A reader sent in a picture of two worm-like organisms that he found on a wooden table inside his house. He mentioned there was also one spotted on his cat. After looking at our site he is curious if these could be root weevils?

From the photo, we know that the creatures are about a quarter of an inch long, and quite round. They are a cream color, with a darker brown head. Based on this photo, we believe that our reader is dealing with waxworms, not root weevils.

Waxworms are the larval form of the greater wax moth, also known as pantry moths. In order to get rid of these, he will need to identify their food source. It is likely something in the pantry, and if he cannot pinpoint it exactly, he might just want to get rid of anything suspicious. He should also deep clean his kitchen to get rid of any other debris or small organic matter. Additionally, buying food in smaller quantities and using airtight containers for storage will help ensure the pantry moths and waxworms stay away.

Finally, although we are pretty sure these are waxworms, we want to mention one other possibility. Since he found one on his cat, there is a small possibility that he has found extracted segments of a tapeworm that is living in his cat. This is really unlikely since these segments are usually dead, however we want to mention it just in case. If his cat is acting strangely and he suspects this is a possibility, he should consult a veterinarian.

In conclusion, our reader found some small cream-colored larvae in his home. We are fairly confident that these are waxworms!

• 
•