Knowledgebase

Dry insect casings #925262

Asked March 01, 2026, 9:54 PM EST

Found these in antique cabinet just purchased. Nothing looks active. Not sure what these could be. Thank you

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

We can't tell from the images what insect may have been present. All you can do is to vacuum the item thoroughly and keep an eye out for common indoor pests like powderpost beetles, pantry pests (including a couple more types of beetle and moth), and the other insects below: Our best guess from what we can see is that these are the old, shed skins of carpet beetle larvae. These beetles are very common in homes, and perhaps the prior owner stored textiles in the cabinet that had been supporting a population of those beetles.

Miri
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied March 02, 2026, 9:25 AM EST

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