“Just found this on my kitchen counter that had a few closed bottles of vitamins and nothing else,” writes this reader in her submission regarding the striped, light brown creature pictured below. “What is it? Please.” Based on the photo alone, we know that this is a carpet beetle larva. We have covered this critter countless times at this point, so we could spot them from a mile away. There is good and bad news. The good news is that carpet beetle larvae are not harmful to humans and pets (though we should note that one can experience allergic reactions to them that can cause rashes to form). The bad news is that these are destructive pests that chew holes through the textile items in one’s home.

To elaborate on that, carpet beetle larvae feed on the organic fibers present in textile materials. Items at risk include upholstery, clothing, bed sheets, curtains, towels, carpets and rugs (of course), and any other item containing cotton, wool, silk, leather, feathers, and other organic fibers. Our reader will want to check such items, and search her home, to see if there are any more larvae roaming about her home. Although we are not saying she has discovered an infestation, it is important to take immediate action when finding a carpet beetle larva so as to prevent an infestation.

The source of the infestation will be somewhere rich in carpet beetle larva fodder, and somewhere dark and cramped. Such places include wardrobes, dresser drawers, underneath and behind beds and/or upholstered furniture, and in storage boxes containing unused garments, to name some of the most common places. Of course, our reader found this little guy in the kitchen. And while it may have been trying to feed on the towels in the kitchen, it is also possible that it was going for the grains, as carpet beetles and their larvae have been known to feed on dried food goods at times. So our reader might also want to check her pantry.

If and when she does find them, she should vacuum that spot immediately and launder any infested items. On top of that, it is a good idea to vacuum the entire home and launder any potentially-infested items, as carpet beetle infestations can spread throughout the entire home. To prevent future infestations, it is a good idea to mend or replace any torn window screens, seal cracks in walls and floors with caulk, and store unused textile items in airtight containers (eg: boxes, vacuum-sealed bags, or cold vaults).

To conclude, the little striped creature our reader found is a carpet beetle larva. Hopefully, she is not experiencing an infestation, but we nonetheless recommend that she clean her home, just to be safe. We hope this helps, and we wish her the very best!

Summary

Article Name

Striped, Light Brown Critter on Kitchen Counter is a Carpet Beetle Larva

Description

"Just found this on my kitchen counter that had a few closed bottles of vitamins and nothing else," writes this reader in her submission regarding the striped, light brown creature pictured below. "What is it? Please." Based on the photo alone, we know that this is a carpet beetle larva. We have covered this critter countless times at this point, so we could spot them from a mile away. There is good and bad news. The good news is that carpet beetle larvae are not harmful to humans and pets (though we should note that one can experience allergic reactions to them that can cause rashes to form). The bad news is that these are destructive pests that chew holes through the textile items in one's home.

Author

Worm Researcher Anton