Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Help! Is this a bedbug?

15 replies

shrubgreen · 19/02/2024 19:52

Please put me out of my misery 😩 is this a bedbug? All the Google searches show them massively zoomed in which doesn't help as have no idea what they look like in "actual size".

Thank you!!

Help! Is this a bedbug?
OP posts:
Groundhoghcg · 19/02/2024 19:54

You need a better picture, it could be one that has just fed but equally it could be a beetle (looks a bit like a woodworm or carpet beetle)

Groundhoghcg · 19/02/2024 19:55

Inclined to think it's not a bedbug but unwilling to say with a blurry pic 🤔

Pleasebeafleabite · 19/02/2024 20:06

Looks like a carpet beetle to me

Pleasebeafleabite · 19/02/2024 20:07

Does it look a little bit hairy?

shrubgreen · 19/02/2024 20:07

Thank you! Yes photo is crap, sorry... Couldn't get a better one but will try. On googling it looks a bit more beetle like.... Hoping so!

OP posts:
Lavenderandbrown · 19/02/2024 20:16

no. Bed bugs have rounder back and definetly legs. Also if you squish it blood comes out of they fed (on you or someone else) recently. They look more
beetle like. Your picture is not great but your big looks longer narrow body.

mamaison · 19/02/2024 20:27

Not the right shape to be bed bug

FloofyBird · 19/02/2024 20:28

Is it kind of stripey? I was going to say carpet beetle too

shrubgreen · 19/02/2024 20:50

Thanks everyone! Yes it's kind of shiny and looks like it's hard and smooth. Not hairy at all. Any idea how to get rid of them or if they're anything to worry about?

OP posts:
C1N1C · 19/02/2024 20:59

100% definitely NOT a bed bug.

It's a small beetle... difficult to tell exactly what due to the blur, but beetles that size in houses ARE typically pests.

To be honest, it looks a little long to be a furniture beetle/woodworm, it looks more like a species of flour beetle.

What part of the house was it found? What situation?

shrubgreen · 20/02/2024 04:22

C1N1C · 19/02/2024 20:59

100% definitely NOT a bed bug.

It's a small beetle... difficult to tell exactly what due to the blur, but beetles that size in houses ARE typically pests.

To be honest, it looks a little long to be a furniture beetle/woodworm, it looks more like a species of flour beetle.

What part of the house was it found? What situation?

Thank you for the reassurance! I found it strolling along the top of the sofa and then I looked under the big seat cushions and found about 4 more. Would I need to get the furniture sprayed do you reckon?

OP posts:
Turmerictolly · 20/02/2024 05:25

Hard to tell from the photo but it is likely if they're in your sofa. They look flat, slightly copper coloured and a bit like a woodlouse but much smaller..

Bananalanacake · 20/02/2024 05:28

Sniff your finger where it's been, they leave a distinctive smell.

C1N1C · 20/02/2024 08:47

shrubgreen · 20/02/2024 04:22

Thank you for the reassurance! I found it strolling along the top of the sofa and then I looked under the big seat cushions and found about 4 more. Would I need to get the furniture sprayed do you reckon?

Hmm, if you found it in the sofa, that either implies they're feeding on the dust/food that has fallen between the cushions, or they're eating the wood (so could be woodworm after all!).

The key thing is the 'where'. Woodworm tend to leave little 'sawdust' piles outside the holes that they've excavated. If your sofa is on wooden floors it would be easy to spot these. However, if you can pull out the cushions and find them scurrying around where 'stuff' has gathered (crumbs etc), then it's more likely to be food beetles.

Standard insect sprays will work, but if you see any exposed wood with holes, then you'll need some of the woodworm 'paint'.

95% of home insecticides will be pyrethroids, which are relatively harmless to kids and animals. They're not quite as good as the industrial insecticides that say Rentokil will use, but they act quicker. Go for anything that says fast acting and it will be what you need, but if in doubt, look on the ingredients list and if the chemical ends in '-thrin' you're set :)

It will say something like 'contains 5% w/v cypermethrin'. Try to hold your breath when spraying, and if you're giving more than a quick spritz, maybe leave the room for an hour after to be safe.

shrubgreen · 20/02/2024 12:15

Thanks so much @C1N1C - very helpful!

I've googled and does look like flour beetles. I'll get some domestic spray and hope it does the job. The floors are laminate and although the sofa does have wooden feet I haven't spotted any wood dust piles.

Thanks all - just glad I don't have to fumigate every room and item of clothing I own...!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread