“I have found two of these very, very small larvae in my bathtub after returning home from being away for four days”, writes Nicole about the yellow, worm-like critter pictured below. “As a backstory, I have two dogs and we recently (within the past month) moved into a new home that is old and under renovation. About three weeks ago I found a few fleas which I had thought I had completely eradicated. I washed my dogs with Dawn dish soap a few times that week, vacuumed extensively, laundered all of the linen in the house multiple times, spread diatomaceous earth under baseboards, carpets (and then rolled them up) and around certain spots the dogs like to lay, and had a company come to spray the yard with an organic solution (safe for pets and children). I hadn’t seen a sign of a flea in two weeks. I do also see a lot of other bugs making their way into the house; mainly just some ants and small black beetles. I’m really hoping these worms I found aren’t flea larvae, but I can’t seem to be sure what they are. They look almost to be a light pinkish color and if you zoom in on one of the photos, it looks like the larvae may have legs. I’m very confused and hoping you can help!”

To start with, we want to thank Nicole for the bountiful backstory: it always helps us identify the worms and worm-like organisms we are asked about. Now, to cut right to the chase, the organisms Nicole found are definitely not fleas or flea larvae. Flea larvae are transparent, not yellow, and adult fleas are black. We think Nicole has found carpet beetle larvae. Typically, these guys will have dark brown stripes in addition to this yellowish color, but given the organism’s shape, bristles (which Nicole understandably mistook as legs), and location of discovery, we still think this is a carpet beetle larva. It could just be an immature (perhaps newly-hatched) one, or its stripes are so light that it looks like a solid color, which is the case for some carpet beetle larvae. These critters are not harmful to humans or dogs, though one can experience allergic reactions to their bristles (which they leave behind on the items they infest) which can cause rashes to form.

Now, Nicole is likely relieved to hear that these are not fleas, but although carpet beetle larvae are not harmful to people or animals, they can cause a lot of damage to the textile items in one’s home. They will eat through anything made even partially from organic fibers like cotton, wool, or silk, which includes items like clothing, bed sheets, upholstery, and, naturally, carpets. For that reason, a lot of the same methods Nicola used to get rid of the fleas will apply to this situation. Of course, Nicole found two larvae, so she is not necessarily experiencing an infestation, but we nonetheless recommend treating it as one. Carpet beetles and their larvae do not just wander into homes accidentally: they are there for one purpose, which is to populate and eat. The biggest question here is why they were found in the bathtub; it is possible that they are munching on the towels in the bathroom, and that is how they ended up there, so we suggest that Nicole check those towels.

The main ways to control and eliminate infestations are to vacuum several times a week, launder any infested and potentially-infested items, and to install preventative measures where are aren’t ones: installing window and vent screens, sealing cracks in walls and floors, and storing unused textile items in airtight containers. Even if Nicole vacuums her home once and does not notice any more larvae, we urge her to take a very close look in her home, particularly in her wardrobes, dressers, and closets, as well as anywhere the dogs spend time (carpet beetle larvae will eat loose fur and hair); infestations can go unnoticed for long periods of time as the larvae are good at hiding.

As an aside, we want to commend Nicole on her thoroughness in eliminating the flea infestation. For the most part, we think her methods are good: diatomaceous earth has received good reviews from many combating worm infestations in their yard, though we have never heard of sprinkling it under one’s baseboards. Smart! Rolling up the rugs so her dogs would not sleep on them was also a proactive move. What we will say is that we recommend Nicole check with her vet if cleaning her dogs with Dawn dish soap is a good idea. We are not ourselves qualified to speak on whether we think it is a good idea or not, as we are not medical professionals, but we do know that skin can be very sensitive to dish soap.

In conclusion, we believe Nicole found carpet beetle larvae, not fleas. This brings good and bad news, but we hope that, with the tools provided in this article, Nicole will be able to fight off this potential infestation and rid her home of another unwanted guest. We wish Nicole and her dogs the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Yellow Bristly Worms in Bathtub are Carpet Beetle Larvae

Description

"I have found two of these very, very small larvae in my bathtub after returning home from being away for four days", writes Nicole about the yellow, worm-like critter pictured below. "As a backstory, I have two dogs and we recently (within the past month) moved into a new home that is old and under renovation. About three weeks ago I found a few fleas which I had thought I had completely eradicated. I washed my dogs with Dawn dish soap a few times that week, vacuumed extensively, laundered all of the linen in the house multiple times, spread diatomaceous earth under baseboards, carpets (and then rolled them up) and around certain spots the dogs like to lay, and had a company come to spray the yard with an organic solution (safe for pets and children). I hadn’t seen a sign of a flea in two weeks. I do also see a lot of other bugs making their way into the house; mainly just some ants and small black beetles. I’m really hoping these worms I found aren’t flea larvae, but I can’t seem to be sure what they are. They look almost to be a light pinkish color and if you zoom in on one of the photos, it looks like the larvae may have legs. I’m very confused and hoping you can help!"

Author

Worm Researcher Anton