strange insect found in my carpet

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pleasehelpus Haddonfield, NJ Dec 02, 2010

Please help-i found holes in my wool sweaters and wool dress, somehting tore off a finger from my glove, pom pom off my hat. noen of mu husabdns clothes have been touched. The only thing i found next to the basket that housed my winder gloves and hats, and my closet of clothes was this very tiny orangish or brownish, or metallic orange brownish what lloks like a worm or caterpillar. Please help-could this bee the critter tha attacked my clothes, if so what is it what can i do any self help or does an exterminator need to come over. The three worms found are clearly dead-not sure if they are skins or the actual worm. I tried to take picutres but my camera can not capture them becuase they are so small. Thanks for nay help!

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Post #8240830
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Dec 02, 2010

The image is not clear enough to be certain, but these could be either larvae or shed larval skins of beetles in the family Dermestidae (hide/skin/carpet beetles and allies). These larvae will feed on a wide variety of organic materials, including wool, silk, fur, feathers, skins, cured meats, etc. Look at the images of carpet beetle larvae at http://tinyurl.com/aklstg, http://tinyurl.com/7nnzqf, and http://tinyurl.com/l9aron to see if any resemble your 'guests.' If not, I suggest that you take your specimens to the Camden County office of Rutgers University Cooperative Extension service for assistance in identification - see http://tinyurl.com/2dp4gup for contact information.

Post #8241164
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pleasehelpus Haddonfield, NJ Dec 03, 2010

Thankyou-I am going to look into all that you said-quick note to see if this changes your answer-yesterday I turned a hat inside out that had holes in it and to my surprise that same insect was hanging on the thread-it was dead, and it almost looked like a skin vs an actual insect. I could be wrong, but it looks more on the crispy side but maybe becuase that is dead. Thank you again, going to check out all that you said now.

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