Merchant beetles prefer which material?

• A. Wood
• B. Silk
• C. Leather
• D. Seeds

Answer: (C)

Merchant beetles are drawn to animal-based materials, with leather being a particularly inviting substrate. Leather provides a protein-rich, durable food source that supports the beetles’ eggs and larval development; the larvae feed on the proteins in the hide, and many leather goods become infested if these beetles find their way into storage or use areas. Wood is mostly cellulose and not easily usable by these beetles, seeds are plant-based and less attractive to them, and silk is more commonly attacked by other pests such as moths. So leather stands out as the material they prefer.