Thumbnail sized worm found in different places around the kitchen. What is it?
I have been finding these small worms around the kitchen, sometimes around packaging of salt, for example, sometimes on the ceiling.
This is what they look like:
Are they dangerous? Are they early state fruit flies or anything to do with fruit flies? What food are they most likely coming from or how do they get in our kitchen? How do I get rid of them?
Best Answer
The photo together with the description of their behavior shows that you have an infestation of pantry moths. What you found are the larvae at their last stage before pupating, they tend to wander around a bit before doing so. Before, the larvae were munching on food somewhere in your home, leaving their feces and often webbing behind.
An infestation of pantry moths means you need to check all your food that may be a food source for them - and they enjoy a surprisingly diverse diet. Main food sources are grain-based products, legumes, dried fruit, nuts and other seeds, but the will also munch on pet food, chocolate, spices... The general rule is that everything in cartons or plastic bags needs to be either discarded or be treated (frozen for a few days or microwaved). This may sound excessive, but if only a few eggs remain, the cycle starts anew. Don’t forget potential moth hideouts outside the kitchen, the larvae wander rather long distances and the adults fly. Clean out the cupboards, vacuum them (especially all cracks and corners), wipe them out. If possible, store your susceptible staples in sealed jars, this will prevent wandering female moths from laying eggs and keep hitchhikers from stores confined in one jar, preventing a larger infestation in the future.
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What is this worm I found in my kitchen?
You should look for maggots themselves or the appearance of adult flies. Maggots will appear in the form of small white worms in the house wiggling about in the food or filth they are found on. Flies will be hovering around filthy areas like garbage and feces and will breed and lay their eggs.What is this tiny worm in my house?
These worms are most likely the larval form of pests such as houseflies or Indian meal moths. These common indoor pests lay their eggs along baseboards and in protected areas. After hatching, the larvae are often seen crawling around indoors until they pupate into their adult form.Why are there little worms in my kitchen?
The tiny worms found in your kitchen pantry and cupboards are larval moths, flies and beetles. The readily available food source and warm environment make an ideal spot for the immature insects to thrive. Unfortunately, it also wreaks havoc on your family's food source and budget.What are the small brown worms in my house?
Millipedes, also known as \u201cthousand leggers,\u201d are arthropods that often make their way into our homes. Millipedes range from 2.5 to 4 cm long, are brownish in color, are long and slender, and look a lot like worms with legs. They are segmented with 2 pairs of legs per segment.Bug Spray Kills Spider, Spawns Nightmare
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Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Laker, Karolina Grabowska, Karolina Grabowska