Expert: Ed Saugstad - 7/16/2008

Question
I have found what looks like "eggs" or larvae and sometimes these left behind ..opened up.  My baby had bites in her armpit which likely came from chiggers...but this led me to wash sheets more regularly and inspect the bed.  I first found 2 rice like specimens between 2 slats on her crib.  It was where her hed usually is.  Soon I found similar on my couch cushion and edge of our bed.  Today I found what looked like these opened up on my husbands side of the bed.  He could have smashed it...but not likely.  Also another sample I have seems to have this opened up look.  There is a dark spot in each...but mainly looks creamy in color to the eye.

Can you think of any thing that would lay eggs like this?  I live in TN.  I also found something that looks like a carpet beetle or something...but not sure if it is related.  I am disturbed with the thought of a bug entering the bed every few days.

Thanks for any help or suggestions you can provide.
Nancy

Answer
dear Nancy - First off, this does not sound like anything that would pose a health threat to you or your family. Let's start a process of elimination by having you look at images of carpet beetle larvae/pupae/shed skins at http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/Questions/Ohio%20carpet%20beetle%20larva.jpg and http://bugguide.net/node/view/96824/bgpage and a small fly pupa at http://www.leafmines.co.uk/Leaf%20mines%20CD/Diptera/Phytomyza%20ilicispupa.JPG If your specimens do not resemble any of these, please get back to me with more details as well as your state of residence in case I need to refer you elsewhere. BTW, chiggers do not occur indoors; you will only encounter these outdoors, usually in areas with tall grass.
Waiting to hear back,
Saugy