# ID This Bug **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 24, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704 "2012-09-24T20:06:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/1 "2012-09-24T20:06:18Z")
Any idea what we’re looking at [here](http://www.sirblah.com/misc/mysterybug.jpg)? We found one in our bed a week or so ago, and after googling bedbug pics and finding that it didn’t match, I didn’t worry about it. However, we just found another four in the laundry basket. Harmless little nothing, or should I start firebombing? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/2 "2012-09-24T20:10:39Z")
That’s a carpet beetle larva. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/3 "2012-09-24T20:38:46Z")
Bingo. Thanks much! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/4 "2012-09-24T21:21:58Z")
Not 100% harmless. Start checking your woolen clothing. Those little bastards can eat holes in some of your most expensive wool gabardine slacks or cashmere sweaters. They’re the reason I’ve stuck with nylon fiber area rugs instead of buying nice woolen ones. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/5 "2012-09-25T01:49:06Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > That’s a carpet beetle larva. [Agreed.](http://www.margarets.com/fashionablecarefiles/insectsweb/VariedCarpetBeetleLarvae.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/6 "2012-09-25T08:32:10Z")
They also are known to infest natural wool fleece. I thought this might be relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/7 "2012-09-25T15:36:52Z")
Ooo, good point. I’d better take a lo_HEEEEYYYYYYYY_! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/8 "2012-09-25T15:42:09Z")
He got ewe good. To add some value, I recently looked these critters up on a few sites, and the consensus I saw was that seeing a few of them is not cause for panic. They frequently come into the house in stored food or pet food containers, and policing up the contaminated food and vacuuming thoroughly usually gets rid of them unless you have a major infestation. They’re not nearly as bad as bedbugs, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/9 "2012-09-25T15:56:12Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > They also are known to infest natural wool fleece. I thought this might be relevant. I soooo love you guys. I have absolutely nothing to add to the conversation other than that. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/10 "2012-09-25T23:07:43Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > They also are known to infest natural wool fleece. I thought this might be relevant. I just remembered that my bedroom slippers are lined with fleece. I suppose I’ll have to peek in there with a flashlight tonight. ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-bug/635704/11 "2012-09-25T23:59:05Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Any idea what we’re looking at [here](http://www.sirblah.com/misc/mysterybug.jpg)? Sure—that’s a penny!