Updated at: 06-07-2022 - By: iatsabbioneta

When you’re getting ready to go to sleep, seeing a worm in your bed is the scariest thing you can imagine. Bed worms are not to be confused with bed bugs or a bed bug worm, despite the common misconception. Hence, you may be interested in learning more about bed worms and how to get rid of them.

How can bed worms be eradicated? There are many ways to get rid of bed worms, such as washing bed linens in hot water with detergent and dry cleaning the cloth. Insect larvae and bed worms can also be eliminated from your home by putting your bed sheets in the freezer for a few days.

This article will identify different types of bed worms and provide a more in-depth discussion of each kind. In addition, this book will address any questions you may have about these creatures.

What Are Bed Worms?

The larvae of other insects, such as moths or carpet beetles, are often mistaken for worm-like bugs. Moreover, contrary to popular belief, they aren’t just found on beds.

Silk and wool are two of the natural fabrics that these insects prefer to devour, therefore they end up in your bed. Unless you’re allergic to their bites, they’re not harmful, despite their menacing appearance.

Types of Bed Worms | Images of Bed Worms

It’s typical for people to mistake tiny worm-like animals in their beds for bed bugs or bed bug larvae worms. Here’s how to tell the difference between worms and bed bugs if you find any in your mattress.

Little Black Worms in Bed

Little Black Worms in Bed

Carpet beetle larvae are the microscopic black worms crawling all over your sheets. You may even find a grain of salt-sized poop in your bed.

They may be mottled or striped with black-and-white spots on their bodies.

Carpet beetle species can all be found on your mattress since it is warm and provides them with food. Different carpet beetles, such as furniture beetles and the black carpet ant, are among them.

Little White Worms in Bed

Maggots, which might be cream or pale white, are most likely the source of the white worms in your bed. Grubs are drawn to decaying stuff, such as waste, and can lay eggs the size of rice grains.

It’s impossible for a larva to find its way into your bed because it doesn’t eat animal fiber. Rather than bringing them on purpose, your pets are more likely to do so.

Another possibility is that the minuscule white worms crawling across your sheets are actually pinworms, which are clear white. Pinworms are parasites that can be found in the faeces of a person. You may see them in your bed as they emerge from the sick person’s anal cavity at night to lay eggs.

Flea larvae, which have off-white bodies and pale hairs, could also be the source of the white worms. They only eat the feces of adult fleas, therefore your sheets and blankets are of no interest to them. Because of your pet, they may wind up sleeping in your bed.

Small Brown Worm in Bed

Small Brown Worm in Bed

Carpet beetles are the most prevalent critters that show up as small brown worms in your bed. They come in a variety of hues, since their larvae come in a variety of kinds, as previously indicated.

Dark and light brown stripes, as well as a narrower front and wider back distinguish the larvae of some species of carpet beetle. Clothes moth larvae can be brown as well.

Small Orange Worm in Bed

In addition to orange worms, textile moth larvae can be found in a variety of hues. The National Pesticide Information Center can identify the worm in your bed if you don’t know what it is. Locate the closest center to your home or workplace using the map provided.

Little Red Worm in Bed

Larva of another Carpet Beetle species, Furniture Carpet Beetle, can be found in your bed. They start off white and light, but with time, they darken and turn red or reddish-brown in colour.

Beetles with black markings and white, yellow, or orange scales are the adult form of these larvae.

Small Pink Worm in Bed

In this case, the most likely culprit is the larvae of carpet beetles, which transform from white to dark red as they pupate.

Other insects may also find their way into your bed by unintentionally. Your home isn’t a sealed container that you can seal off from the outside world.

Click beetles, for example, have larvae that look like these. That’s especially true if you locate them elsewhere in the house, or if only one is in your bed at a time.

Are Bed Worms Dangerous?

Humans aren’t at risk from bed worms because they don’t bite. You shouldn’t be concerned about either of these parasites. Animal fibers are all they want to consume, not your blood or skin.

However, if you don’t get rid of them immediately, they can become a problem as adults. Anything made of wool or silk, fur, or feather can be damaged by moths.

Because pinworms are human parasites, you should be concerned if you find one in your bed. Because it can spread to multiple members of a family, you should take the whole family to the doctor and have them checked.

Where Do Bed Worms Come From?

Where Do Bed Worms Come From

Baby moths or carpet beetles are what we commonly refer to as “bed worms”. When it comes to nesting, wool blankets are the perfect place for these insects.

It doesn’t matter if your beddings and mattresses are made of synthetic materials like polyester, they will still become sick if they include any animal fabric.

As a result, if you have these insects in your home, you’re more than likely to find their worm-like babies in your bed.

Insects, such as maggots, are drawn to decaying organic waste, such as the carcasses of animals. As a result, if you have a dead rat, bat, or lizard in your home, the carcasses attract larvae, who will swiftly lay eggs within.

What Causes Bed Worms

What causes bed worms in bed

There is no single cause of bed worms in the bed. They’re numerous.

Worms in your bed may be the result of an unintentional invasion, or there may be an attractant in your bed that is luring them in.

Following is a list of the most common causes of bed worms:

A Dirty Bed Is The Major Cause Of Bed Worms In Bed

When it comes right down to it, there is no doubt that most of the parasites that infest our beds have a reason for being there.

Dirt and food stains are the most common culprits. Because they are the bed worms’ primary food sources.

Eating in bed is a common occurrence for many of us. When you eat, food crumbs fall on the floor.

There’s more to it than that. Food spills can also leave stains on a bed.

As larvae of carpet beetles and fabric moths, bed worms can feed on these items.

Once they’re in your bed, they’ll eat through the soiled area of your sheets, producing holes.

There is a good chance that the bedsheet will also be ruined if the larva is a carpet beetle

If you have a high-end bed sheet, such as silk, the damage will be more significant.

Bed worms, as well as adult bugs that can be a nuisance, can be attracted to a dirty bed. And they’re not only in your bed.

Dirty couches, carpets and rugs will attract these critters, as will other soft furnishings in your home.

Worms on the couch are therefore probable, particularly in a cluttered and untidy home.

A Dirty And Damp Kitchen And Bathroom

High humidity and unclean kitchens and bathrooms are the two most common sources of bugs and pests in your house, according to our experts.

Food waste, organic waste, and high levels of moisture in a messy kitchen or bathroom provide an ideal breeding ground for a wide variety of pests.

In the pantry and bathroom, bugs like weevils and flour beetles are becoming a nuisance. Bedrooms are also a common target for these criminals.

When you have food stains on your bed, the larvae of these kitchen bugs are likely to find their way into your home.

Cracks And Gaps On The Walls, Windows And Doors Frame

Open doors and windows, as well as holes and gaps in the walls, are common entry points for bed-worm-inducing pests.

It’s possible that you’ll unintentionally invite them inside your house.

Carpet beetles can be found in your indoor potted plants, for example.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Worms Forever

Sources of carpet beetle larvae in homes

Fortunately, eliminating bed worms is a simple process.

A pest control company or insecticide spray aren’t necessary to get rid of them or keep them from returning.

So, without further ado, let us begin.

Step#1 – Apply Heat To Your Bed To Kill The Bed Worms And To Eliminate Eggs

Bed worms are quickly exterminated by heat. In order to eliminate bed worms, you should use a steam cleaner to heat up your mattress.

Steam cleaners may reach temperatures of up to 240 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the model.

Bug larvae, bug eggs, and even adult bugs can’t stand the steam cleaner’s heat.

It just takes a few seconds for bed worms to succumb to extreme heat. It also removes the eggs these bugs leave behind in your bed..

Start by washing your sheets. The bedsheet will be cleaned thoroughly.

Make room for a new bedsheet. Then use the steam cleaner to completely clean the mattress.

Make careful to use the steam cleaner on the threading work on the mattress, the seams on the borders of the mattress, and the headboard.

Bed worms are caused by bugs that lay eggs in the mattress’s seams, folds, and gaps.

The eggs will be destroyed by the steam cleaner’s heat.

After cleaning, use hot water to launder the bedsheets, pillowcases, and other linens.

In order to get rid of any bug eggs that may be on the bed linen, you should wash them in hot water.

Step#2 – Stop The Adult Carpet Beetles And Cloth Moths From Entering Your Home

Adult Carpet Beetle On Flower

As long as adult carpet beetles and cloth moths are allowed access to your home, bed worms will keep appearing.

Open doors and windows allow carpet beetles and fabric moths to get into homes.

All year round, you can’t keep the doors and windows closed.

It is not possible.

You can prevent carpet beetles and moths from invading your home if you know when they are most active.

During the spring and summer months, both carpet beetles and fabric moths are busy.

Breeding and egg-laying take place during this time of year.

Use window screens from March through August to keep carpet beetles and cloth moths out of your house.

Carpet beetles and fabric moths can also infiltrate your home through other openings.

It comes from the things you bring into your house, such plants and furniture.

It’s possible that plants and flowers you bring into your house from the garden contain adult carpet beetles.

Clothing moths are common in thrift and garage sale finds, so keep an eye out for them if you’re shopping around.

Check for beetles and moths before bringing anything from your garden or thrift store into your home.

If you’re lucky, you’ll come across a few.

Step#3 – Seal The Cracks And Crevices In Your Home To Prevent Them From Sneaking In

Cloth moths, carpet beetles, and other bugs can enter your home through cracks and openings.

These cracks should be filled in with a high-quality sealant.

Inspect the outside walls near the home’s foundation for cracks.

Seal it if you locate it, because it’s also a way for roaches and termites to get in.

As an added precaution, seal the lower edges of the doors with a high-quality weather stripping door seal strip.

Many bugs from your garden or yard enter through the opening.

The windowsills should be checked as well. Put a stop to them if you find any.

Step#4 – Vacuum Clean Your Bed And Bedroom

Vacuum your Bed

Getting rid of bed worms is already in its last stages.

In order to rid your bed of bed worms, follow the preceding three instructions. Remove any worms that may be lurking in your bedroom.

You can accomplish this with a thorough vacuuming.

Vacuuming is the greatest technique to get rid of clover mites in the bed during the spring.

In order to get rid of any bed worms that may be lurking in your bedding, carpet, upholstery, and rugs, vacuum these areas.

The corners and edges of these soft furniture should be covered.

The carpet under the furniture is a popular hiding place for larvae.

As a result, it’s best to remove the carpet or rug beneath the furniture and clean it as well.

These include the edges and seams of carpets and bed mattresses as well as the edges and seams of rugs and floor mats.

To get rid of bed worms and their eggs, progressively vacuum the affected areas.

Dispose of the vacuum cleaner’s dirt bag outside the house.

It’s possible that bed worms will return if the dirt bag is kept in a trash can in your home.

Step#5 – Dry Clean Your Clothes Made Of Animal Fabric

The larvae of carpet beetle and textile moth like fur, wool, silk, and leather as you may already know.

Larvae and worms can be found in expensive clothing if you don’t dry clean it.

Make sure to vacuum your wardrobe, closet, and chest of drawers to get rid of any bed worms.

Organize the wardrobe and closet with a few cedarwood balls. The fragrance of cedarwood deters moths and other insects from your closet.

And it’s better-smelling than mothballs, too!

Step#6 – Wash Your Dirty Laundry To Repel Bed Worms

Do not allow dirty laundry to accumulate for an extended period of time.

It’s important to keep in mind that even synthetic fibers can serve as a breeding ground for bed worms if they become unclean.

Also, it’d be best if you don’t eat on your bed.

Also, it’d be best if you don’t eat on your bed.

You should also avoid eating in bed.

Step#7 – Spray Essential Oils To Prevent Bed Worms From Crawling Into Your Bed

Essential oils are an excellent way to get rid of bed worms.

And you’re spoiled with choice. The most prevalent are eucalyptus, cinnamon, and peppermint.

Peppermint spray, on the other hand, is a proven deterrent for bedbugs and other pests.

You can use peppermint to keep bed worms out of your bed thanks to its strong methanol smell and insecticidal qualities.

Alternatively, you can use a cup of water and 1-2 ounces of cold-pressed eucalyptus or cinnamon essential oil.

Spritz it on your mattress and bed frame.

As a spray to keep pests and worms away from the bed, many people use white vinegar mixed with a little water.

Although vinegar’s harsh acidic aroma may not be to your taste, it’s worth mentioning.

Where do bed worms come from?

If a piece of clothing or carpet has liquid spills or sweat on it, moths are more likely to lay eggs there. In her lifetime, the female moth lays hundreds of eggs, and then meticulously places each egg in a location where it can thrive.

Moth larvae use natural fibers for food, which is why they appear on mattresses and bedding.

Worms in Specific Places on the Bed

A different technique may be needed depending on the location of the bedworms.

Tiny Worms in Bed Sheets

The quickest and most effective technique to eliminate bed bugs (larvae and eggs) is to use heat, which kills them all at once. Use hot water to wash your bed linens or have them dry cleaned. Make sure there is nothing left by hanging them in the sun.

All of your bedding and carpets, as well as everything made of animal products should be thoroughly cleaned. After washing or drying an item, put it into a plastic bag and freeze it for two days to destroy the eggs and larvae.

Worms in Bed Mattress

As with bed bugs, the greatest defense against bed worms in your mattress is a waterproof one. As a result of this method, you can wash your mattress on a regular basis to get rid of any larvae of insects including fleas, bed bugs, and mites.

Vacuuming the mattress on a regular basis is also a good idea. Professional carpet cleaners like BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat from Amazon should be used instead. Sending hot water down into the bed, this product will remove anything lurking there.

Do Bed Worms Bite?

Bed worms other than flea larvae do not bite. They also do not carry any infectious infections.

There are bristles all throughout the body of carpet beetle larvae. If they get on your skin, those bristles can cause irritation and itching.

Do Bed Bugs Start Out As Worms?

They don’t, in fact. They’re not worms, these baby bed bugs!

Many people incorrectly believe that they are larvae, which is not the case.

Worms can only move by crawling, as they lack legs. Alternatively, their legs are so little that they are solely useful for crawling.

nymphs, the larval stage of the bed bug life cycle, is the smallest stage of the life cycle of the adult bed bug.

They’ve got six legs, just like the adult bed bugs.

They’ve got six legs, just like the adult bed bugs.

Like adult bed bugs, they have six legs.

The baby bedbugs will not be able to grow if they do not have blood meals. In the event that they are deprived of blood meals for a long time, they die.

Other Types Of Insects and Worms That Can Land Up On Your Bed.

Bed worms aren’t the only creatures that could be lurking in your mattress.

Potential bed crawlers include earwigs, millipedes and centipedes.

However, these insects, like bed worms, are unintentional intruders.

A millipede infestation might occur in your home if the weather is excessively damp or dry outside.

As a result, millipedes are often found inside homes following heavy rains or in the summer.

However, millipedes are found outside. For them, it’s time to go out of the house.

Millipedes seek out water and wetness in your home during the summer. As a result, the bathroom, laundry room, and basement are the most popular destinations for them.

But if you have a restroom next to your bedroom, they can also make their way into your personal space.

Humans are not bitten by millipedes. Poking them can cause significant eye and skin irritation because of the noxious fluid they produce.

Centipedes, on the other hand, seek refuge indoors during the winter.

They are drawn to your home by the warmth and the nourishment it provides.

Do people get bitten by home centipedes? Yes, they do, but their fangs can’t get through your skin to attack you.

So, their bites aren’t that painful. They’re also not poisonous.

Finally, the bed hoppers: crickets.

However, they don’t prefer to sleep in your bed. Cockroaches also favor wet, dark environments.

But why do crickets like to perch on my bed?

Insects, like cloth moths, can be found eating fabric.

Crickets are attracted to your bed if it is covered with dirt or food waste. As soon as they’re in your bed, they’ll start chewing on the sheets, leaving tiny holes in them.

When you’re sleeping, they won’t try to attack you.

Centipedes, crickets, and other small insects aren’t typically found infesting mattresses. Their search for sustenance leads them to your bed by accident.

Bed Worms Bite: Symptoms (Allergies) and Treatment

Carpet beetle and textile moth larvae don’t bite, but they can nevertheless trigger allergic reactions in some people. Allergies can result from coming into contact with the hair-like bristles that cover their skin.

A runny nose and irritated eyes might result from the bristles flying in the air and entering your respiratory system. Allergies and symptoms will go away quickly if bed worms are eradicated.

FAQs

Do you have questions regarding mattress worms? If so, here are some answers.

Do Bed Bugs Look Like Worms?

Bed bugs don’t resemble worms in any way because they have oval and flat bodies and are insects. Adults have a pair of small wings called wing pads, but these are useless for flight. Because they feed on human blood, they are typically brown, but when they consume, they turn crimson.

Do Bed Bugs Start Out as Worms?

Do Bed Bugs Start Out As Worms

Nymphs, or baby bed bugs, don’t begin life as worms. They resemble mature bed bugs, but are much smaller and paler in hue. As small as a grain of pepper, you can’t see them with the naked eye.

Cat With Worms Sleeping in Bed: Is It a Possible Health Hazard?

If your cat is infested with worms and shares a bed with you, you may become infected as well. Bed worms and other bug infestations can be spread to your mattress by larvae from your cat’s fur.

Until your cat is free of parasites and worms, you should not sleep with your cat in the same bed.

My Dog Has Worms and Sleeps in My Bed: Is It Dangerous?

My Dog Has Worms and Sleeps in My Bed Is It Dangerous

You may become infected with worms if you share a bed with an infected dog. Humans can be infected by worms like hookworm, tapeworm, and the roundworm. A dog’s bed should be disinfected if there are dead worms in it, as this is a sign of an infection.

Summary

Bed worms are not the same as bed bugs, despite the common misconception. There are two types of bed worms: carpet beetles and textile moths.

Insect larvae look like tiny worms and are available in a variety of colors. Hair-like bristles on the insects’ bodies can trigger allergic reactions and eye irritation. Larvae can be killed by washing the sheets in hot water or dry-cleaning them.