Varied Carpet Beetle vs Sweet Itch Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Varied Carpet Beetle | Sweet Itch Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anthrenus verbasci | Culicoides obsoletus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Dermestidae | Ceratopogonidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | Europe, Western 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.
Did You Know?
Museum curators consider it one of the greatest threats to insect specimen collections.
Sweet Itch Midge
A tiny dark biting midge with patterned wings that causes an allergic skin condition called sweet itch in horses. It breeds in moist, organically rich habitats.
Did You Know?
It is the primary vector of Bluetongue virus in livestock across Europe.