Northern NJ insect ID

[wilson]

I've found these mostly in a bathroom, but also recently in a kitchen. They're maybe 2 mm long and 1 mm wide, relatively slow-moving. What am I looking at?

[exoticimports]

Larva, probably a beetle, and the legs suggest it is carnivorous. Do you have plants in the kitchen? Maybe that you brought in for winter?

[bandrow]

Greetings,

This is a larva of Dermestidae - a beetle group that sends chills down the spines of insect collectors! They are notorious pests in collections - they feed on dried insect specimens, and will also damage other natural products such as fur, cotton fabrics, dried plants, dry pet foods, etc.

To get rid of them, find the food source and remove it or place infested things in a freezer for a couple of weeks, then remove the items, let them warm a week or so, and then return to the freezer for another round of freezing.

Here is link to more information
extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/carpet-beetles-5-549/

Cheers!
Bandrow