Little Brown Worm-like Critter Crawling on Sheets is a Carpet Beetle Larva

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“Is this a carpet beetle larva?” asks this reader in her submission regarding the tiny, brown creature pictured below. “I found it in my bed and I am not sure since it seems smaller than the others. If not a carpet beetle larva, then what is it?” Based on the photo alone, we would say that this is indeed a carpet beetle larva. The stripes, bristles, and shape all point to this conclusion. Carpet beetle larvae are infamous household pests, as they like to munch on textiles much like the sheets on our reader’s bed on which the bug was found. In addition to bed sheets, they like to feed on carpets, rugs, clothing, loose hair and fur, and any other items made from organic materials like cotton, wool, feathers, leather and more.

We recommend that our reader search her home thoroughly for any more roaming larvae, as even the presence of one larva is indicative that there are more in the home. Infestations of them can be devastating to the items in one’s home, and their bristles can even cause what is called a ‘carpet beetle rash’. Additionally, our reader should vacuum her home thoroughly and launder/steam-clean any textiles that could potentially be infested. She might have to do this a few times over the course of a few weeks, as infestations of carpet beetle larvae are very difficult to get rid of.

With all of that said, we are not saying that our reader is definitely experiencing an infestation, but it is better to be safe than sorry, so we would nonetheless recommend that at least vacuum her home and launder her bed sheets once. Even if she does not find more roaming larvae, there could be eggs lying around, and those are nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye. Likewise, to prevent carpet beetles from entering her home in the future, we suggest she check that her window screens are intact, that there are not any sizable cracks in her walls or floors that cannot be sealed, and that her clothing is stored somewhere that bugs cannot easily enter.

Video of Carpet Beetle Larva

To conclude, the brown bug our reader found is a carpet beetle larva. They are not dangerous to humans or pets, though their bristles can cause a rash. Good job to her for correctly identifying it! We hope this article has proved helpful and we wish her the very best!

 

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Summary
Little Brown Worm-like Critter Crawling on Sheets is a Carpet Beetle Larva
Article Name
Little Brown Worm-like Critter Crawling on Sheets is a Carpet Beetle Larva
Description
"Is this a carpet beetle larva?" asks this reader in her submission regarding the tiny, brown creature pictured below. "I found it in my bed and I am not sure since it seems smaller than the others. If not a carpet beetle larva, then what is it?" Based on the photo alone, we would say that this is indeed a carpet beetle larva. The stripes, bristles, and shape all point to this conclusion. Carpet beetle larvae are infamous household pests, as they like to munch on textiles much like the sheets on our reader's bed on which the bug was found. In addition to bed sheets, they like to feed on carpets, rugs, clothing, loose hair and fur, and any other items made from organic materials like cotton, wool, feathers, leather and more.
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Author: Worm Researcher Anton

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