help! i found a bug in my yarn stash!

[zknits]

okay folks...so i'm a little terrified...i only found one in one of the plastic sealable containers i store my wayyyy too large stash of yarn in, but it was a slow moving sort of worm looking thing...i don't know what to make of it or what to do...moth balls?  help!
z

[rachelo]

I took some time on google and found this:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/INSECT/05599.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_Moth
Do these look like your bug?  Hopefully you can get rid of whatever has found your yarn.

[zknits]

thanks for the link!  i checked out the pictures and none of them look like what i found...so maybe there's nothing to worry about?  i'm really hoping that's the case...i only found one and no signs of anything else in there...maybe something laid eggs and they can't get out and can't survive and so they die in there?  i don't know...sigh...anyon e other ideas?
z

[starlight1221]

Is there any way you can take a picture of it?  Or maybe draw a picture of it?  How long was it?  How wide?  What color?  Any wings?  Did you see any antennae? 

I have *no idea* what bug is what.  BUT I have, in the past, had a bug problem.  It turns out you can't go exterminating unidentified bugs  unless you want to spray every chemical known to man into your living space, so you've gotta figure out a name.  If you're a member of a journal community (livejournal, deadjournal, myspace, facebook, whatever), search the communities/groups for entomology.  Post a post with the pic/drawing, and a good description with lots of please and thank yous.  The bug guys were very very nice to me in the livejournal entomology group, although they did post some pics of some very disgusting bugs in their replies.  But it did work.  And from there, you can look up how to get rid of them and if they eat yarn. 

[beatnik_chik]

to keep the bugs out of the yarn, put in a sachet of smelly herbs like lavender, citronella, peppermint or rosemary...

[jloveg]

mmmmmm rosemary  smells  great!

[zknits]

it was a light colored bug...skinny...no antennas...would curl up on itself...i think i could recognize it if i saw it...i'm going to keep an eye on the container to see if i see anything more...maybe take a picture to share...haha

starlight1221 - what did your bug problem end up being?

beatnik_chik - thanks for the suggestion...that sounds like a nice alternative to moth balls...i think i'll do that just in case...

z

[beatnik_chik]

Did it look like this:


??  That is a silverfish.
DESCRIPTION: Silverfish are small, soft insects without wings. The abdomen has three filaments extending from it.Silverfish are not often seen by homeowners because they are nocturnal and can run very swiftly. Occasionally, they are found in bathtubs. They crawl in seeking food or moisture and can't climb out. These insects prefer vegetable matter with a high carbohydrate and protein content. However, indoors they will feed on almost anything. A partial list includes dried beef, flour, starch, paper, gum, glue, cotton, linen, rayon, silk, sugar, molds and breakfast cereals.

<<<modified to fix broken image link>>>

[Jodi1978]

It cant be a silverfish they move fast.

Could be a moth larve.

[fyberduck]

FREEZE EVERYTHING!!  Eek, is all I can say.  We found moths in our Guild office and had to throw out half of our wool.  Check everything for nibbles, or eggs.