Caterpillars appearing from fireplace.

I have attached a link to a image of what I believe are caterpillars which are coming from the fireplace in the front room.

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Are these in fact caterpillars

  1. How did they get there and how do I get rid of them.

Lived in the house 8 years first time I have ever seen them

Many Thanks

Reply to
noname
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noname laid this down on his screen :

I don't know, but could those be the caterpillar of the moth which attacks wool? Could they be from your carpets?

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

Had new carpets recently so i don't think so. Why did you think that as a matter of interest

Reply to
noname

Misread that as "caterpillar of the moNth". :-)

Reply to
Rod

We had a carpet attacked by them in a caravan, they look similar.

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

i guess that the eggs were laid in the chimney in some organic matter- dead mouse? bird stuff?

so i guess the chimney hasnt been used much so has organic things in it which are now hatching out...

if the chimney has been swept and the fire used a lot then my theory is probably wrong!

Reply to
George (dicegeorge)

Yes.

Crawled. Pick 'em up a squidge 'em or throw outside.

Seriously they could be clothes or carpet moth larvae. Have a google you should be able to identify what they are. Once you know that a course of action can be decided.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Are they falling from a tree whose branches have only just grown to overhang the chiuimney pot?

Owain

Reply to
Owain

Thet are larvae of the dermestes beetle. Caused by a dead bird or nesting material in/on the chimney. Could also be coming from the roofspace.

Reply to
jj

jj formulated the question :

They do not match these photos

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Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

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can you tell from such a small poor quality image?

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a lot better (even if it a US/Canada site).

Digging about on

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may find something.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

long legs at the front and seems to drag along its back end.

The caterpillar in the OP's photo has stumpy legs all the way to the back end of its body, a pair for each segment.

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

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