Page "Dermestidae" Paragraph 27

The black carpet beetle, Attagenus megatoma, is a widely known stored product pest and one of the most destructive because the damage caused to household products containing keratin, which is a protein found in animal hair and feathers.

They are also able to burrow through various food packaging allowing passage for other insects as well.

Females can lay up to 90 eggs and they hatch in about 8 to 15 days.

Generally this species only has one generation a year.

The time it takes to become an adult varies from 6 months to a year.

In addition, an adult black carpet beetle can live up for an additional 2 months.

The average adult size is about 2. 8 to 5 mm long and they are oval, dark brown to shiny-black in color, and have brown legs.