Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Entomology (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=113)
-   -   Tiny red brown worms found on plastic in closet (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=798870)

  • Aug 10, 2014, 07:27 AM
    MikeysGrrrl
    2 Attachment(s)
    Tiny red brown worms found on plastic in closet
    My husband was looking through our closet when he happened to notice these tiny red brown things wriggling around on some plastic bags. They seem quite small, almost like loose tobacco, they look like teeny tiny worms. We didn't see them anywhere else in the room, only on those bags.

    What could these be? Should we be worried? What should we do?
  • Aug 10, 2014, 08:19 AM
    Catsmine
    1 Attachment(s)
    Those look to be larvae of a dermestid beetle, quite likely a hide beetle or larder beetle.

    These are hide beetle grubs

    Attachment 46422

    This is a larder beetle grub
    Attachment 46421

    Do either of those look similar?
  • Aug 10, 2014, 08:24 AM
    Catsmine
    1 Attachment(s)
    I hate this attachment tool.


    Try again

    Attachment 46423
  • Aug 10, 2014, 09:15 AM
    MikeysGrrrl
    I don't think it looks like either of those, they are so tiny it's really hard to see anything distinguishing about them, except they almost appear to have like a clear casing over the coloured bodies, and some seem to look like them have little ends on them. I can't get our camera to take closer shots without completely distorting them and putting them out of focus.
  • Aug 10, 2014, 10:37 AM
    Catsmine
    Nonetheless, a deep cleaning of that closet to remove dead insects and other food sources would be advisable. Other than that, there shouldn't be any cause for concern.
  • Aug 15, 2014, 09:30 PM
    Locrian_44
    They look like flea larvae. Do you have a cat or dog?

    https://www.google.com/search?q=flea...h=610#imgdii=_
  • Aug 15, 2014, 09:34 PM
    MikeysGrrrl
    Yes we have 2 cats and after some extensive research we concluded that you are correct, it is in fact flea larvae. Our kitten liked to sleep in our closet area and we noticed her scratching a lot, so we have done massive cleaning in the house and on both cats so we can nip this in the bud.

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:01 AM.