What the hell is this bug?!

[nameshame24]

AIBU to not know what this bug is I just found on the headboard of my bed?! It was very small, almost like a mini caterpillar but not?! and now I'm worried there's more!!

Sorry to post on this board but I wasn't sure which other thread to go to!!

Carpet beetle larvae

Omg what?! So there's more?!

Carpet beetle.

We had 17 year old Dd hysterical about these. Cleaned her room top to bottom, everything. (She’s ASD)

Week later found an adult version in our bed🤮

I can’t wear wool and we have wooden floors, so wtf it’s living on l do not know.

Its a carpet beetle larvae and yes there will be more. You need to hoover everywhere (also check wardrobes and drawers) and put insect powder down under the edges of carpets. They especially like natural fibres but will make do with human hair and dead skin cells embedded in synthetic carpets. Under beds is a prime location for them.

They especially like natural fibres but will make do with human hair and dead skin cells embedded in carpets. Under beds is a prime location for them

Oh God, l really wish l didn’t know this. Theyre living off me🤮🤮

What sort of insect powder?

Wow I'm so freaked out right now!!! I'm a clean person as well so how has this happened?! 😫
Yes please can you tell me what bug powder to get. I better change the bed sheets too then and hover the bed

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow Yeah they are grim! I used Nippon Ant Powder and it worked well but we didn't have too bad an infestation. I think the adults live off flowering plants but can come inside to lay eggs. They can be found in birds nests as well. You just need to stay vigilant and hoover a lot, also empty the hoover and put the contents in a tied bag outside. If you spot an adult kill it.

@nameshame24 You don't have to be dirty to get them, like I say above we just seem to have them around this area and the adults fly in open windows and lay eggs in the edges of the carpet where dust is more likely to build up a bit so get your nozzle out! One beetle can lay 40 eggs so it only takes one or two to get in to start an infestation!

We had these in an old wasp’s nest in the roof of our porch. They found their way into the house through a tiny hole. We blocked it off and hopefully they’re now dead. We haven’t seen any in the house since.

Tbf I've just started hoover in all of the corners on my bedroom and I'm not as clean as I thought I was! It is extremely dusty and I definitely need to move furniture and hoover behind it more!!! Thanks all for the advice. It probably doesn't help that I have an Ottoman bed with all towels and sheets in it so they well all be having a party in there 😫😫😫

I see the odd one around the house every now and then (probably about 2 or 3 a year). I just squash them when I see one. I wouldn't worry too much.

I better change the bed sheets too then and hover the bed

I bought 2 new mattresses🤮😳

We found one under the lip of the piping on DD’s mattress. That was the end for that mattress. Then the beetle🤮

I've never even heard of these! I'm off to hoover under the beds.

Call a pest specialist in your area. They will come out and spray insecticide. They lift the edges of your carpets and everything, it’s much more thorough than trying to do it yourself and they use stronger chemicals.

They are harmless but the little hairs can cause an allergic reaction to pets. The adults get into the house, they are tiny little beetles. They like to live in cracks in floorboards, fabrics (any kind but prefer animal fibres).

A household flea spray like Acclaim or Indorex will shift them, the best powder is Diatomaceous earth and it is very fine powder so you need to not inhale it or buy a large amount because you will get a fair amount by weight. Buy food grade if you get this, not industrial.

We inherited them when we moved into the house. I used DE and it was very messy as it is best to leave it down for a while. Do not Hoover it up, it will clog your motor.

I use a good flea spray now, it's nasty stuff but a lot less messy. It will also kill any other insects, so if you like spiders collect them up and put them somewhere else.

Pest control will do it for you but it's easier to do it yourself, and you can do a room at a time rather than go out and leave the house. Cheaper too.

@RestingCatsArseFace They are harmless but can also cause allergies in people if they get onto you. They can also ruin clothing. I initially used Diatomaceous Earth as you suggest but it wasn't as good at getting rid of them as the ant powder but the insecticide can be toxic.

Yes, I meant harmless as in will not poison you/don't bite. I did mean to add humans to the irritation list, but had only dealt with it on cats and forgot about us mere mortals.

I don't like sprays either, did get rid of them with DE but left it down for a very long time. They always come back though. I sometimes use a flea spray, carefully, one room at a time, and ensure it is well settled and ventilated for a few days before opening it up. However that is more to do with having a rescue pet who managed to bring fleas back from the vet hospital than the carpet beetles. DE isn't great to breathe in, but is less harmful than ant powder (and sprays)>

The first time I had them I had the carpets cleaned and some kind of treatment was used, but that was back in the 80's. The advantage of Indorex etc. is that it also deals with clothes moths.

Active ingredient in Indorex is permethrin. Active ingredient in ant powder is also permethrin. If used in large amounts it can affect cognitive thinking and cause headaches. If I have to use it I prefer a fine mist to a powder as it settles and dries, a powder can get puffed out of cracks and inhaled as it's not easy to clear up.

I inherit clothes moths/carpet beetles in every house I live in. People often don't realise they are there, or what they are. Often see threads on here asking what they are.