Common museum pest identification and trap selection

975-0012 - PELtrap

Varied carpet beetle

Anthrenus verbasci

The larvae eat wool, hair, fur, feathers
, silk and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum.
Will also feed on soiled linen, cotton and rayon.

Larvae: Up to 7mm

Adult: Up to 7mm

Two Spot Carpet Beetle

Attagenus pellio

Larvae attackwool, fur, feathers
and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum.

Larvae are identical to the brown
carpet beetle larvae.

Larvae: Up to 10mm

Larder Beetle

Dermestes lardarius

Larvae sometimes attack bone, damp wool, fur, feathers
and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum.

Adult: Up to 9mm

Larvae: 10-14mm Brown with some bands and hairs protruding
perpendicular along whole length

Australian Spider Beetle

Ptinus tectus

Larvae eat dried food and plant material.

975-0676 - Crawling Beetle Traps

Biscuit Beetle (AKA drugstore beetle)

Stegobium paniceum

Larvae eat dried food, plant material and
freeze dried animals. Can attack books,
upholstery.

Larvae: up to 5mm

Adult: up to 3mm

975-0676 - Crawling Beetle Traps

975-0676 - Crawling Beetle Traps

Tobacco Beetle (Cigarette Beetle)

Lasioderma serricorne

Larvae eat dried food, plant material and
freeze dried animals. Will also attack
book bindings and some natural upholstery materials.

Larvae: up to 5mm (white with long hairs)

Adult: up to 3mm

975-0154 - Tobacco Beetle Trap

975-1163 - Sticky insect detector trap

975-0012 - PELtrap

Deathwatch Beetle

Xestobium rufovillosum

Larvae old wood which is damp, usually
with fungal growth.

Adult: 4-6mm

Wood Weevils

Pentarthrum huttoni and Euophryum confine

Larvae only attack damp wood, or wood that has
previously been damp and subject to fungal growth damage.

Adults: up to 3.2mm

Furniture Beetle (Woodworm)

Anobium punctatum

Larvae attack older dry sapwood of both
hard and softwood.

Larvae: up to 5mm C shaped, 3 pairs of legs

Adult: up to 9mm

Fungus Beetle

Mycetophagidae

Eat mould. Indicators of damp conditions.

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Moths

Pest moths can decimate textile collections
and should be monitored to prevent damage.

Insect Name	What insect trap do I need?	What does it look like?
Webbing Clothes Moth Tineola Bisselliella The larvae eat wool, hair, fur, feathers, silk and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum Larvae: White with brown head, up to 11mm. Adults: White up to 11mm.	975-0030 - Black and white moth trap 975-0338 - Fabric insect trap 975-1055 - Demi Diamond Moth Trap
Case-bearing clothes moth Tinea pellionella The larvae eat wool, hair, fur, feathers, silk and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum. Adult: Approx 10mm	975-0338 - Fabric insect trap
Brown house moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella Larvae sometimes attack book bindings, cork, damp wool, fur, feathers and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum. Larvae: Up to 19mm Adult: up to 15mm	975-0338 - Fabric insect trap 975-1163 - Sticky insect detector trap 975-0012 - PELtrap
White shouldered house moth Endrosis sarcitrella Larvae sometimes attack cork, seeds, damp wool, fur, feathers and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum. Larvae: up to 12mm Adult: up to 10mm	975-1163 - Sticky insect detector trap 975-0012 - PELtrap
Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella Larvae eat dried foods such as cereals and nuts.	975-1163 - Sticky insect detector trap 975-0012 - PELtrap

Insect Name

What insect trap do I need?

What does it look like?

Webbing Clothes Moth

Tineola Bisselliella

The larvae eat wool, hair, fur, feathers,
silk and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum

Larvae: White with brown head, up to 11mm.

Adults: White up to 11mm.

975-0030 - Black and white moth trap

975-1055 - Demi Diamond Moth Trap

Case-bearing clothes moth

Tinea pellionella

The larvae eat wool, hair, fur, feathers,
silk and skins such as leather and
parchment/vellum.

Adult: Approx 10mm

Brown house moth

Hofmannophila pseudospretella

Larvae sometimes attack book bindings, cork,
damp wool, fur, feathers and skins
such as leather and parchment/vellum.

Larvae: Up to 19mm

Adult: up to 15mm

White shouldered house moth

Endrosis sarcitrella

Larvae sometimes attack cork, seeds, damp wool, fur, feathers
and skins such as leather and parchment/vellum.

Larvae: up to 12mm

Adult: up to 10mm

Indian meal moth

Plodia interpunctella

Larvae eat dried foods such as cereals and nuts.