Varied Carpet Beetle vs Musk Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Varied Carpet Beetle Musk Beetle
Scientific Name Anthrenus verbasci Aromia moschata
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Dermestidae Cerambycidae
Size 2-3 mm 15-34 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Parasitoids
Regions Worldwide Europe, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Varied Carpet Beetle

A tiny, round beetle with mottled white, brown, and yellow scales on its elytra. It is a worldwide pest of natural fiber collections.

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Did You Know?

Museum curators consider it one of the greatest threats to insect specimen collections.

Musk Beetle

A large, metallic green or coppery longhorn beetle that emits a rose-like musk scent. Larvae develop inside old willow trees.

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Did You Know?

Its pleasant musky scent can be detected from several meters away.