We have a mystery source of a thin worm or bug larvae which seem to appear from nowhere onto a localized part of the kitchen counter near a non-opening window. I couldn’t find the source so in a mad cleaning frenzy I even got into the recessed light fixtures. I found lady bug and other carcasses (ugh!) but no clear indication of the mystery creature. Perhaps if you can identify these guys I could figure out where they are coming from and then destroy the source. The worm/larva is about a half inch in length, very thin, with smooth cream/tan color skin. It has rings around the body which are either a slightly darker color or textured depressions (I was too grossed out to look with a magnifying glass). They appear to be more larvae like rather than "caterpillarish" i.e. no hair or pretty colors. They never appear to be moving when I see them. Fortunately there have been less than a dozen sightings. Any ideas what the heck these things are? Thanks for the help! I enjoyed reading all the letters and answers.
Melody Williamson
Northern Illinois
Before WHAT’S THAT BUG? even had a chance to answer, Melody writes back:
Well, just wanted to let you know that the bugs in question were wax worms. My son (the fisherman) knew them immediately. I called the exterminator and it turns out that the Wax Moth lays eggs in bee and wasp nest! I have a nest in peak in the roof line that is infested with wax worms. Ick!
Thanks for being there!
Melody Williamson
Not to be outdone, WHAT’S THAT BUG? replies:
Dear Melody,
I am happy to hear that you had your bugs identified before we here at What’s That Bug could provide you with misinformation. My first inclination was that you had maggots, which considering the time of year and the heat were my only real suspect. Wax worms (Galleria mellonella) never even entered my mind. When we got your follow-up letter, I checked out an internet search and learned that of all the worms considered for use on the hit television show Fear Factor, wax worms were considered the most maggot-like and 30,000 of them were used in one challenge. Check out this website for more gross information about the wax worm: http://www.nbc.com/Fear_Factor/stunts
/stunt_207_waxworms.shtml
Before you get that exterminator, you might want to consider reselling the larvae which are often used as fish food. This website: http://www.armstrongcric
kets.com/wax.htm sells 1000 wax worms for $22.
Hello There,
I’ve found some little things by my sink and I’m just not sure what they are. They are about a half of an inch long, of a dark brownish color, with black stripes, and are very thin. They’re not what I originally thought: centipedes. They are not like any pictures I’ve found of wax worms, centipedes, or meal worms. Most of those things are much thicker.
Perhaps Bathroom Fly Larvae. See BugGuide.
Hello There,
I’ve found some little things by my sink and I’m just not sure what they are. They are about a half of an inch long, of a dark brownish color, with black stripes, and are very thin. They’re not what I originally thought: centipedes. They are not like any pictures I’ve found of wax worms, centipedes, or meal worms. Most of those things are much thicker.
actually my husband came home and told me they are millipedes, just a different type than I’ve seen in books and movies. Thank you so much for helping though.