Varied Carpet Beetle vs Webbing Clothes Moth
Varied Carpet Beetles and webbing clothes moths are easy to mix up at a glance, but a few details separate them quickly. Here is how to tell which one you found and what, if anything, you should do about it.
Quick answer
Check for this first. A varied carpet beetle has very small, round beetle with a mottled scale pattern, while a webbing clothes moth has small, shiny golden-tan wings without spots.
Side-by-side comparison
| Varied Carpet Beetle | Webbing Clothes Moth | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Beetles | Moths & Butterflies |
| Scientific name | Anthrenus verbasci | Tineola bisselliella |
| Size | 2–3.5 mm | 6–8 mm |
| Colors | Black, White, Yellow and Brown | Tan and Yellow |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | No | No |
| Risk | Nuisance | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Very small, round beetle with a mottled scale pattern | Small, shiny golden-tan wings without spots |
Key differences
- Group: Varied Carpet Beetle belongs to beetles, while webbing clothes moth belongs to moths & butterflies. Hard wing covers that meet in a straight line down the back.
- Size: Webbing Clothes Moths are larger, reaching 8 mm, while varied carpet beetles top out around 3.5 mm.
- Color: Varied Carpet Beetles are black, white, yellow and brown; webbing clothes moths are tan and yellow.
- Where found: look for varied carpet beetles in bedrooms and beds and indoors; webbing clothes moths turn up in bedrooms and beds.
- Signature feature: Varied Carpet Beetles: very small, round beetle with a mottled scale pattern. Webbing Clothes Moths: small, shiny golden-tan wings without spots.
How to identify varied carpet beetles
A tiny, round beetle mottled with white, brown and yellow scales. The fuzzy, banded larvae chew holes in wool, silk, feathers, leather and stored animal products.
- Very small, round beetle with a mottled scale pattern
- Fuzzy, striped larvae with a tuft of hair at the tail
- Found on windowsills in spring and in closets year-round
How to identify webbing clothes moths
A small, golden-buff moth whose larvae eat wool, silk, fur, feathers and cashmere. Adults avoid light and are more often found in closets than flying around lamps.
- Small, shiny golden-tan wings without spots
- Tuft of reddish-gold hair on the head
- Silken tubes and holes in wool clothing and rugs
Which one is more dangerous?
Neither is more dangerous than the other; both are rated nuisance on our scale.
Carpet beetles don't bite, but larval hairs can cause itchy skin rashes in some people. Clothes moths don't bite people; larvae damage natural-fiber fabrics.
Where and when you'll see each
Varied Carpet Beetles turn up in bedrooms and beds and indoors, mostly in spring and summer. Webbing Clothes Moths turn up in bedrooms and beds, mostly in spring, summer, fall and winter.
Because they share habitat, you may find both in the same place, so check each individual.
What to do if you find one
Varied Carpet Beetles: Vacuum carpets, closets, baseboards and under furniture often. Read the full removal guide for more.
Webbing Clothes Moths: Wash, dry-clean or freeze infested garments. See the full profile for more.
Biology: beetles and moths & butterflies
Beetles go through complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (grub), pupa and adult. The larval stage often does the most feeding and damage, and it can last from a few weeks to several years depending on the species. Adults protect their flight wings under hard wing covers called elytra, which is why most beetles look armored and meet in a neat line down the back.
Moths and butterflies have wings covered in tiny scales and go through complete metamorphosis. The caterpillar stage does all the feeding and damage, while adults sip nectar or, in some species, don't eat at all.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between varied carpet beetles and webbing clothes moths?
Group: Varied Carpet Beetle belongs to beetles, while webbing clothes moth belongs to moths & butterflies. Hard wing covers that meet in a straight line down the back.
Which is bigger, a varied carpet beetle or a webbing clothes moth?
Varied Carpet Beetle: 2–3.5 mm. Webbing Clothes Moth: 6–8 mm.
Do varied carpet beetles or webbing clothes moths bite?
Varied Carpet Beetles do not bite. Webbing Clothes Moths do not bite.
Where are they usually found?
Varied Carpet Beetles: in bedrooms and beds and indoors. Webbing Clothes Moths: in bedrooms and beds.