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Strange insect

487 views 15 replies 8 participants last post by  maisiecat 
#1 ·
me & my oh had been helping move a family member yesterday. Jasper had been in the spare room & when I came back I picked him up and a little bug fell on me. I'm not sure if it's a normal bug that you find (I know nothing about insects) but it's really worrying me that it's a flea/mite or tick. It's so hard to get a good picture because I only have my phone :(

It was dead & I've checked him & cant find anything at all on him. It was quite big too.

Could anyone hazard a guess at what it is?
 

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#5 ·
Hi Faye. I tried to have a look. But I'm not sure what it is either. I can normally spot a flea a mile off. Is Jasper protected against fleas? (It's not a silly question I wasn't allowed to flea treat Yogi when he was ill. Not even frontline which tiny kittens of a couple weeks can have. ) a flea is flat and brownie black. And they crack when you crack them with your nails. It's a good sign it's dead whatever it is. I wouldn't worry too much Hun.

Viv xx
 
#6 ·
Hi Faye. I tried to have a look. But I'm not sure what it is either. I can normally spot a flea a mile off. Is Jasper protected against fleas? (It's not a silly question I wasn't allowed to flea treat Yogi when he was ill. Not even frontline which tiny kittens of a couple weeks can have. ) a flea is flat and brownie black. And they crack when you crack them with your nails. It's a good sign it's dead whatever it is. I wouldn't worry too much Hun.

Viv xx
Yeah, we treat him for fleas & he's been protected for mites too as they thought he had those. (He had scaley skin on the backs of his legs) that seems to have cleared up. we sprayed indorex a couple of weeks ago & hoovered for a week and I can't spot any flea dirt on him.

It had a strange pattern (sort of like a lady bug really) I've never seen anything like it.

It just makes my paranoia flare up as I am so anxious about things like that & it's embarrassing :(

Thankyou viv xxx
 
#13 ·
Carpet Beetles - also known as Wooley Bears (for the larvae)

They actually mostly come in from outside as they often inhabit birds nests and they aren't a risk to humans or cats - they don't bite etc etc - but their larvae ingest natural fibres such as wool, fabric carpet, cat hair etc etc.

If you've only seen one I REALLY wouldn't worry - especially as you're not sure if that's what you saw - it probably came in from outside. However, if you start noticing damage to fabric it can mean you need to look into it.
 
#16 ·
Carpet beetles are not very big, the woolly bear larvae are bigger and look like very very small woodlice. Google is your friend, have a little read and look at some photos. The larvae can cause skin irritation, not always but scabby cats and rashes on your skin are possible.
 
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