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carpet beetle
noun
: any of several small dermestid beetles (genera Anthrenus and Attagenus) whose larvae are destructive especially to woolen goods
Examples of carpet beetle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Not only that, insects, including silverfish, termites, and carpet beetles, to name a few, love to feed on paper.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024
They can sometimes be mistaken for bed bugs due to their size and shape, but unlike bed bugs, carpet beetles have wings and can fly.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 29 May 2024
Bed bugs have six legs and antennae and are wingless, which distinguishes them from similar-looking insects like carpet beetles.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 29 May 2024
Environment Science The relatives of modern carpet beetles may have fed on dinosaur feathers and played an important role in recycling organic matter.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2023
Airing out the mattress is a good start to taming those troublesome particles, as is removing the carpets and giving them a good beating with a fireplace poker or baseball bat, which can shake out carpet beetle dung and other nasty things.
—Gregory McNamee, CNN, 20 Mar. 2021
Along with the ticks, the team found microscopic hairs from carpet beetle larvae, creatures that are commonly found in birds’ nests today.
—John Pickrell, National Geographic, 12 Dec. 2017
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1889, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near carpet beetle
Cite this Entry
“Carpet beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpet%20beetle. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
carpet beetle
noun
: a small beetle whose larva damages woolen goods
More from Merriam-Webster on carpet beetle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carpet beetle
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