Beetle - Orphilus subnitidus

bug in my home, seems to be spreading to kitchen, sink, Kleenex

is this a dangerous bacteria carrier, what if I don't see this and it's undetectable in food and I eat
the food. Will I get sick ? This bug first showed up in my bedroom and now has migrated over several months to the kitchen. Around food, sink, active ones I've seen are moving slowly in the sink and on Kleenex. I don't know it it's trying to reproduce on Kleenex. I perhaps have had these for years and not noticed them. I think I've notice some holes in my shoe inserts but not in any clothes yet so I don't that this is a carpet beetle. I have no bite marks that I've noticed. Or skin lesions. I'm a "Hoarder" which makes cleaning and getting at where these bugs are more difficult. I'm 71 years old and if they aren't going to make me sick or feed off my body then I'm probably stuck with them. I did put down some traps with sticky surfaces and little screw like devices that go on the sticky pad but haven't seen very many. Are they in my mattress. ??

… dallen1205, 22 June, 2021 - 5:22pm

Dear dallen,

this is not the place to deal with your concerns. You would have to post photos of your beetles (bugs?) on the id request function of BugGuide. the comments on my post are not the place where your concerns will be noticed. The beetle I posted is a Dermestid and those can be storage pests. They (their larvae, really) or many other species may feed on starchy or protein rich stored goods in your pantry or even your woolens. But they are hardly transferring harmful bacteria or feeding on your body. Of course, I have no way of knowing what kind of bugs you are really seeing in your house. Bed bugs for example do feed on your blood. But even those are not known to transmit disease.
That said, hording is a real problem that can impact your health in many ways, mentally and also physically, so you should seek help with that if you can. Relatives or social workers are in a better position to do so than we on BugGuide.

I hope you are vaccinated against COViD.
If you are, the social restrictions are finally over. If not, get your shots. That is much more important than some beetles in your house. Then, start taking part in normal interactions with people again.

… margarethe brummermann, 22 June, 2021 - 6:45pm

Black, haven't seen one fly. diseases ?

These are very small, maybe 1/8" move rather slowly but maybe it's because they're near end of life cycle. They first surfaced in my bedroom but now are around pantry foods but I've only seen active one's on Kleenex tissues ??? I am of course worried about bacterial infections or consuming an undetectable one. Can I get sick or are these probably just a nuisance beetle that will eat holes in my clothes. I am a "Hoarder" so cleaning things up at my 71 year old body and arthritic deformed fingers is probably not possible. I'm terrified of pesticides and with boxes and junk everywhere I don't know what to do. Covid has stopped me from pursuing Pest Control and I have COPD and heart disease... Difficult to be spraying. Any advice and I have a few photos but can't seem to upload them

… dallen1205, 21 June, 2021 - 11:28am

Moved

Moved from Orphilus.

… margarethe brummermann, 4 June, 2010 - 5:06pm

O. subnitidus

only species in AZ.

… Blaine Mathison, 4 June, 2010 - 5:03pm

Thanks, Blaine!

… margarethe brummermann, 4 June, 2010 - 5:05pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… margarethe brummermann, 4 June, 2010 - 12:23pm

check Orphilus

[an ex-dermestid]

… v belov, 4 June, 2010 - 12:00pm

Yep

that's it - no wonder I got confused

… margarethe brummermann, 4 June, 2010 - 12:23pm