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Posted in Worms Facts Worms Found in the House Worms Generally

Orange Worm on Bed is a Scarlet Malachite Beetle Larva

“What are these orange worms and how do you get rid of them?” asks this reader in her submission regarding the critter pictured below. “Live in a thatched apartment. Found on the bed.” Based on the fantastic picture, we think our reader found a scarlet malachite beetle larva. The scarlet malachite beetle belongs to a family of beetles called soft-winged flower beetles (Melyridae). Many of the larvae that belong to this family look similar: three sets of prolegs, a bulbous, darkly-colored head, and a segmented body. It is native to Great Britain, but was also introduced to North America in the 1800s. Unfortunately, the scarlet malachite beetle is quite rare in Britain today, as it is considered a protected species.

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Posted in Grub Worms Worms Facts Worms Generally

Six-legged Worms in Basement Could be Scarlet Malachite Beetle Larvae

“I live in Brooklyn, NY and I just finished renovating my basement”, starts Yitzchok in his submission regarding the pink, worm-like creature with legs pictured below. “I put in new ceramic flooring and freshly painted, etc. But now, only a week after post construction, I keep on finding these small yellowish worms crawling on my new floors. There is no food being stored in my basement. The only thing I have other than the toilet and bedrooms is a boiler room with some extra paint stored in it. Please if you can help me find out where it’s coming from and how to get rid of it. Thanks.”

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Worm in Sink is Scarlet Malachite Beetle Larva

We believe the worm-like organism our reader found is a scarlet malachite beetle larva. This specimen isn’t considered a pest, so our reader doesn’t need to stress about finding it in his house!