Possible Parasite?

[Mojo Jojo]

Hey, I found some type of larva in my batch of crickets I just got from the exotic petstore. It may be a catipillar. But I'm not for sure. I really looks like a meal worm with short dark hairs. Any Ideas?

Big Dragonfly

The belly:

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Side view:

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Top View:

 

[atavuss]

Originally posted by Big Dragonfly
Hey, I found some type of larva in my batch of crickets I just got from the exotic petstore. It may be a catipillar. But I'm not for sure. I really looks like a meal worm with short dark hairs. Any Ideas?

Big Dragonfly

The belly:

looks like a dermestid (sp?) beetle larvae, they eat dead and decaying animal matter. as a matter of fact some places use them to clean bones, skulls, etc.
Ed

 

[looseyfur]

I agree

I agree it appears to be a dermested beetle... Museums did use them to clean bones , and well as biologist.

Looseyfur

 

[Valael]

Wait, wait, wait...They use beetles to clean biologists?




Sorry, bored.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Thanks to everyone who replied/will reply. I looked up this dermested beetle, and its larvae, does in fact, look like the one that I found with my crickets.

Big Dragonfly

 

[King_Looey]

We get lots of them in our crickets as well.

 

[motorteipidpa]

every 1nce in a while i get one of those things when i buy crickets.i usually feed it to one of my t's.
Tom