What is this?

[Charliemum]

So my fruit walks came yesterday, I left them on the side in the box overnight as they came rather late. This morning I opened the box noticed it was cotton wool in the plug so swapped it for a sponge one but then noticed this little creature in the cotton ball, what is it? I have never gotten anything strange in my flys before its about 2mm long, very wiggley, and keeps trying to burrow in the cotton. I would like to house it or at least offer the poor thing some food so if anyone can help I would be grateful.
Pic of the creature in question.

 

[Motherofspiders112707]

I think I’ve seen one of these before in my mealworms. Have no idea what it is but it looks a little like a centipede, but those are skinnier. Probably some kind of bug larvae that found its way into your fly container. maybe set it up in a tank with a similar environment to what your flies are in?

 

[Charliemum]

I think I’ve seen one of these before in my mealworms. Have no idea what it is but it looks a little like a centipede, but those are skinnier. Probably some kind of bug larvae that found its way into your fly container. maybe set it up in a tank with a similar environment to what your flies are in?

The flies are fruit flies so it's just excelsior wood n ff food mush stuff. It seems to want to stay in the cotton the more I try to get it out the more it tries to burrow in.
It's not the same as the ones I get in my mealworms those are black beetles larvae live off the dead worms this little one is much smaller and has much longer hair(?) On the sides .

I was just googling it n I think it might be carpet beetle larvae that's the closest thing I have found to it so far but I may be wrong. Hopefully someone on here will know for sure .
I think your right with it being larvae though . Thank you

 

[Tentacle Toast]

I have no idea, but I found several somethings like that in an old box of Cheerios that somehow got pushed to the way back..

 

[Charliemum]

I have no idea, but I found several somethings like that in an old box of Cheerios that somehow got pushed to the way back..

It's definitely a strange little thing , I just put some water on the cotton ball just incase n it was drinking the water droplet. If it is a carpet bug like I think it says they eat natural fibers so I may just leave it on the cotton ball, seems to be doing great on there so far. Not sure what else to offer it .

 

[myrmecophile]

Dermestid beetle larva

 

[scorps]

This is definitely a dermestid beetle larvae of some sort. I keep a colony, and many mealworm and roach breeders keep them mixed in to help keep cages clean.

 

[Charliemum]

This is definitely a dermestid beetle larvae of some sort. I keep a colony, and many mealworm and roach breeders keep them mixed in to help keep cages clean.

So I can just put it in with my mealworms? Am not sure its the same thing I have seen deemestid before n this is much smaller with longer hair/fluff on the sides.
I will try putting it in with my worms can't hurt can it, feel funny just leaving the poor thing on a cotton ball.

 

[scorps]

So I can just put it in with my mealworms? Am not sure its the same thing I have seen deemestid before n this is much smaller with longer hair/fluff on the sides.
I will try putting it in with my worms can't hurt can it, feel funny just leaving the poor thing on a cotton ball.

It should be fine, while it's impossible to tell the exact species, I dont know of any that would cause harm to mealworms.

 

[Charliemum]

It should be fine, while it's impossible to tell the exact species, I dont know of any that would cause harm to mealworms.

Cool thank you I shall put him in there now

 

[Smotzer]

So I can just put it in with my mealworms?

It should be fine, while it's impossible to tell the exact species, I dont know of any that would cause harm to mealworms.

yes they're often used as cleaner crews in feeder colonies, they're fine in there.

 

[Charliemum]

yes they're often used as cleaner crews in feeder colonies, they're fine in there.

Cool thanks
He is in there now buried himself soon as I put it in assuming he is much happier now I haven't seen him come bk up .

 

[Wolfram1]

carpet beatle larvae maybe, if it is small enough

but more likely a small dermestid larvae considering where you found it

 

[Charliemum]

carpet beatle larvae maybe, if it is small enough

but more likely a small dermestid larvae considering where you found it

It's tiny, that's why I wasn't sure it was a dermestid, I have gotten those in my worms before n they are 10x the size of this little one, the hair on the side is really long compared to the dermestids I have seen to, like a good cm compared to the half a mm thick body where as the dermestids have short bristle.
Whatever he is he is swimming in with the worms now. Hopefully he will be ok there.