Strange caterpillars

[manonthemoon]

For about a week now we have been getting caterpillars, tiny white things appearing from nowhere and sliding across our kitchen work station, the island in the middle of the kitchen.

It's an area constantly being wiped off, I wiped off with white vinegar this afternoon but they're still appearing.

We have no idea how they get there, or how to stop them.

Can anyone help please?

[niemeyjt]

Do you think they are caterpillars or maggots?

Have you looked at timbers above the bench? Is ceiling sealed or is there a way things might fall through from floor above esp if floor above is carpeted? Any funny "dead" smells?

[manonthemoon]

Do you think they are caterpillars or maggots?

Have you looked at timbers above the bench? Is ceiling sealed or is there a way things might fall through from floor above esp if floor above is carpeted? Any funny "dead" smells?

I think they are caterpillars because of the way they move. The ceiling above the area is sealed, no beams.

Strangely now you mention it, we have noticed a rather strange smell, but haven't found the source.

My skin goes cold to think they are caterpillars, but maggots



And

[Stompie]

Could they be Pantry moth caterpillars?
Check any flour or dry goods in your store cupboard for any hint of cobwebbyness. We had an invasion of the little bar stewards earlier this year, I found them in my stashed oatmeal.
The moths themselves are about 1 cm and pretty insignificant.

[manonthemoon]

Do you see the caterpillars actually in dry foods?

[Stompie]

Do you see the caterpillars actually in dry foods?

I didn't, just on the walls and work top. What I found in the oatmeal was cobwebby stuff that they had left when they hatched.
Your photos look like exactly what we had. Horrible!
A good clean of the store cupboard sorted the problem and anything that looked as if it had had visitors was chucked.

[suein56]

Could they be Pantry moth caterpillars?
Check any flour or dry goods in your store cupboard for any hint of cobwebbyness. We had an invasion of the little bar stewards earlier this year, I found them in my stashed oatmeal.
The moths themselves are about 1 cm and pretty insignificant.

Yep .. I remember the same question from last year .. we had a few of the caterpillars i.e. literally a handful.
This year, being more knowledgeable (thanks Stompie), I have noticed the actual moths .. so am now prepared for the mini caterpillars.
So I am going to do as Stompie suggested and do a thorough search for these beasties..
They are amazingly secretive so and so's.

[manonthemoon]

Well thanks Stompie, I have a drawer in the said island that I have some dry food and nuts. Recently I've noticed moths coming out of the drawer when I open it.

So guess what I will be doing tomorrow

Thanks everyone, this forum is so helpful

[suein56]

Thanks everyone, this forum is so helpful

Isn't it just ..

Edit : Well, I couldn't wait till tomorrow morning. The thought of housing potentially hatching caterpillars was too much so ..
I cleared out our 'store-cupboard drawer' and found 3 different small pots of dried stuff with cobwebby bits inside .. so a big clean-up followed and, hopefully, there will be no more moths.

Fingers crossed.

[Loiseau]

Some years back I had similar little beasties that I tracked down to bags of flour in my dry-goods cupboard. Yuk. I cleaned out the cupboards, and my French-Canadian sister-in-law told me to put something pungent like cloves in the cupboard to deter the moths from coming back. It must have worked, because I have had no more since.