This Beetle is a member of the carpet beetle family. The Larder Beetles, as their name implies, prefer meat or meat by products. This could be decomposing animal, poultry, insect, or other non-plant materials. Mounted animals may also become infested. They are attracted by grease from food preparation and cooking. Larder Beetles will also feed on accumulation of dead cluster flies. In fact it is common for a larder beetle infestation to occur as the result of a cluster fly problem in homes or cabins.

The adult larder beetle is about 3/8 inches long, black with a lighter stripe across the middle on which there are six small black spots. The larder beetle will breed contnuously throughout the year indoors. Eggs are laid in batches of 6-8, with the total per female being about 200. Teh larvae are dark colored and covered with dark brown hairs.