
One of our readers found some interesting worm-like organisms in her bathroom. She described them as fat, white, pointy at one end, and about an inch long. They have no legs. She discovered 1o of these organisms on her bathroom floor. She wants to know what they are. Here is the picture she shared with us:
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Our reader’s description of this specimen is pretty spot-on. So, what is this creature? Our first idea is that this could be a carpet beetle larva. Carpet beetle larvae are common household pests, and our readers discover them all of the time! They feed on a wide variety of items found around a home including wool, felt, feathers, fabrics, upholstered furniture, and carpet. In a bathroom, carpet beetle larvae might feed on towels, curtains, or bath mats. While the creature in question might be a carpet beetle larva, we aren’t completely convinced. Some carpet beetle larvae have a tear-drop shaped body, and the size is a match, but carpet beetle larvae aren’t usually white. They are typically a shade of brown or orange. However, this might just be a carpet beetle larva that is lighter than the typical carpet beetle larva.
Another idea is that our reader has found immature black soldier fly larvae. Mature black soldier fly larvae, or BSFL for short, are black or dark brown. However, immature BSFL are initially white, and they darken as they mature and grow! BSFL are excellent decomposers. They excel at breaking down decaying organic matter, so a bathroom (especially the toilet or trash can) might be a good home for these larvae.
We aren’t sure if our reader has discovered carpet beetle larvae, black soldier fly larvae, or something else entirely. No matter the species of creature our reader has found, getting rid of these visitors will likely depend on a thorough cleaning session. We recommend she give her bathroom a total scrub down (including wiping out the trashcan, washing all towels, and scrubbing the drains) to eliminate any potential food sources for small worm-like organisms.
To wrap up, a reader found a small white larvae in her bathroom. We aren’t confident about the identification of this creature, but we think it might be a black soldier fly larvae or a carpet beetle larva.
All About Worms is always free, always reader-supported, we don't subject you to ads or annoying video pop-ups. But it does cost us money out of our pocket to keep the site going (nearly 20 years so far!) So your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP Publishing.
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