What is this?

[scottm]

Hi

I have just discovered this in my house but am unsure what it is, if anyone knows please reply and educate me.

It is off white about an inch long has a hole in one end and occasionally a tenticle comes out with what looks like an eye on the end. It can move around slowly. I'm guessing it's some sort of chrysalis but have no experience at all.

[Dogghound]

Its the larvae of one of the Tineinae. Tinea species possibly T.pellionella

In English its a case bearing clothes moth. Its actually a caterpillar inside a case that is made from fibers.

[Jason Green]

Hello Scott,

I agree with Dan above, a Case-bearing Clothes Moth. See my related thread: [ID] Case moth larvae?

Take care,

Jason

[Beekeeper]

Very similar if not identical to the Wax moth larve that destroys comb in bee hives, birds just love the grubs, i used to hand feed any i found in my hives to the local Robin, after a while every time i looked through my bees, he was there waiting for his treat.

Ian

[scottm]

Thanks for the responses. My wife is concerned that we should be checking our house for more of these larve, do i need to check anywhere or be concerned eg. cupboards, wardrobes

Thanks for your help once again.

[Dogghound]

Make sure you have a good clean in nooks and crannies. Under radiators, in corners etc. They are unlikely to eat your clothes, they mainly feed on dead hair, dead skin etc.

[Wild-Woman]

Don't think clothes moths like today's acrylics. They have a more organic palate. Pure wools and cottons are more to their liking.

[Beekeeper]

The clothes moth does tend to like the edges of wool carpets where they meet a wall, its a good place to look for the evidence of old cocoons, also under setees and other dark places are favoured, if there are any adults around, they usually come out in the evening and fly in a sort of side to side motion as they rise into the air.

And really good vacumn in those places on a regular basis for a couple of weeks will usually get rid of them,

I had a few in my place a couple of years ago but got rid of them by that method.

Ian

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Don't think clothes moths like today's acrylics. They have a more organic palate. Pure wools and cottons are more to their liking.

Indeed. Some species are in decline in the Tineidae family, such as Tineola bisselliella and T. dubiella for example.

[scottm]

Thankyou to all of you for your replies and input, much appreciated. I will have a look for any evidence of others.

Scott