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Photo#105369
Creepy Crawlers like Crazy in the Kitchen Cupboards!!!

Creepy Crawlers like Crazy in the Kitchen Cupboards!!!
New York City, Manhattan County, New York, USA
April 23, 2007
Size: 1/8-1/4"
These things started appearing like crazy in the kitchen cabinets and occaisionally on the countertops. Come to find out there was a hidden stash of food (medicine, wheat flour, and other dry goods) from YEARS ago in one of the very high cabinets full of these buggers, in addition to piles of dead ones. We cleaned out the cupboard and killed all the maggots or mealworms (whatever they are) and they continue to appear and replicate all over the kitchen. What should we do?!?!?!?

What to do.
I agree this is the larva of a carpet beetle (family Dermestidae). Larvae feed on all manner of dried animal products (cured meats, pet food, taxidermy mounts, furs, wool blankets and garments, my insect collection....). You have done the excellent first step: discard all infested items. Now, all you have to do is make sure all foodstuffs are stored in metal or glass containers with tight-fitting lids to prevent re-infestation. Woolens and furs should be stored in containers inside a cedar chest. Cedar has proven repellent qualities (and smells better than mothballs!). The current population should crash when all this is done. Good luck.

Looks like one of the Carpet
Looks like one of the Carpet Beetle larva.

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