A reader wrote to us via Facebook Wall about some intruders he discovered in the sealed packages of his Saltine crackers. He didn’t notice any openings in the packaging, and so assumed that these creatures got into the crackers in the factory. He would like us to identify the organisms using the photo he posted.

We instantly recognize the critter as a carpet beetle larva! Carpet beetle larvae are often found in linens, towels, bedding, clothing, or other materials around a household. These larvae feed on fibers, pet hairs, dust, and other particles. They can be quite destructive in a household that has a lot of upholstered furniture.  Why carpet beetle larvae would be in a box of saltine crackers remains a mystery to us. Perhaps a mature carpet beetle laid eggs in the factory. While we are unsure how this specimen ended up in some Saltine crackers, we are positive that it is carpet beetle larva.

To end, a reader asked us about an intruder in his sealed box of saltine crackers. We believe he has found carpet beetle larvae, but we do not know how they ended up in such a strange location.