The fastest useful split
Carpet beetles leave hairy skins; clothes moths leave attached silk, tubes or cases.
Do not rely on a single color match. Start with scale and physical form, then check where the sign accumulates and whether a companion clue supports one candidate over the other.
| Feature | Varied carpet beetle | Clothes moth |
|---|---|---|
| Larva | Hairy/banded | Smooth pale caterpillar |
| Residue | Hairy cast skins | Silk web/case |
| Adult | Mottled beetle | Small buff moth |
| Damage | Lint and broad fibers | Dark garment folds |
Find the larval residue at the damage edge.
Bag affected textiles before moving them.
Open safety guidanceCheck each full evidence profile
Varied carpet beetle
Anthrenus verbasci
Hairy banded larval skins and irregular grazing damage in lint, wool, feathers or stored natural fibers.
Clothes moth
Tineola bisselliella and Tinea pellionella
Smooth pale larvae, attached silk cases or webbing and clipped natural fibers in dark garment folds.
Why a visual match can fail
Scale can be distorted by a close-up photograph, loose material may be moved by cleaning or airflow, and old evidence can change color or texture. A reliable conclusion uses multiple observations that point in the same direction and preserves contradictory details instead of forcing a match.