New To Me

[GrayB]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone tell me what this is please, I hope I'm right in thinking that it's some sort of larvae but what is it and what is it using as it's enclosure?
It reminds me of a lacewing larvae the way it seems to have gathered whatever it can find to camouflage itself.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers.
Gray.

[triops]

It's the caterpillar of one of the clothes moths, and has probably been eating your carpet! The fibres look like wool. These larvae eat dry organic material, wool, skin, feathers etc., and make a house to carry with them for protection.

[Wild-Woman]

It's amazing how they can knit a little sleeping bag for themselves.

[poschiavanus]

I think this is the larva of the Case-bearing Clothes Moth Tinea pellionella. See, for example, UK Moths.

[GrayB]

Thanks everyone, what a great caterpillar. I've never come across one before, they maybe slightly distructive but they are absolutley amazing
Thanks again, really appreciate it.
Cheers
Gray.

[Susie]

You might change your mind when they start eating their way through all your clothes, carpets, curtains, soft furnishings, etc.

There seems to be a real epidemic of clothes moths at the moment in the area where I live.

[GrayB]

I'm kind of glad it was only one I found and not twenty but you've got to admire them.
It does make me wonder what they'd be using if we weren't around
Cheers
Gray.

[Susie]

Don't worry, where there is one there will be many more! Just wait.

And after we've gone I expect they will use what they used before we appeared, feathers, fur, other natural fibres.