This document provides information about various insects that may be found in the Carlos Museum as part of a bug scavenger hunt. It describes several insects that could potentially damage museum artifacts, including the webbing clothes moth, varied carpet beetle, powder post beetle, cellar spider, and silverfish. For each insect, it provides details on physical characteristics, feeding habits, life cycle stages, signs of infestation, and preferred environmental conditions. The goal is to educate visitors about insect pests so they can help museum conservators monitor for issues and prevent further damage to the collection.

1. Carlos
Museum
Bug
Scavenger
Hunt

2.
Introduction
Scarab
Amulet
2005.3.4b
Fly
Amulet
L1998.62.105a
Egyptian
Gallery
Throughout
the
Carlos
Museum,
you
can
find
many
different
images
of
bugs,
such
as
scarab
beetles,
flies,
and
praying
mantises.
However,
real
insects
can
cause
damage
to
the
objects
in
the
galleries
if
they
get
inside.
Conservators
are
professionals
who
take
care
of
objects
in
a
museum.
They
closely
examine
the
clues
that
insect
pests
leave
behind
so
that
they
can
catch
the
bugs
and
prevent
further
damage
to
artwork.

3.
Bug
Terms
casing-­‐
the
skin
shed
by
a
bug
as
it
grows
• cocoon-­‐
the
shelter
bugs
construct
for
protection
during
•
metamorphosis
• frass-­‐
bug
droppings
• grazing-­‐
feeding
on
a
surface
and
wearing
it
thin
• larva-­‐
the
young
phase
of
beetles
and
moths
• metamorphosis-­‐
transformation
from
larva
to
adult
Pedestal
Plate
with
Praying
Mantis
Motif
1990.11.298
Art
of
the
Americas
Gallery
Incomplete
metamorphosis
Complete
metamorphosis

4.
Webbing
Clothes
Moth
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
8-­‐10
mm
Plain
gold
wings
and
body
Enjoys
eating
a nimal
fibers
s uch
as
w ool,
silk,
a nd
fur
Larva
are
white
caterpillars
with
brown
heads
Larva
cause
damage
by
chewing
through
fibers
Leaves
cocoon
shells
a nd
frass
Prefers
warmer
climates
a nd
darkness
Complete
metamorphosis

5.
Varied
Carpet
Beetle
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2-­‐3
mm
Patterned
brown,
gray,
and
black
s hell
Enjoys
eating
various
textiles
Larva
are
known
as
“wooly
bears”
with
red
and
brown
bristles
Larva
cause
damage
by
grazing
over
fibers
Sheds
numerous
skin
casings
a nd
leaves
frass
Prefers
c ooler
climates
a nd
darkness
Complete
metamorphosis

6.
Powder
Post
Beetle
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3-­‐5
mm
Brown
s hell
a nd
body
Enjoys
eating
various
types
of
w ood
Larva
are
pale
a nd
round,
a nd
they
stay
hidden
within
wood
Larva
cause
damage
by
chewing
tunnels
through
wood
and
making
exit
holes
Leaves
wood-­‐powder
frass
Prefers
humid
climates
Complete
metamorphosis

7.
Cellar
Spider
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2-­‐10
mm
Brown
or
gray
body
with
long
legs
Enjoys
eating
various
s maller
insects
Young
s piders
are
small
a nd
colorless
Adults
can
build
unsightly
w ebs
on
objects
Leaves
frass
that
can
stain
Prefers
darkness
a nd
any
type
of
climate
Incomplete
metamorphosis

8.
Silverfish
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
13-­‐25
mm
Silvery
gray
body
Enjoys
eating
paper
materials
Young
silverfish
are
s maller
and
have
no
scales
Adults
and
y oung
cause
damage
by
grazing
and
chewing
holes
through
paper
and
glue
Sheds
skin
casings
and
l eaves
frass
Prefers
humid,
damp
,
warm
climates
Incomplete
metamorphosis