Woolly Bears

It's remarkable that this engaging little guy is considered a domestic pest, particularly in southern England. Why a pest? Well this critter requires a protein diet and likes to munch its way through carpets, furs and all kinds of woollen textiles.

This is the larvae of the Varied Carpet Beetle or Anthrenus verbasci and are more commonly known as Woolly Bears.

The adult carpet beetle has attractive black wing casing mottled with patches of white and pale yellow, is up to 4mm long and is found outdoors from spring to early summer feeding on pollen and nectar before moving indoors to lay its eggs. An adult female will produce up to one hundred creamy white eggs and deposit them in cracks and crevices. Within four weeks the eggs hatch and the emergent woolly bears embark on a continuous feeding binge and moult several times before pupating.

I have checked through my records and I noticed one of these guys on 23rd November last year, 17th September this year and finally 9th November this year (this photo). Therefore now is the time to be vigilant and get the magnifying glasses out, stop watching Eastenders, get down on your hands and knees and find a woolly bear.