winter quarter in spring, don't freak out, it's probably on its way to the balcony to check out flowering plants. At least that is what mine do. I've never found a single one in my textiles, but they seem to spend the winter in flower pots I take inside until spring arrives. In late February, early March, I spot one or two on their way out and later that year there will be dozens munching away on flowers.
