Can anyone identify this bug, and do I need to call out a pest controller?

Question

I was sitting at my computer, and suddenly I heard the sound of a very small impact just in front of me.
I looked down, and there on a piece of paper, I saw this little critter.
http://flickr.com/photos/swampy_bogtrotter/1840536549/
I looked around to see where he could have come from, and lo, I discovered one or two tiny pin-holes on the ceiling directly above him, so it looks like he's burrowed through he plaster ceiling from the roof space above.
To give an idea of scale, he's smaller than a grain of rice, and he appears quite caterpillary, having little tiny legs thinner than a human hair.

Can anyone identify this?
Do I need to call out a pest controller?

Answer 1

It is a Dermestid beetle larva. This is the group that includes carpet beetles, larder beetles, hide beetles and other small, scavenging beetles. (It's hard to tell for sure from an early instar larva like this, but I would guess at carpet beetle).

No need to call an exterminator unless the infestation is MAJOR. They are incredibly common household pests.

They will eat darned near anything organic, but they especially love dog food, ham, and any sort of dried, ancient dead untanned skin (they are a major nuisance in museums and other areas that have taxidermied animals).

Here's a couple of pages that describe some control options:

http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/Stored%20food%20and%20fabric%20pests/carpet_beetles.htm
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef601.asp

Answer 2

call pest control, i don't know what it is but i do know enough about house bugs to know that anything that burrows through ceilings is never good, i would keep this critter in a glass jar and take him to pest control to find out what he is also before you go check out the ceilings in your house to see if there are any more bore holes also check any plaster as well look in your roof to see if you have an invasion up there then you will have an idea how bad your infestation is, he does not look like a very nice bug kinda ugly, the problem you may have is if this is a baby of some sort of beetle then there will be more somewhere in your house get it seen to before they bring your house down.

Answer 3

By all means, call an exterminator!
That is the larval form of the Plague Beetle from the East German rainforests. In sufficient numbers they bore holes through roofs and ceilings, and make coccoons in dark, well-hidden places. The hatching adults then look for warm-blooded creatures to lay eggs in their skin. They prefer to enter via the ear canal as it is a more direct pathway to the brain, which is the most nutritious for the new larvae.

Answer 4

Pop along to the local council environment and health department to talk to a learned person. They will be able to help.
In the meentime you could use a head protector, ask the local builders if you can borrow one, before the little nasty starts burrowing.

Answer 5

Is your house built on an old Indian burial ground?
Sorry just joking, its not an amityville thing.

I would send the pic to an expert. In case it is something that might damage your house long term.

Answer 6

If you can't find anyway to fix this, you might want to call the pest control. I geus you could ask them what you should do before asking them to spray your house with chemicals.

I have to admit, that's a wierd creature, havn't seen it before, (maby it evolved in your house, lol)

Answer 7

I've no idea what it is, but the first thing you should do is explore the roof space, to see if he has a large family up there!

Answer 8

Looks like a death watch beetle larvae and yes you need a pest controller!

Answer 9

http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/bugbricks/bugid.htm

This is from the Oxford University site - it says if you have an unidentified bug, you can send in a picture and they'll try and identify it for you.
Or you could search on 'bug identification' (or maybe caterpillar - looks a bit like one from the pic) - there's loads of useful sites.
Good luck (maybe put a hat on while you're on your pc?)

Answer 10

wow, sorry I have no idea what it is although, I just wanted to comment on what a weird critter that it is