Dear Erin,
To me, It looks like a beetle larva, based on the head, legs, and thorax. Of course, it’s difficult to see clearly, but in my opinion this doesn’t fully match a moth larva. It could possibly be a larva from the family *Melyridae*. These small larvae (and the adult beetles as well) feed on other small insects, such as booklice. I have found these a lot in locations where local mould or fungal growth is present. Such conditions are ideal development sites for booklice. However, as mentioned above, if it concerns a single specimen, it does not necessarily indicate an immediate problem. That said, it is still worthwhile to have it properly identified. I’m very curious, if you’re able to have it examined, would you be willing to share the results? All the best, Patrick de Jong Collection coordinator & coordinator IPM <https://naturalis-public-media-assets.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Naturalis-mail-signature/logo.png> Op woensdag 14 januari 2026 om 19:21:50 UTC+1 schreef [email protected]: > Thanks for the improved picture, Erin. > I'll stick with moth larva, and will guess *Hofmannophila pseudospretella* > (Brown House Moth). Looks like a young larva. For confirmation, you will > need to get an expert to examine it under a microscope. > If there's only the one, don't worry too much about control, but it would > be worth checking susceptible materials in the area where it was found. > Tony > > Dr A.G.Irwin > 47 The Avenues > Norwich > Norfolk NR2 3PH > England > > mobile: +44(0)7880707834 <+44%207880%20707834> > phone: +44(0)1603 453524 <+44%201603%20453524> > > On Wed, 14 Jan 2026 at 17:01, 'Erin Boyle' via MuseumPests < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> Here's a more magnified picture. I appreciate the input - thank you! >> >> Erin Boyle (she/her) >> >> Collections Care Assistant >> >> Center for Research Libraries >> >> 6050 S. Kenwood Ave. • Chicago, IL 60637 • USA >> >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of >> Dr Tony Irwin <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 14, 2026 4:03 AM >> *To:* [email protected] <[email protected]> >> *Subject:* Re: [PestList] AW: Larva Identification Request >> >> The larva appears to have a well-defined head capsule, which indicates a >> moth caterpillar or beetle grub. I suspect it's a young moth caterpillar, >> but it's difficult to be sure with a low-magnification photo. >> Tony >> >> Dr A.G.Irwin >> 47 The Avenues >> Norwich >> Norfolk NR2 3PH >> England >> >> mobile: +44(0)7880707834 <+44%207880%20707834> >> phone: +44(0)1603 453524 <+44%201603%20453524> >> >> >> On Wed, 14 Jan 2026 at 06:50, Stephan Biebl <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> Erin, >> >> >> >> based on the picture, we can only say that it does not appear to be a >> hairy larva, which would indicate e.g. Dermestidae. Difficult to say with >> this picture. >> >> Is there a better close-up picture of it? >> >> >> >> Best, Stephan >> >> >> >> >> >> Stephan Biebl >> >> Dipl.-Ing (FH) Holztechnik >> >> Sachverständiger für Museumsschädlinge (BVFS) >> >> >> >> Mariabrunnweg 15 >> >> D-83671 Benediktbeuern >> >> Germany >> >> [email protected] >> >> *www.museumsschaedlinge.de <http://www.museumsschaedlinge.de/> * >> >> >> >> >> >> https://www.instagram.com/museumsschaedlinge/ >> >> >> >> *Von:* 'Erin Boyle' via MuseumPests <[email protected]> >> *Gesendet:* Dienstag, 13. Januar 2026 22:43 >> *An:* 'Jacob Yanes' via MuseumPests <[email protected]> >> *Betreff:* [PestList] Larva Identification Request >> >> >> >> Hello, >> >> >> >> Could someone help me identify what sort of larva this is? It was found >> in one of our pest traps. >> >> >> >> Thank you! >> >> >> >> Erin Boyle (she/her) >> >> Collections Care Assistant >> >> Center for Research Libraries >> >> 6050 S. Kenwood Ave. • Chicago, IL 60637 • USA >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> This PestList and the MuseumPests.com web site are made possible due to >> the talent, intelligence, devotion and donations of hundreds of volunteers. >> Your donation to help this resource continue would be greatly appreciated. >> >> Please consider a donation donating at https://givebutter.com/MuseumPests >> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MuseumPests" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/MN0PR20MB746191634B81D7C0F6274EA6C58EA%40MN0PR20MB7461.namprd20.prod.outlook.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/MN0PR20MB746191634B81D7C0F6274EA6C58EA%40MN0PR20MB7461.namprd20.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> This PestList and the MuseumPests.com web site are made possible due to >> the talent, intelligence, devotion and donations of hundreds of volunteers. >> Your donation to help this resource continue would be greatly appreciated. >> >> Please consider a donation donating at https://givebutter.com/MuseumPests >> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MuseumPests" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/AM7P189MB11378EA0B4C24DDF98208814CA8FA%40AM7P189MB1137.EURP189.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/AM7P189MB11378EA0B4C24DDF98208814CA8FA%40AM7P189MB1137.EURP189.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> This PestList and the MuseumPests.com web site are made possible due to >> the talent, intelligence, devotion and donations of hundreds of volunteers. >> Your donation to help this resource continue would be greatly appreciated. >> >> Please consider a donation donating at https://givebutter.com/MuseumPests >> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MuseumPests" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/CAFWqZKPiMTHz0%3D6w9GLO5S9GVJTpjD1w_b5gGuMoB7C56R_ZBQ%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/CAFWqZKPiMTHz0%3D6w9GLO5S9GVJTpjD1w_b5gGuMoB7C56R_ZBQ%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> This PestList and the MuseumPests.com web site are made possible due to >> the talent, intelligence, devotion and donations of hundreds of volunteers. >> Your donation to help this resource continue would be greatly appreciated. >> >> Please consider a donation donating at https://givebutter.com/MuseumPests >> >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MuseumPests" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/MN0PR20MB7461F4B62F2F0EF4D84863EBC58FA%40MN0PR20MB7461.namprd20.prod.outlook.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/MN0PR20MB7461F4B62F2F0EF4D84863EBC58FA%40MN0PR20MB7461.namprd20.prod.outlook.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- This PestList and the MuseumPests.com web site are made possible due to the talent, intelligence, devotion and donations of hundreds of volunteers. Your donation to help this resource continue would be greatly appreciated. Please consider a donation donating at https://givebutter.com/MuseumPests To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/564a2051-9725-4ba3-8b58-972172b5af21n%40googlegroups.com.
