Weird bug in a Dubia bin

[Ihaggerty1313]

What is this animal? One of my customers finding them in their roach bin.

Thanks,

-Ian

 

[Ralph]

It's a dermestid beetle larva. They are harmless scavengers, and wouldn't be a problem as long as the numbers are small.

 

[Ihaggerty1313]

It's a dermestid beetle larva. They are harmless scavengers, and wouldn't be a problem as long as the numbers are small.

Thanks Ralph. How would they have gotten in there? Any suggestions as to how to keep them out?

-Ian

 

[Matt K]

Thanks Ralph. How would they have gotten in there? Any suggestions as to how to keep them out?-Ian

The beetles are agile fliers, so it could have arrived from just about anywhere and dropped into the roach bin to lay eggs. The best way to keep them out is to keep the bin covered with screen or a lid that has screen over any holes in it.

Despite my own covered bins, I have a few different species in most of them and accept it as a fact of life.

 

[Zephyr]

Depending on how big it is, it might be a carpet beetle larvae; I've only seen baby Dermestes sp. that hairy.

 

[Roachman26]

Despite my own covered bins, I have a few different species in most of them and accept it as a fact of life.

Yeah you do. The little hitchhikers showed up at my place too. No dig deal. My venus fly trap loves them.

 

[Zephyr]

It's good to have a colony of them around for taking care of dead roaches; plus you can sell them to taxidermists and make a decent profit.

 

[baccabee]

Ah I was just gunna ask this question! I found one of these guys in the bin with my dubias!

 

[wcbpolish]

I keep hoping for them to show up in mine!