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Small red worms in the house can cause disgust. You don't have to be afraid of them, they are completely harmless. It is still useful to eliminate them quickly so that they do not spread.

In a nutshell

  • safely identify small red worms in order to be able to combat them properly
  • alternatively, they may be insect larvae
  • in rare cases, worms come into the house from the pool
  • various countermeasures are necessary
  • The pests can be prevented by vigilance and thoroughness

detect worms

Fighting pests properly can only be successful if it is clear beforehand which species it is. While they may actually be real worms, it is much more likely that they are insect larvae. The difference should be visible to the naked eye in most cases. Worms have no limbs, not even the aptitude for them. Also, they are not hairy. Fly larvae also have no legs and are hairless, but maggots are usually more whitish in color.

Notice: Since real worms often live in the soil, they usually stay near flower pots in the house.

species and their origin

Carpet beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariae)

The larvae of the carpet beetle are not exactly red, but they are so small that they cannot always be identified with certainty at first glance. At first glance, they often appear like little red worms. The hairiness of the larva is striking, its basic color is reddish brown. The carpet beetle has a wide range of food, which is why it is considered a pest. Among other things, he eats:

Carpet beetle (Anthrenus scropuhulariae) larva Source: Arnoldius, Anthrenus scropuhulariae (larva), Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Wool
  • silk
  • skins
  • cotton
  • leather
  • horn
  • feathers

Fighting it is not a problem with individual specimens, it becomes more difficult if it occurs in large numbers. Every larva and every beetle should be collected, infested textiles or objects should be disposed of. Clothes can also be washed, but that is of no use if they already have holes.
Appearance of the beetle:

  • only 5mm in size
  • mainly black
  • white and brown spots on the elytra

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor)

The mealworm is also not a red worm in the true sense. It is the larva of the flour beetle. It is often whitish-yellow, but sometimes darker to reddish-brown in color. As the name suggests, the mealworm feeds on grain and flour. So it is a food pest. Sometimes the origin is not obvious. The animals may have been brought into the apartment with a new package of flour, but you cannot reliably prevent an infestation. Control options:

  • dispose of contaminated food
  • examine all dry supplies closely
  • Catch and dispose of beetles and larvae
  • First vacuum out the pantry thoroughly, then wipe with a damp cloth
  • check again after a few weeks

Notice: Meal beetles and their larvae are good food for larger fish or terrarium animals. The beetles are uniformly black in color.

House beetle (Opilo domesticus)

A special case is the house beetle and its larvae, they are not pests. Instead, they are actually beneficial because they eat wood pests. For this reason, they can be found near wooden structures that are infested with woodworms. The house beetle is brown in color with yellowish spots on the elytra. The larvae are variously colored, often with purple and red dots or spots, making them look like red worms from a distance. Getting rid of the woodworm beetles is far more important than fighting these larvae. However, to be on the safe side, it is better to leave this to a professional.

real worms

These are most commonly simple earthworms. The smaller species in particular have a distinctive red colour. Since they live only in soil, they are dragged into the house over potted plants. Sometimes it happens that they leave the earth to look for a new place to live. Then they can be found on the floor, for example. It is not necessary to fight them, just pick them up and bring them to the garden.

Even earthworms sometimes get lost in the house.

Dragged in from the pool

In rare cases, small red worms can be brought into the house from the pool. These are either mosquito larvae, which bear little resemblance to real worms, or Tubifex, the tubeworm. This occurs in various bodies of water and can get into the pool through well water, for example. The animals are completely harmless and are used in aquaristics as live food. They cannot survive on land.

Prevent insects in the house

There are several ways to prevent insects and small red worms from entering the home. A good and important protection are insect screens on windows and doors. Above all, these prevent the entry of flying insects, which could multiply inside. More options:

  • Check stocks, including newly purchased ones
  • pour into airtight packaging
  • Wash textiles made of natural fibers regularly and check for damage
  • Treat wooden parts in the house with wood preservatives
  • Put all the potted plants in one room for the winter
  • water carefully, if there is too much water, earthworms will leave the soil
  • Only use purchased soil for repotting
  • If in doubt, sterilize your own soil in the oven

frequently asked Questions

How dangerous are small red worms?

In most cases, these are not harmful insects. However, some species can cause allergic reactions. This is especially true for hairy insect larvae.

Is an exterminator necessary?

Even if the animals cause disgust, a professional is usually not necessary to get rid of them. Real worms cannot reproduce in the home, or only to a limited extent, so they disappear again on their own.

Do you have to use poison to fight?

This is not a good decision as most toxins are also dangerous for pets, especially birds or terrarium/aquarium animals. A non-toxic option is pheromone traps, which are used to capture adult pests.

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Category:

Garden pests