What are these things?!

The · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 04:49 PM

We had to chuck out a whole box of 'puffed jerky' (dried lung) dog treats because it was infested with these critters! The whole box was full of them, and they were actually eating the lung. There must have been at least a hundred of them, many of which appeared to be dead and dessicated - or maybe they were moults? Can anyone ID them? Or maybe explain how they would come to be in a box of dried lungs? They're obviously not vegetarians.

tameblackbirds · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 05:06 PM

Not a clue? I am Googled it but not having any luck finding it. Perhaps ask the shop where it was brought the lung and see if they have experienced it before, they may know what they are, maybe?

The · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 05:59 PM

Unfortunately, the shop have no idea, and they don't understand how they got in the box. I'm erring on the side of a caterpillar, as opposed to some other larvae, maybe eating the lung opportunistically, seeing as they were enclosed in the box with nothing else. It's possible they were on the lung when packed, coming from the factory, but due to the large number of these things, and the fact that they were active and trying to get out, we had to dispose of the whole box... so no specimens!

The · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 06:19 PM

I've had a look on Google, and am thinking it could be a carpet beetle grub, Dermestes lardarius?

triops · #5 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 07:42 PM

These are larvae of Dermestidae, the family of beetles including carpet beetle, fur beetle, larder beetle, etc. The empty things are cast larval skins. This family almost always eat dry protein material-skin, fur, hair, feathers, and any dried meat products. Either a female beetle got into the packet and laid all her eggs, or there was a large general infestation before the material was packed. To be sure of the species just keep some of the larvae and some food for a few weeks and see the adult beetle.