One of our readers asked us about some tiny worm-like organisms he found on his brother’s bed. As it was quite late when he noticed them, he didn’t investigate the rest of the house. He said the organisms are less than half a centimeter long and pretty thin:

He wrote, “They are almost translucent looking because they are white with dark insides that show through. Some have more black color inside than others.” He thinks they might be larvae, but is also worried they might be pinworms or threadworms. He said he is going to wash the bed sheets, but realizes this won’t help if these are parasites living in their bodies. Here is another photograph he sent us:

We agree with our reader, these are larvae! To be more specific, we believe these are flea larvae. Our reader didn’t mention if he has a cat or a dog, but he should begin treating his pet for fleas as soon as possible. He should also wash his brother’s bedding, and any other bedding that the pet sleeps on. In addition, he should vacuum and sweep his entire home daily, and wash any toys his pet plays with. If the toy can’t be washed, it’s best to throw them out.

We don’t think the worm-like organisms our reader found are pinworms or threadworms, or any other parasitic organisms. However, if our reader is worried about his health or his brother’s health, we encourage him to see a doctor. We are not medical professionals and cannot give medical advice to our readers!

To sum up, one of our readers found tiny worm-like organisms with translucent and black bodies. We believe these specimens are flea larvae.