A reader recently sent us this message, “I found this creature in my new socks. I poked around your site and am wondering if it is a carpet beetle larva. I’m hoping it is not some moth larva that would eat through my clothes. I did see a few months flying around last month, but we were dealing with pantry moths so I assumed the moths were related to that.”
The creature in this photograph is hiding in plain sight! Its brown body blends right into the sock. Upon further inspection, we can see the distinct dark segments lining its body and some tiny bristle-like hairs sprouting from it. We agree with our reader’s initial identification, this is a carpet beetle larva. Unfortunately, similar to some moths, carpet beetle larvae sometimes feed on and damage clothing. Our reader will need to do some detective work in her closet to determine the primary food source for these carpet beetle larvae and assess any damage to her clothing.
She should begin by going through her sock drawer and then the rest of her dresser and closet in search of evidence of more carpet beetle larvae. She should keep an eye out for the larvae themselves, damaged clothing, and the salt-like fecal pellets they leave behind. Anything that looks disturbed should be removed and cleaned immediately. She will also need to begin an intense cleaning regime to eliminate any other potential food sources for these larvae and any unseen eggs that might be hidden. She should vacuum, sweep, dust, and do laundry daily until she doesn’t notice any more signs of carpet beetle larvae in her home. Although the task of daily cleaning might feel daunting, it will be totally worth it when she knows her closet is safe from any other harm from carpet beetle larvae!
To conclude, one of our readers discovered a brown worm on one of her socks, which we have identified as a carpet beetle larva. The most effective way to get rid of carpet beetle larvae is to clean. We hope our reader is able to say goodbye to these annoying visitors!
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