Hi Frances,

Yes this is most likely to be the larva of one of the 'house moths',
possibly a tineid (Tineidae), but possibly an oecophorid (Oecophoridae).

An interesting observation being that there is *one *caterpillar plus
*two *head
capsules - this frequently occurs with larvae stuck on monitoring traps.
They moult their skin which liberates them from the glue but then become
stuck again very quickly, hence another moult and so forth. They sometimes
feed on the shed skin, leaving the cast head capsule - you will note that
the head capsules get incrementally smaller with each moult as reserves are
used up.

I have seen up to 5 moults on traps and even larvae that have managed to
escaped the trap in doing so. I have observed this behaviour in both tineid
moths and Anthrenus larvae (Dermestidae).

Best regards,

Stuart Hine


On 9 February 2017 at 12:25, Louis Sorkin <sor...@amnh.org> wrote:

> These look like caterpillars.  Could be a tineid moth species. You'll have
> to do some sleuthing to find out what could be infested.
>
>
> Louis N. Sorkin, B.C.E. | Entomologist, Arachnologist, Myriapodologist
>
> Entomophagy Research
>
> Division of Invertebrate Zoology | American Museum of Natural History
>
> Central Park West at 79th Street | New York, New York 10024-5192
>
> sor...@amnh.org
>
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>
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>
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>
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>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net <pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net>
> on behalf of Frances Cooper <f.coo...@leeds.ac.uk>
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 9, 2017 5:21:45 AM
> *To:* 'pestlist@museumpests.net'
> *Subject:* [pestlist] Help identifying larvae
>
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> I would really appreciate some help identifying the larvae in the attached
> photo, they are about 5mm long and were found on a pest trap next to a coat
> stand so it is possible they have been brought in on a coat. Could they be
> clothes moth larvae or are they too small?
>
>
>
>
>
> Many thanks,
>
>
>
> Frances Cooper
>
>
>
>
>
> *Frances Cooper*
>
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-- 
*Stuart Hine*
Entomological Consultant


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