“One of my children found a worm in a bed,” states this reader about the segmented, dark brown worm-like creature seen below. “From the pictures on your site, I think it is a mealworm.”

We think it could indeed be a mealworm, as the segmentation and coloration does match up with certain species of mealworms. The term ‘mealworm’ is an umbrella term for larvae of any species of darkling beetle. They are considered household pests, and their name stems from their diet, which consists of many of the same foods, or meals, that us humans eat. Mealworms like munching on grains, such as oats and rice, as well as food remains (fruits and meat, mostly).

Usually, mealworms prefer to hide in cramped, badly-lit spaces, so it is somewhat of a surprise that this one was found on a bed, which is an open space where they are very exposed. Our reader shares our surprise. Perhaps it was on its way to finding a habitable spot and did not get there in time before it was spotted.

Alternatively, this could be the larva of a different creature. The poor resolution and lighting of the picture makes it hard to discern any of its finer details which might suggest other possible identities. That said, we would nonetheless guess that this is some kind of caterpillar, or indeed a beetle or fly larva.

Either way, it does not resemble any of the pests that typically feed on bed sheets and various textiles, which are also commonly found on beds (such as carpet beetle larvae or clothes moth larvae), so we really do not think our reader needs to be concerned that the bed is infested with these creatures.

What they can do is make sure that there is not any spilled food lying around that could be rotting and attracting mealworms and/or other critters, so as to prevent more creatures from entering the home.

In conclusion, this could very well be a mealworm, though we cannot say for certain. Unless our reader finds more roaming creatures of the same appearance, we do not think they have anything to worry about so far as infestations are concerned. When it comes to this lone fellow, we suggest our reader simply take it outside. We hope that this article proves insightful and that our reader can put their mind and children at ease.

Summary

Article Name

Dark Brown, Segmented Worm Found by Children May Indeed Be a Mealworm

Description

"One of my children found a worm in a bed," states this reader about the segmented, dark brown worm-like creature seen below. "From the pictures on your site, I think it is a mealworm."

Author

Worm Researcher Anton