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Possibly a Larder Beetle

On March 6, 2013 · Category: Diseases: Real and Imagined, Pantry Beetles, Grain Weevils, Spider Beetles, Meal Worms and Carpet Beetles Tagged With: Household Pests · 1 Comment

Subject: Bug from Thrift Store? making me seriously ill
Location: Arvada, Colorado
March 5, 2013 8:56 am
I have noticed this bug for probably a couple of months. The only place that I find the, is usually one at a time, in the mornings on the top of my stove.
At first I thought they were mice feces, until about a week ago when I went to scoop it in the trash & it scurried away!!
I was MIT at a Thrift Store, & 2 weeks into the job, I developed hives & such. I fought it for 15 months, going to my PCP, a dermatologist, and had prick allergen testing, which revealed my only allergies were tov2 trees, & most grasses & weeds I then was sent into Workmans compv& had Patch testing run. This revealed allergies to Indystrial compounds; Chromate, Cobalt, Ethylednaminedihydrochloruse, and Balsam of Puru.
I have suffered recurring rashes covering my hands, neck, face,& scalp. I seem to clear up on steroids & antibiotics, but once off the meds, I reflare with a vengance. Nobody can seem to figure out what is wrong with me, as I continue to suffer. I often feel as though I’m being ”bitten”, and itch incessantly.
I’ve not worked at the Thrift Store since August 2012, but am still suffering and UNABLE to work.
Could THIS BUG be the culprit, & WHAT IS IT?????
I’ve checked my mattress & have not seen any there.
This bug is about 1/8”, brownish in color, no visible legs, apparent antanae on the head.
PLEASE HELP!! I’m freaking out & tired of being sick!! In addition, I need to get this cleared up so U may find different work
Thank you!
Miserable in Coloradi
Signature: Miserable in Colorado

Larder Beetle

Dear Miserable in Colorado,
We are not qualified to make medical diagnoses, nor do we have any scientific credentials. This appears to be a Larder Beetle, Dermestes lardarius, a species that commonly infests stored food products. We do not believe it has any relationship to your symptoms. You might want to suggest that your healthcare providers explore the possibility of Delusory Parasitosis.

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Bed Bug, NOT Delusory Parasitosis Perhaps

On September 30, 2011 · Category: Bedbugs, Diseases: Real and Imagined Tagged With: Household Pests · 1 Comment

Ed. Note October 4, 2011: This posting was originally entitled: What’s That Bug? does not correct our contributors’ grammar.
Continued correspondence with “need2relax” has caused us to speculate that there is a greater problem here that we are not qualified to address.

Psychologically messed up..Please help.
Location: couches
September 29, 2011 3:43 pm
I am quite paranoid. In jun we had kept discovering bites and servile of them and our baby was getting bite everyday i automatically though bed bugs called 4 exterminators with in two weeks and non of the 4 seen anything or evidence?..Time went by figured it was mosquitos or spiders bites lowered..
Then in the last week of august starting getting bit BAD and it was scary. Inspected my beds inspected couches and had professionals seek and found nothing..Every time though we site on the couch we get bit my husband was wide awake watching a movie while talking to friends and he seen a little brownish black bug and had bites..i inspected the couch seena spiderish looking teeny tiny bug WEIRD nothing else though..
Was in a nother living room and seen a yellowish looking tan color bug when i smashed it black goo came out it was fast not scared at all i was wide awake and it was maybe the size of a rice grain..Dont have fleas maybe mites? or just the rainy weather living next to the beach and have a lot of lanscaping around just bugs? idk what to do i cant sleep i panic al night making sure no bed bugs but thank god no bites ever while sleeping and no bugs in bed ever..please help
Signature: need2relax

What's That Bug?

Dear need2relax,
We don’t know what you have.

Did you get the pictures?

Ed. Note: We referred Aussietrev’s comment and then received this reply.

Thank you. That is probably it.
And also I was thinking biting midges or noseeums. See lots of those.

Update: October 3, 2011
This is the last email.
I also want to include I had 4 exterminations and none of witch did not see any evidence Nether have I just bites. Then I seen a large bug on the back of my head board. Like a size of a quarter or a half dollar. Could that be bb? Maybe it wasn’t a bug??? Ease help. No ink stains or blood anywhere. And no smell no other bugs tore up the whole house. Please please help.

Update: October 3, 2011
Hey. I’m sorry to bug you. LOL. Do you think this is bed bugs!!

What's That Bug?????

Dear need2relax,
We cannot discern any details in your photos. If four exterminators did not find anything, you might want to seed professional attention for a syndrome known as Delusory Parasitosis. We have no professional credentials. We are not entomologists and we are not able to help you.

UPDATE: October 6, 2011
My last email. I promise. Just answer please.
Cherry red blood came out. And it was teeny tiny. Roundish brownish black. Please help

What's That Spot???

Dear need2relax,
You are obviously quite troubled, but we are unable to discern any details in the blurry photos you have sent to us. Perhaps you might want to hire a professional photographer to document the things you are finding in your home.

Yes I am. It’s just I keep seeing weird little things and no one understands. And I know your not a bug specialist and I’m sorry to drive you nuts. I just seen this little tiny almost invisible black bug and when I smashed it cherry red blood came out. I dont think it had antennas? It had remarkably small legs.. What could this be? Is it just a harmless little outdoor bug that wondered in? Or is it a mite or a be bug a very small blackish brown sitting in the seam of my blanket very slow motion moving bug. Any ideahs. ( yes I will seek psychological help ) thank you.

What you describe does not sound like a Bed Bug. Mites could be a possibility. Some Mites infest the nests of birds and rats, and if such nests are in your attic, the Mites might find their way into the home when the young birds or rats leave the nest. See this posting and others in our Mite category.

UPDATE: October 12, 2011
Bed bug right?
Or could this be a mite. Like a clover mite. It busted red like blood.

Bed Bug

Dear need2relax,
This does indeed look like a Bed Bug. We apologize for suggesting that you might have Delusory Parasitosis. Your earlier photos were unrecognizeable as insects. Often times, many small insects find their way into beds. Carpet Beetles and Pantry Beetles do not bite, but they are often found between the sheets. This latest photo has enough detail to be identified as a member of the order Hemiptera which includes Bed Bugs. There is not enough detail for a conclusive identification, but we can at least speculate that since it was found in the bed, and since it contained blood, and since you are being bitten, that a Bed Bug is an excellent candidate. You might want to take the actual specimen to your local disease vector headquarters or to a local exterminator to give you a more certain identification. If you have Bed Bugs, you will have to begin an extensive eradication program. Start by searching under the mattress, along the baseboards, under pictures hanging near the bed, and other likely hiding places. Good luck with your eradication efforts and again, please accept our apology for our initial reluctance to confirm you had Bed Bugs.

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Indian Meal Moths and possibly Delusory Parasitosis

On May 14, 2011 · Category: Diseases: Real and Imagined, Pantry Moths, Clothes Moths, Case-Bearers and Meal Moths Tagged With: Household Pests, Worst Bug Stories Ever!!! · Add Comment

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES THIS BUG IS PARASITIC? OR MAYBE ITS PARASITES PARASITIC?
Location: Urban ”forest” Surrey BC
May 13, 2011 2:31 pm
Dear Mr. Bug man
moved into ground level condo one year ago 3 months ago rash developed. shortly there after began seeing moth like winged guys (once or twice) very late at night in kitchen. Got extermination stuff. dr said the moth and rash were not related and that rash was scabies. Did treatment washed everything in house steamed extra. while doing scabies treatment small slightly transparent creature came out of my eye and then went under my fingernail. Husband dr. and mother think I am crazy. Other strange occurrences. Husband acnologes moths as pests but refuses to believe my story. I have been under stress at work… dr says the mind is very powerful and my stress has triggered these delusions.
Can you give any insight into this?
Heres some specimens i have collected. There are also ”lint” like cases attached to many of our clothes… which everyone also says I am over reacting to…. Ive never had so much lint. also had two budgies recently die…. related? or have I gone mad?
im hoping I have gone mad…
Christina
Signature: An otherwise normal happy slightly exentric housewife

Indian Meal Moth

Dear Christina,
We need to begin our response with a disclaimer. We are not doctors and we have no qualifications to diagnose any health related issues, nor are we entomologists, so any insect identifications we provide are questionable at best. We are artists who have a mission to promote an appreciation of the lower beasts as well as to make people aware of the interconnectivity of all things on our fragile planet and beyond. With that stated, we are convinced that the moth in your photo is an Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella, and that you have also supplied us with a photo of its larva. You may find information and photos of the Indian Meal Moth on Bugguide and you can also compare your larva to this image of an Indian Meal Moth Larva on BugGuide. According to BugGuide, the Indian Meal Moth: “infests a wide variety of stored food products such as flour, oatmeal, dried fruits, seeds, nuts, powdered milk, biscuits, chocolate, and bird seed“ With that said, it is senseless to try to exterminate your Indian Meal Moth problem with pesticides since they are feeding on your food. The pesticides would need to be applied directly to your food before they would have any effect on the problem. You should thoroughly inspect the food in your pantry and definitely discard anything past the expiration date. Pay close attention to corn meal, oatmeal and any boxed cake mixes or flour products. You should be able to locate the place where the larvae are feeding and dispose of those items. Larvae are the destructive stage and adult moths do not feed on stored foods. It is virtually impossible to rid you home of all insects, but you can take certain precautions to guard your clothing against clothes moths. Sachet was a popular item in days of yore. There are certain herbs that are known to discourage insects from damaging clothing. These dried herbs can be sewn into small silken pouches and hung on hangers with woolens and other organic fibers. The herbs of choice include lavender, sage, rosemary, wormwood and peppermint. Not only will this sachet repel moths, it will also make your clothes smell nice. We do not know what caused your birds to die. If your doctor believes that stress is contributing to your condition, you should follow his advice or perhaps seek a second opinion. There is a condition known as Delusory Parasitosis and here is a link to a journal article called Delusory Parasitosis by Nancy C. Hinkle that originally appeared in American Entomologist, Volume 46, Number 1 in Spring 2000. Stress can cause the mind to trigger delusions, and “Bugs” are an easy target. We hope your condition improves.

Larva of Indian Meal Moth

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Carpet Beetle Larva: Can it be Related to Asthma flare???

On November 14, 2010 · Category: Diseases: Real and Imagined, Pantry Beetles, Grain Weevils, Spider Beetles, Meal Worms and Carpet Beetles Tagged With: Household Pests · 1 Comment

Am I allergic to this hairy bug
Location: Boston MA
November 13, 2010 3:22 pm
Hi Daniel,
Great website! I love learning from what you’ve put together. You’ve made me very curious about bugs.
In particular, I have a bug that I am having trouble identifying. I’ve found them in my home, in the bedroom and a few other places.
Bugs I have observed are 1/8th inch to almost 1/4 inch long. The one in the attached pictures is 3/16ths inch long (just short of 1/4 inch). It’s the biggest one I’ve found. It has hair tufts along its body.
My best guess is a Carpet Beatle / wooly bear, but I am not sure that is right. Is this the larva of Anthrenus verbasci beetle? Or what do you think it is?
What can I expect from this bug living in my home? I have asthma, and have noticed I have been having more irritation with my lungs since I noted these insects, especially after spending a night in the bedroom where I found them. Could I have some allergy to their presence / fur?
If I need to remove them from my home, can you recommend a method?
Thanks so much, Daniel!
Signature: Justin Molloy

Carpet Beetle Larva

Hi Justin,
We are not medical professionals and we feel very reluctant to provide any opinion regarding the possibility of Carpet Beetle Larvae being connected to a complex syndrome like asthma that can be triggered by stress as well as the physical environment. We will try to address you letter as best we can. We agree that this larva is in the genus Anthrenus (see BugGuide), however we are very reluctant to provide an exact species identification, though Anthrenus verbasci is a strong possibility. According to BugGuide, the habitat of Carpet Beetles is: “An abundant household ‘stored product pest.’ In nature they inhabit the abandoned nests of birds and mammals, as well as old wasp nests where the larvae scavenge on accumulated fur, feathers, skin flakes, and dead insects” and additional comments include: “Controlling carpet beetles can be achieved by keeping your home free of accumulated hair and dust (dust is mostly shed skin flakes of people and pets), discarding infested items and properly storing vulnerable items. Store dry foods (including dry pet food) in glass or metal containers with tight-fitting lids. Store woolens, furs, silks in a cedar chest. Forget mothballs and moth crystals. They are ineffective and carcinogenic respectively.“ Because the larvae may feed upon fur, hair and skin flakes, it is possible that environmental factors are contributing to your asthma and that the presence of the Carpet Beetle Larvae is a symptom of an underlying problem that might be corrected by more frequent vacuuming and cleaning of accumulated debris.

Hi Daniel,
Thank so much. This info is very helpful, and is the link to your site on Anthrenus.
Really appreciate your guidance! Have a great day.
Justin

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Unknown Parasite

On November 13, 2010 · Category: Diseases: Real and Imagined Tagged With: mysteries, Worst Bug Stories Ever!!! · 2 Comments

Unknown bug in human skin (blood too?)
Location: Sierra Foothills, S. Central California
November 12, 2010 4:51 pm
I somehow got infested with a small bug that is NOT 8 legged (i.e. tick, crab,
scabies, bed-bug,etc.) but in its larger state looks more like a caraway seed with one end rounded. The smaller versions look the same. Some are speck sized. They have burrowed under my skin and will only come up when I apply bleach, Comet (that’s how I found out they were bugs and not thorns) or rubbing alcohol. My MD is baffled and I have consulted an Infectious Disease specialist who has sent samples (obtained after my GP gave me a parasite remover that I had to swallow (4 of them) on an empty stomach.
The specialist says she can’t identify them – or wouldn’t identify them until we got a lab report back. My secondary symptoms include SEVERE pain that radiates from the base of my skull down my neck and right shoulder. I’ve had to go to my MD for pain shot relief. She also gave me an anti-spasm, anti-inflammatory drug that seems to help. No one has EVER heard of this and, the specialist is so blaze’ about it, she didn’t even put a rush to the lab. There appear to be thousands of them in my skin and blood. (No exaggeration here.) I am going out of my mind. The little ones crawl out of my skin – especially when I’m hot (I have a jacket
or sweatshirt on) and I find them in my bedding in the morning or embedded in my
underpants. She said that they are NOT transferable, but I’m out on disability until we can know, for certain, what they are and how to kill them. My MD has ordered a CAT scan of my head (next Tuesday 11/16). I really can’t tell you much more about the bug, but it appears to have two translucent ”feeler”-like appendages that come out of the pointy end and sometimes stick out of my skin. (Breathing tubes?) I can’t see for certain, but I suspect that they have little, short legs on the sides of their ”caraway seed” shaped body and the larger ones have visible
lines that run across the bug (horizontally). They are both black and also rusty brown color. I haven’t been out of the country, but I do live next to a small river (Tule River) that has a pretty stagnant part on my land that I’ve had to wade into to clean off my pump filter. At this point I don’t have a clue where it came from. I just want it gone, and I’m loosing my mind. I also forgot to mention that I’m somewhat bug-phobic. HELP (if you can). I don’t think the photo I’m sending will be of any help. My digital just won’t give it the clarity. Just for reference, I shot the picture on a 8-1/2 X 11” piece of paper that I folded into quarter sized (4ths). I believe I’ve had this infestation for over a year, but just recognized them as ”bugs”.
Signature: Frantic in the Foothills

Unknown Parasite

Dear Frantic in the Foothills,
We sympathize with your infestation, but we are at a loss as to what this could be. We are not medical specialists and we are very reluctant to give health advice. We are quite curious what the specialist determines regarding this matter.

Dear Daniel,
Thank you for your response, even though you can’t identify the bug. I have to admit the
photograph wasn’t the least bit helpful. I did, however, just buy a microscope that has a
digital camera attached, so maybe you can at least identify the “bug”. I firmly believe it
came from the water and not the land. I don’t expect you to diagonse my infestation
(that’s why I’ve consulted an Infectious Disease Specialist), but knowing what the bug
(worm?) is would give me a kick-start.
At any rate, I’ll certainly let you know when I find out. This is one for the books. I’m going
to bypass the book and go straight to the screenplay.
Thanks again for responding. Most sites would have just blown me off.
Regards,
Frantic in the Foothills (aka Jan)

Hi again Jan,
We wish you the best of luck in eliminating this problem and would be more than happy to post any updates you are able to provide including better quality images. We try not to be alarmist but we cannot help but ponder how things like global travel and global warming are affecting the range expansion of species that once had isolated distributions. Tropical diseases like West Nile Virus and Invasive Exotic species like the Emerald Ash Borer are wreaking havoc in areas where they have been introduced. Water is a well documented method for the transference of pathogens there are numerous diseases that incorporate complex life cycles that include multiple unrelated hosts. We are sorry we are unable to provide you with any concrete diagnosis.

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Fruit Fly: Is it related to MORGELLONs Disease?

On November 6, 2010 · Category: Diseases: Real and Imagined, Fruit Flies · Add Comment

Family is constantly ill with MORGELLONs Disease?
Location: Northern California Contra Costa County
November 5, 2010 2:41 pm
Hello,
My family has become increasingly ill. We were part of a CDC Kaiser Nor Cal investingation of the disease called Morgellons. I keep finding these flies on our sliding glass doors to our yard. Can you please identify this creature and if it is a clue to what is keeping us ill.
Signature: Anna R Key

Fruit Fly

Dear Anna,
We sympathize with your family’s bout with Morgellon’s disease and we have had some recent dialog with the syndrome on a Delusory Parasitosis posting. The photo you have attached is blurry, but we are relatively certain this is a Fruit Fly in the genus Rhagoletis, based on research we did on BugGuide. These Fruit Flies are not disease vectors for humans. In our opinion, your specimen looks the most like the Eastern Cherry Fruit Fly, Rhagoletis cingulata, which BugGuide has reported from Washington State.

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Carpet Beetles: Bed Bug Paranoia spawns cleaning frenzy

On February 3, 2010 · Category: Diseases: Real and Imagined, Pantry Beetles, Grain Weevils, Spider Beetles, Meal Worms and Carpet Beetles Tagged With: Household Pests · 1 Comment

So you think you’ve got bedbugs? Don’t jump the gun.
February 3, 2010
Dear Bugman,
Thank you for just being you. This is a wonderful blog. I will spare you my gushing, but suffice it to say that this experience has turned me from a bug hater to a bug enthusiast! Here’s my little story:
I was doing a little(overdue) cleaning under my bed last Sunday, and pulled out a cotton sock that had little bugs on it. I admit, I panicked. I found more in and on a broken umbrella that I meant to throw away, and immediately ran to bag those things and put them outside. I have noticed that bedbugs have been getting a lot of press these days, so I assumed that’s what they were. I completely flipped out and commenced to cleaning my whole room top to bottom, baseboards first. I found another smaller nest of them under/behind st of drawers on a couple of cotton balls in a little nest of cathair, human hair, and dust. I have two cats that live indoors, so my bedroom had quite a bit of cathair on the floor. Gross, I know, but these bugs were loving it I guess. It’s like a Vegas buffet in there!
Anyway, I did a lot of internet research after I flipped out (bagging my mattresses and boiling my sheets) and began to think that maybe I had something that’s not a bedbug.
I hadn’t gotten any real bites that I was aware of, but I deduced the ‘bedbugs’ must be feeding off my cat, Prissy, who happens to have a bald, itchy belly right now. I also found one, lone bug between my boxpring and mattress. I found a few more around the plastic reinforcing corner on my boxspring. That was my confirmation that I needed to evacuate. Besides that, I was itching like crazy just thinking about them.
Today I finally found a few that I had not yet dispatched (sorry) so we had a little photoshoot. They are either very sleepy or dead, because the ones that were not just casings (or skeletons) don’t move a lot that I can tell.
While I was under my chest of drawers (also wood, like my headboard, and used) I saw a brighter, more active bug with orangey black striped/spotted wings. Again, I was freaking when I saw that, so into the trash it went.
After I looked at the pictures I took, I thought I may have carpet beetle larvae instead of the dreaded bedbug. I am praying that you can confirm this! Thanks for your time, and keep up the great work.
Jen in TN
Pulaski, Tennessee, USA (Mid-South USA)

Carpet Beetle Larvae

Good Morning Jen,
It must give you such pleasure to awake in such a clean bedroom. If only we would be similarly inspired to thoroughly clean our own room, we would probably find some Carpet Beetle Larvae as well. Goodness knows how many we would find in our own cat’s favorite hiding place in the back of the closet. You are correct that these are Carpet Beetle Larva. We wanted to direct your attention to another letter from our archives, and we couldn’t locate it, so we are transferring the information from our old computer to the new computer and reposting as it seems to have gotten lost in the site migration. Thanks so much for your highly entertaining contribution.

Carpet Beetle Larva

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Help for Delusory Parasitosis

On October 21, 2009 · Category: Diseases: Real and Imagined Tagged With: Worst Bug Stories Ever!!! · Add Comment

HELP FOR DELUSORY PARASITOSIS
Ekbom Syndrome
October 21, 2009
Here at the University of Georgia we are conducting a research project on Ekbom Syndrome (the clinical name for delusory parasitosis). We know responding to these individuals can take a lot of your time, so please feel free to refer them to us at 706-542-9033 or Insects@uga.edu.
Dr. Nancy C. Hinkle
Insects@uga.edu
http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ento.54.110807.090514

Dear Dr. Nancy C. Hinkle,
We are posting your letter as well as including it with earlier postings that we believe are Delusory Parasitosis. Hopefully you will be able to help these unfortunate sufferers.

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Possibly a Larder Beetle

Bed Bug, NOT Delusory Parasitosis Perhaps

Indian Meal Moths and possibly Delusory Parasitosis

Carpet Beetle Larva: Can it be Related to Asthma flare???

Unknown Parasite

Fruit Fly: Is it related to MORGELLONs Disease?

Carpet Beetles: Bed Bug Paranoia spawns cleaning frenzy

Help for Delusory Parasitosis

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