A small hairy beetle larva sits in the seam of a plastic container with tiny frass pellets all around it. Next to it on the wall of the plastic is a rough, concave patch where the larva chewed.

Shown from the outside of the container, a small hairy beetle larva has its face in a concave patch where the larva chewed the plastic.

#6 PS polystyrene symbol on plastic

That time I kept a carpet beetle larva and it started to eat its way through the plastic container 😳

Really hits home that polystyrene is an organic molecule. Other beetle larvae, like mealworms, are known to feed on it too.

But I mean 🤯

#Dermestidae #Anthrenus

Composite photo of a carpet beetle adult specimen on a white background. The top image shows the view of the face, with a pointy snout, a single central simple eye, and a pair of clubbed antennae. The bottom image shows the dorsal side of the beetle, which is oval to round in shape. The entire beetle is covered with small scales, making up a pattern with a black background and patterns of dep reddish orange and white scales.

An image of an adult carpet beetle sitting in its last larval skin on a white background. The larval skin is papery, translucent. It has legs and is covered with barbed hairs. The beetle in the skin has patterns of white, yellowish-orange, and black, scales.

Just thinkin' 'bout dermestids & their beautiful scale patterns 🥰*

#Dermestidae #Anthrenus #carpetbeetles

*Also recognizing they can be the bane of entomological collections when their hungry larvae turn specimens to dust.

New Friend at the Office today, welcome little #Dermestidae ❤️ #Anthrenus #OfficeFriends