Question
I found a tiny worm in my bed and another one crawling on my shirt. The worm is tiny, tan with a black tip and thin dark hairs coming from the black tip. It has several legs (too small to count). What can this be and how do I get rid of it? thanks.

Answer
Jacob,

Your description sounds like a dermestid beetle larva. Dermestid beetle larvae feed on a variety of plant and animal-based materials. Some are fabric pests (carpet beetles for example) while others infest stored food like cereals and even dry pet food. Here's a link to information about dermestid beetles http://www.livingwithbugs.com/carpet_beetle.html that may be useful. Compare the critter you found with the lower picture on this page.

The best way to deal with dermestid beetles is to locate the source of the infestation (food or fabric) and either clean or dispose of the infested material. There's usually no need to use insecticides.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
Extension Entomologist (ret.)
My website about home and garden pests: http://www.livingwithbugs.com