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Original poster

(Picture) Can anyone tell me what this insect is that I found on my pillow?

38 replies

EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:01

My second bug thread. Just wondered if any of you know what this is? I've also posted it in a bug forum but they can take ages to reply and I'm getting anxious.

Last night, before getting into bed, i found this mutant spider (but not a spider because it only has 6 legs) crawling along my pillow. My bed is right beneath a window, so this morning i intend to switch my room around to get my bed to a safe, windowless wall. Blush I hate, hate, hate creepy crawlies. It looks pregannt to me and i now think my pillow is infected with millions of microscopic eggs...

The picture is extremely zoomed in as I took it from quite a distance. I'd say it was no bigger than 1/2 a cm.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:24

Oh god, it's not a bed bug, is it? faints

OP posts:
Original poster
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:26

My mattress, pillow, duvet and sheets are all less than 18 months old and I hoover the mattress at least once a fortnight and wash the sheets every week. Sometimes twice a week!

OP posts:
wannabedomesticgoddess · 07/09/2013 10:28

Earwig?

Beehatch · 07/09/2013 10:29

Not a bed bug! Is some kind of beetle or weevil, the kind that eat notches in leaves. Might have come from a houseplant our in the window. Poor thing is lost.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 07/09/2013 10:29

Actually I thing earwigs are bigger than 1/2 cm.

I really hope its not a bedbug. Seriously. I feel for you if it is.

YourHandInMyHand · 07/09/2013 10:31

www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/bed-bugs/bed-bugs/

This link shows a picture of a bed bug.

Original poster
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:33

Thanks for the replies.

So relieved it's not a bed bug. I don't think it's an earwig either as I've just googled pictures of those.

My daughter put it safely outside for me last night (I had to wake her up to do this - she's five!) so hopefully s/he goes and finds a more welcoming person's pillow to invade. I really hope she didn't lay any eggs before she left...

OP posts:
Original poster
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:35

That picture you've linked to is the closest looking thing I've found to it, yet, yourhandinmyhand. Can't believe I let dd take it outside now.

Faints again

OP posts:
SparkyTGD · 07/09/2013 10:35

It does look like a bed bug, only from comparing pics, IMO, sorry.

SparkyTGD · 07/09/2013 10:38

Ps don't google search images of bedbugs, I just did (bleurghh!) and I really think that's what it looks like.

Original poster
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:39

Oh my god. I feel disgusting. I think I may throw up as a matter of fact. How the hell has this happened? I thought bed bugs only invade old mattresses or dirty bedding? Mine are all new-ish and clean!

OP posts:
HazeltheMcWitch · 07/09/2013 10:42

It looks like a bedbug to me - sorry!

It's a myth that they only invade old/dirty stuff. They're equal opportunity bugs, and very tricky to get rid of (2nd sorry).

Original poster
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:42

Here's another picture with a strand of my hair next to it (with the small hope you all will tell me it wasn't a bed bug after all).

OP posts:
Original poster
EweHaveGoatToBeKiddin · 07/09/2013 10:44

I don't have any bites and that was the only one. I've stripped down all my bed and examined everything thoroughly with a light and can't see any others (clinging to yet another piece of small hope here).

OP posts:
JourneyThroughLife · 07/09/2013 10:47

Just seen this - it's a weevil. They lay eggs in the soil in plant roots and then hatch out and eat plant leaves, making a mess of your plants, including pot plants. They are coming inside to hibernate for the winter, I'd take it outside again if it's come into the house. They have very hard shells on their back (in case you're unfortunate enough to squash it!)

heartichoke · 07/09/2013 10:47

It's a lovely little weevil (not a vine weevil, which is a good thing!) that's lost its way.

It looks just like this pic and id of an Otiorhynchus aurifer Bohemian 1843: www.nhm.ac.uk/natureplus/thread/1998

JourneyThroughLife · 07/09/2013 10:48

Just seen this - it's a weevil. They lay eggs in the soil in plant roots and then hatch out and eat plant leaves, making a mess of your plants, including pot plants. They are coming inside to hibernate for the winter, I'd take it outside again if it's come into the house. They have very hard shells on their back (in case you're unfortunate enough to squash it!)

JourneyThroughLife · 07/09/2013 10:49

It won't bite you, by the way, and no, it is not a bed bug...

SparkyTGD · 07/09/2013 10:50

NHS link for you with advice.

Have you stayed in a hotel recently, perhaps its just a stray one, from the pics I've looked at (ewwww!) it looks like a male one.

Maybe its a stray, hopefully.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 07/09/2013 10:50

If it was a bed bug I think there would be loads more.

heartichoke · 07/09/2013 10:52

It's not a bedbug - look at those antennae...

SparkyTGD · 07/09/2013 10:58

heartichoke & Journey probably right, I see what you mean about the antennae.

BigBrassBand · 07/09/2013 10:59

It doesn't look like a bedbug, look at the horizontal stripes on a bedbug's torso, whereas your beetle has a hard shell divided into 2 wing cases, rather like this species Typhaea stercorea

Lethologica · 07/09/2013 11:02

It's not a bedbug. It's abdomen is too rounded and its too small. Bedbugs are very flat when they haven't eaten.

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