Which insect's adults are described as having a shiny black body?

• A. Indianmeal moth
• B. Rice weevil
• C. Black carpet beetle
• D. Webbing clothes moth

Answer: (C)

Identifying pests by the appearance of the adult insect is often the quickest clue to the species. The black carpet beetle has a tiny, round body that is uniformly shiny black, about 3–4 mm long. That smooth, glossy black look is a distinctive hallmark of this species.

In comparison, Indianmeal moth adults show elongated wings with a coppery band and more varied coloring, not a solid shiny black body. Rice weevils have an oblong shape with a noticeable snout, and webbing clothes moths are pale yellowish-brown with wing patterns, not a glossy black. So the description of a shiny black body best fits the black carpet beetle.