Forget Bed Bugs - Ever Heard of Bed Worms?

 
Bed worms? Oh, I bet that got your attention. Let me set the scene because I am sure you are trying to figure out if this is the blog of an animal hoarder who is about to launch into a rambling defense of goats sleeping on the bed.  I maintain what I consider to be an average home.  I have a laundry schedule and an ample supply of disinfecting wipes and floor cleaning devices.  We are your typical family with children and work and dogs and OMG - bed worms.  

Let me start at the beginning. We have a lovely baby sitter who cares for our ten month old son. She recently became a new mother and is the type of unaffected, twenty something beauty that almost certainly went home from the hospital wearing her skinny jeans and a thong.  Yesterday afternoon she greeted me at the door holding a baggie with what appeared to be a tissue inside. “Hi! Did you have a great day? I want to give you this before I forget. I found them on your daughter’s bed.”  Handing me the baggie, she turned and walked away to the living room where a rousing game of peek-a-boo was underway with my son.

Inside the baggie on a tissue were two tiny wriggly worms. I went dizzy with confusion. All I could do was spit out “whu” sounding words:  What? Where? When?” Wuwuwu… “Yes. In-her-bed” she confirmed and carried on about her business as calmly as if she had found crayons on the coffee table. 

Without proper support to balance my reaction level, I did what I most typically do – go straight to panic mode. If I am around you in any crisis situation, you needn’t worry. I have already dialed 911, grabbed a fire extinguisher and started CPR while simultaneously screaming for assistance.

With 911 off the table of options, I do the next best thing by texting my husband and mother-in-law (who is a science/lab person). Both immediately call the house because, well, I texted them 911. (Oh, like you wouldn’t?)

While I am waiting for them I go ahead and get the gasoline can out of the garage because basically I figure we are going to burn the bed and possibly the house and just, like, start over.

My mother in law is the first on the scene because there is nothing a scientific person likes more than a good hypothesis. My husband is a close second because there is nothing he likes more than a good excuse to criticize my housekeeping skills. He would probably also like a good excuse to run away with the babysitter. (Worms your honor, in our daughter’s bed!)

Anyway, looking at the wrigglies they immediately rule out bed bugs, because they are definitely worm-like. So while they are Google image searching away, I continue gathering up sheets and bedding for the big burn and start spray disinfecting anything that is not moving.

About thirty minutes and a microscopic examination later (I swear she has one in the glove box) a scientific conclusion is reached- “Moth Babies.”

 Okay, so the scientific term is not “babies” - it's larvae, but when they first said it,I completely blacked out and fell head first into a bucket of bleach.  They roused me with room deodorizer and decided it was best to simply refer to the larvae as “babies.”

You see, we have had a lot of moths lately. I switched our porch light to one of those energy efficient florescent bulbs and well, they have been to it like a moth to a... well you know. This coupled with my daughter’s desire to open and close the front door, oh, one thousand times a night allowed a few of them to sneak in.

Marry this up with me recently pulling out a wool blanket for the chilly nights and you get moth-babies in the bed. Sigh.

Denied my bed burning, I chose to burn through a half dozen loads of laundry and, after an unmerciful moth culling, all has returned to normal.

No, that is a lie. I am not okay. I have post traumatic crawly thing in the bed disorder and share this with you as a warning – moths are bad news. They breed like rabbits but have much less attractive offspring. Offspring that could end up in your daughter’s bed and cause household upheaval that for one shining moment lets your husband think he finally has cause to turn you over to the authorities and run off with the babysitter. So trust me, wash those wool blankets before you put them on the bed this season.

 

Comments

[Just Plain Tired]

The nonchalance of the baby sitter is actually perplexing, and interesting. But now I'm thinking all bedding needs laundered here, but will wait until morning to reconsider this action. Maybe I'll just sleep on the couch though. ;)

[Flawless Mom]

Oh my god. I'm impressed that you were calm enough to text people before "project house burning" began. I would've cried in a ball for three hours. On the grass out front, away from the bedding. You'll get over it soon. Until then, take something to fall asleep. At least you got an awesome and hilarious post out of it! And a lot of sparkly sheets. Friggin' moths.

[Crazy Lady]

Oh gosh!! I was expecting something MUCH worse.. So glad your daughter didn't have worms!! (yes, I have heard of that and thankfully been spared!)

[SJ]

Qudos to the babysitter for picking them up. I would of just freaked. I'm now off to check my beds :)

[Pop]

So I guess Grams smelling like moth balls all the time wasn't all for naught.

[Andrea]

Ok for one thing I was completely freaking with you. For another, we had a teeny wiggly worm issue last friday that I flipped off about. I still haven't recovered.

[raquel]

OMG That sound shorrible. I too would be feeling worms on me all night long. So sorry for that. Who knew? This is exactly why I love to read blogs, I swear I learn so much.

[Erika]

I am still stuck on the fact that you have a 20 something babysitter. You must be Angelina Jolie.

My skin is crawling now. Euw!

[Megan (Best of Fates)]

Things you have learned:
1) You have an awesome babysitter.
2) Moths are evil, devilish creatures that should be exterminated en mass.
3) You're hilarious.
4) You probably already know three, but it's always good to be reminded.

[TheNextMartha]

Moths are devil spawn. Ever have pantry moths? OMG. Got them from a WHOLE FOODS too! I can't even tell you what I had to go through to get rid of them. Can't believe my pantry contains any dry goods at all after that. Glad you figured it out before you became the moth house.

[Kadield]

That makes me want to go and burn my new peacoat because it's wool. Ewww.. EEWW!!!!!

[Jean]

I'd much rather my bed have worms than my daughter have worms! Yeegads! Glad you got to the bottom of that. Thank you for sharing. I feel I'll be better able to handle it if/when worms show up at our home.
The cats and their in & out behavior have no doubt let in a moth or two!

[Alexandra/The Empress]

Another reason to love, sadly, this is me: scream yell, grab the phone, throw a chair out the window and yell fire, THEN I stop and think about what I should do.

You are wonderful to me.

[Helena]

I love the way you wrote this! And I would be freaking out, too. In fact, I am going to go and wash my bedding RIGHT NOW.

(I just found you through a retweet by @GDRPempress, who has incredible taste in bloggers)

[Jeannette]

So much better than actually having worms. Those are VERY common in young children and are VERY contagious. Easy to get rid of, but still not cool. Moths are much better. :)

[Aleksandra]

Oh ew, ew, ew. I probably would have lit that mattress up in the middle of the driveway in a large bonfire. Actually I'm shopping for a twin mattress for my 3 year old and considering latex foam since it is antimicrobial and repels bed bugs. But they cost and arm and a leg! I mean, I'm torn...contribute to her college fund or drop a grand on a mattress? She may have to suffer with a plain old spring mattress.

[Jen]

*shudder*

Your reaction would have been mine expect I would have burned all things and then called for back up.

[Rebecca]

Oh My Word, I would have freaked out too. Reminds me of when I worked at a preschool (very nice rich preschool) and one of the kids had worms. It was so gross I wanted to sleep in bleach for the next month. This was before I ever had kids. Which made it worse.

[Heather]

You've been awarded the Versatile Blogger award! Come over and see!
http://teensntoddlers.blogspot.com/

[Kirsten (Results Not Typical Girl)]

i seriously tried to subscribe, but it went all html bulimic on me. scared me more than the saw movies. and i may have tinkled. sorry bout that.

[itchy bumps]

Your way of writing posts is very much appreciated, I have bookmarked this your blog.

[Cindy]

I feel so ITCHY I just discovered tiny little worms in my bed and came across your post....yuck, I am not too sure how long I have been sleeping wit them. I know I've seen moths in my house so it makes sence. I have sprayed my room and all laundry is in the wash...I feel invaded. Thanks for your post...will they go away?

[Lisa Alarcon]

Thanks for the cool blog!! SO grateful for moms and dads blogging....Question: Exactly what color were they?? I've just recovered from a freak out cleaning spree today in my girl's room ..I found several wriggly, very thin blackish worms..thin as can be, almost hairlike..They curled up when i touched them and I'm almost positive that they're moth larvae as you've explained so well..She does have a lot of pillows and things and i found them under the lowest pillow..of course i change the sheets weekly!! Planning to get rid of older stuffed animals because the moths love them for egg laying as well!.UGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
...Anyhow,.Just want to know what color yours were...Thanks!:)

[Jeanie]

Please tell us how you got rid of them. Did you wash everything in bleach?

Thanks

[Dianne brown]

Off to super hot wash all sheets and blankets and to steam clean the closet, Thanks for all this info got me feeling jittery but ima gonna feel much better later after this project. I mean I don't have any that I know of but just in case. Ima almost feeling like getting vaccum sealed bags to store my winter and summer blankies in, hmmm actually maybe that's a good idea.

See you down at Walmart ! Lol