Segmented Bug on Bed Sheets Could be Black Soldier Fly Larva or Fiery Searcher Larva

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“Found this on a bed sheet”, writes this reader in his submission regarding the segmented, black, bug-like critter pictured below. “Pic is of back and front. At first I thought it was a leaf. Do you know what it is? Thank you!” Well, we can say that this is definitely not a leaf. We think it is an insect larva of some kind, either a beetle or fly larva. At first glance, given the shape, color and segmentation, we thought it was probably a black soldier fly larva (also known as BSFL). Black soldier fly larvae are an underappreciated, yet quite famous, bug. They are composting larvae that efficiently break down organic materials, producing little waste, and from whom organic plastic can be produced.

However, BSFL are not glossy like the bug in the photo. Which had us thinking this could instead be a fiery searcher larva. Otherwise known as caterpillar hunters, fiery searchers are a species of beetle whose larvae very much look like the one our reader photographed. The adult beetle is a fan favorite amongst bug enthusiasts and the general public alike, as their metallic green shell and chromatic, deep purple legs make this beetle a beautiful sight to behold. Like most species of larvae, fiery searcher larvae have a voracious appetite, and they are predatory ones. In fact, they primarily eat other larvae, specifically caterpillars (hence the name).

Fiery searcher larvae are not harmful, though they do possess a pair of mandibles by their head which they could use to pinch you, so recommend avoiding physical contact if it can be helped. The only reason we also doubt if the creature our reader found is one of these critters is because fiery searcher larvae typically have visible prolegs, while we cannot see any on this one. With that in mind, we have to consider the possibility that this could still be a black soldier fly larva, or it could be none of the identifications we suggested.

In conclusion, we are not entirely sure what the creature is that our reader found. Its shape, segmentation, color, and lack of legs all point to it being a black soldier fly larvae, though its glossiness suggests otherwise. In any case, it is definitely not a leaf, and we recommend that our reader launder her bed sheets in case the adult insect laid any other eggs on her bed. We hope this helps and we wish our reader the very best!

 

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Segmented Bug on Bed Sheets Could be Black Soldier Fly Larva or Fiery Searcher Larva
Article Name
Segmented Bug on Bed Sheets Could be Black Soldier Fly Larva or Fiery Searcher Larva
Description
"Found this on a bed sheet", writes this reader in his submission regarding the segmented, black, bug-like critter pictured below. "Pic is of back and front. At first I thought it was a leaf. Do you know what it is? Thank you!" Well, we can say that this is definitely not a leaf. We think it is an insect larva of some kind, either a beetle or fly larva. At first glance, given the shape, color and segmentation, we thought it was probably a black soldier fly larva (also known as BSFL). Black soldier fly larvae are an underappreciated, yet quite famous, bug. They are composting larvae that efficiently break down organic materials, producing little waste, and from whom organic plastic can be produced.
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Author: Worm Researcher Anton

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