Visitor or harbinger?
October 23, 2011 11:36 AM Subscribe
Beetle on my purse. One off or possible infestation to be checked?
The closet holds coats, my bike, bags, shoes, and some camping gear. Plus 2 boxes of video tapes. The bags are on hooks and this one was pretty far down the stack. Should I go through everything to be sure there aren't more?
The closet holds coats, my bike, bags, shoes, and some camping gear. Plus 2 boxes of video tapes. The bags are on hooks and this one was pretty far down the stack. Should I go through everything to be sure there aren't more?
If you have anything valuable in your closet, it can't hurt to check.
Aside:I've found a BEDBUG in my manpurse before. After finding the characteristic bedbug bites for two weeks. I took a few shots with my cell phone in order to identify it later, then realized the cell phone had dual-use in our fight against this scourge... the (presumably human) blood splattered on a piece of paper amused me greatly.
I didn't bother checking for more bedbugs - it was just one, you know?
posted by Yowser at 12:12 PM on October 23, 2011
Aside:I've found a BEDBUG in my manpurse before. After finding the characteristic bedbug bites for two weeks. I took a few shots with my cell phone in order to identify it later, then realized the cell phone had dual-use in our fight against this scourge... the (presumably human) blood splattered on a piece of paper amused me greatly.
I didn't bother checking for more bedbugs - it was just one, you know?
posted by Yowser at 12:12 PM on October 23, 2011
Seconding Yowser's unfortunate suggestion: during our bedbug infestation, I saw one and mistook it for a beetle. It took a few more weeks for the terrible truth to dawn.
posted by artemisia at 12:28 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by artemisia at 12:28 PM on October 23, 2011
Something like 50% of all insects are beetles. Can you describe it or find a photo?
posted by chiababe at 1:17 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by chiababe at 1:17 PM on October 23, 2011
Powder post beetles and carpet beetles would be cause for concern. They're both pretty small. Asian ladybugs can infest your house but the good news is they're not going to do any damage, just be a nuisance.
Other than those, probably just a visitor.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:32 PM on October 23, 2011
Other than those, probably just a visitor.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:32 PM on October 23, 2011
Well-documented insectphobe here, echoing the above: Unless it's a bedbug, carpet beetle, or other known-to-be-problematic kind, I wouldn't worry about it. I'd vacuum the closet and take a peek through the boxes and bags (or make someone else do it), then leave it at that if nothing is found.
posted by dayintoday at 2:16 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by dayintoday at 2:16 PM on October 23, 2011
Might it have been a stink bug? They are sort of beetle-like and one may have come from outside. Nothing to really be concerned about on a personal level, though of concern generally as an invasive species.
posted by Morrigan at 3:55 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by Morrigan at 3:55 PM on October 23, 2011
Response by poster: I can't really describe it because I was like "ew!" and threw it out the window. It wasn't tiny (too big for a bedbug) and it wasn't huge. I'll check out pics of carpet and powder post beetles and otherwise wait to see if I find any more. There isn't really any carpet in my apartment so not much to vaccuum.
Thanks!
posted by dame at 4:17 PM on October 23, 2011
Thanks!
posted by dame at 4:17 PM on October 23, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Chances are I won't be able to tell you anyway (I'm not well up on US pest species), but someone else probably will.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 11:45 AM on October 23, 2011