Please help me ID this household beetle!

Missy1988 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-04-2011, 02:37 PM

Hi, I would really appreciate it if someone could please shed a little light on what you think this beetle could be?

I few weeks ago me and hubby noticed small bugs in our bathroom sink and in the bathroom area. Probably about 2 or 3 at a time, first we assumed that because our bathroom window is often open because of showering etc they were just flying in. However a couple of weeks ago I noticed more of these little bugs in our bedroom and my daughters bedroom around the skirting boards. They are very small about the size of a flea, brown in colour and an oval shape. They seem to have 6 legs and very long antennas. They have a very hard outer shell and are quite difficult to squash. I initially thought they might be bed bugs but they don't produce a bloody mark when squashed and nobody in the house has had any bites, I've also checked bedding and theres no sign of bed bugs there.

I then noticed another type of beetle, again in the bathroom/bedrooms area. After browsing the internet a bit, I think this other type of beetle looks like a larder beetle. But what doesn't make sense to me is that the larder beetle larvae don't look anything like the smaller beetle I've been finding. I do think that the smaller beetle is connected to the larger beetle though as they seem to be in the same area and surely I wouldn't have two different bugs living in my house?

Sorry for the essay but this is really bothering me now. I keep a clean house and with having a small child that crawls around on the floor, I'm worried about it affecting her health. Please help!

Heres pictures of both bugs, sorry about the picture quality:

The smaller bug

Bigger bug

Missy1988 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-04-2011, 03:38 PM

Anyone? Please?

triops · #3 (**permalink**) 01-04-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missy1988

Anyone? Please?

First beetle is difficult, needs a better picture, though possibls Ptinus sp.
Second picture is of Dermestes lardarius, probably coming from dry proteinaceous stuff (long-dead bird or mouse, or old birds nest). Google it!