What is this thing?

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What is this critter? (cdn.catsweat.com)

submitted 23 hours ago by rhythmisaprancer@moist.catsweat.com to c/whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

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I think it could be an isopod but am unsure. It doesn't look like ones I am familiar with in houses (usually basements, which is not where this is).

It is about 10mm or 3/8" long, seems to move towards the top of the picture (but mostly is just wiggly), and is slightly hairy. Western USA.

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[–] rhythmisaprancer@moist.catsweat.com 5 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I think that you and @merde@sh.itjust.works have gotten pretty close if not on the exact! I did not just recently purchase anything taxidermied... Is this going to be like miller moths?

[–] merde@sh.itjust.works 7 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

Dried fish, cheese, bacon, dog treats, and poultry are some of the foods that the beetle gets into. One study found that larvae show no preference out of calf meat, chicken meat, and pellet feed for rodents.

The beetle has been known to parasitically feed on live turkeys, leaving deep wounds.

sounds like a real pest

i used inaturalist to identify. Helps a lot with insects, plants and mushrooms.

[–] rhythmisaprancer@moist.catsweat.com 4 points 22 hours ago

I have some better photos but do not know how to add more. It is almost certainly this family. Maybe this one is a random visitor; it is on the wall where I park my bike.

I really like inaturalist (seek) but it failed me.