#trogoderma

Great Southern BioBlitz 2024, Wongan Hills

I sure can! It's a dermestid beetle larva. I'd put my money on the genus Trogoderma. They eat animal fibers - hair, fur, skin, feathers, wool, dead bugs, dry pet food, etc. So if you have any of those things around, I'd check it out to make sure it's not being eaten. Otherwise may just be a visitor!

Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) is a serious threat to Australia’s economy and agricultural industries. What makes khapra such a threat? It’s an excellent hitchhiker! Dormant khapra larva can survive in sea containers for several years without food and remain undetected in cracks and crevices. When conditions are favourable the beetle population booms, shedding cast skin and hair, and leaving any goods within the container unfit for human or animal consumption. This video gives an overview of the risk khapra beetle poses to Australia, and how to identify this significant pest.

A short video of techniques used for the dissection of Trogoderma (Dermestidae) larvae. Produced by DAFWA Pest Diagnostics, with CRC Plant Biosecurity.