What animal lived in our teddy bear?

Answer

Dear Frank,

I fear that an identification down to the species level is not possible on the basis of this photo. The differences between many of the beetles that are found in the house are often very minimal. I suspect, but am not 100% sure, that it could be the bread beetle Stegobium paniceum. Perhaps you can compare such a beetle with a photo on the internet. This beetle is very frequently found in the home, and often in the kitchen. After a long search, we also found this species in a cherry pit cushion. I have no idea what material the plush bear is filled with, but the bread beetle larvae can feed on a whole range of materials, including pasta, rice, bread, dog food, bird food, etc.

For 100% certainty, I suggest that you send a few copies to the ILVO, Diagnosis Center for Plants, Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96, 9820 Merelbeke. Then, at magnification, we can identify the beetle down to the species using the stereomicroscope and identification tables. Especially when it comes to the bread beetle, it can be useful to also check the stocks in the kitchen for their presence.

kind regards,

Hans