An embroidered sampler by a twelve year old girl C1827, which has been damaged by Carpet Beetle larvae.
The German Cockroach shown on the left, goes through an Incomplete Metamorphosis made up of several nymphal stages which resemble the adult only smaller. This primitive form of evolution goes back 300 million years, making the Cockroach, Silverfish and Booklice which also exhibit this characteristic, some of the oldest species on the planet.
The Carpet Beetle and Powder Post Beetle also shown left, go through a Complete Metamorphosis from a grub-like larva to a pupa and then adult which is typical of moths as well.
The larval stage causes the most damage to artefacts because:-
- They have a huge appetite: "grazing" on textiles in the case of the Clothes Moth and Carpet Beetle, or tunneling through wood, board or paper in the case of Beetles, Borers and Termites.
- In many species the larvae can remain in this stage for years before developing into an adult, not only eating artefacts during this time but leaving soiling waste products or frass.
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