help with identfying a bug please

[nargnal]

I have identified carpet beetle larvae recently ( wooly bears) , but today found something quite a bit different which I can't find anything like it on the net. Were under a temporary piece of carpet, 3 in total, quite quick movers. They are dark brown look similar size / shape to adult silverfish have i think 6 legs right at the front of the body, drag long segmented tail behind. Can curl up. Good at playing dead. At end of tail they have quite fine long hairs which fan out. Haven't seen anything quite like this in 4 years I've been living at this house. Have posted a picture on photobucket;

be appreciative if anyone could paste into browser, have a look and give me their opinion what this is, Thanks! Nargnal

[Colin Wilson]

Possibly an earwig ?

[Chris Bacon]

These seem familiar, but I don't know... uk.r.n-h?

[Bob Hobden]

Did they come from water?

[Paul Herber]

Springtails

[Mr Fixit]

beetle

[Skokiaan]

Could be a Bristletail (Diplure), grow to 5mm long.

[Weatherlawyer]

that genus feeding on Fusarium, a fungus. The ones I saw were not fork tailed and earwigs are. The earwig, from what I remember feeds on flowers and is particularly fond of chrysanthemums?

If that helps.

[Weatherlawyer]

Among which they can be caught by offering them nests made of straw in small pots hung on canes.

forgot to add: I can't remember seeing an earwig that small.

Where did you find them and what sort of toxins that will damage the health of future tenants and their grandchildren for the next ten generations are you likely to use on them?

[Dave Liquorice]

Or Firebrat:

[mik]

Did you find these in your house ? carpet beetle larvae ?

Mike

[ned]

>> would be appreciative if anyone could paste into browser, have a look

Yes, that's what I wondered. That twin tailed look could make them water beetle or stonefly larvae. A few more pointers about habitat would help.

[nargnal]

Thanks for everyones comments so far, more info; these were about 8-10mm long, didn't come from environment which has any water nearby.( under carpet edge in spare room.) The 'twin tail' look in photo is rather deceptive because they were chucked in my wife's contact lens pot which was damp. The tails were actually very fine hairs in shape of a brush slightly fanned out, triangle shape if that makes sense.Not twin tails, just look like that because the hairs are wet and separated. Not like any earwig I've ever seen, they have rear pincers and different body profile. Just do not look like carpet beetle larvae, as have said we've found those before and when we checked those bugs match the 'carpet beetle larvae' pictures on the internet. I've just looked up springtails on the net, they don't really look like those pictures either and my bugs didn't jump. So I still haven't seen anything close to these yet and none the wiser, thanks for your help so far, keep it up!!!....Nargnal

[David Lee]

Bristletail perhaps?

David

[Cordless Crazy]

Its a firebra

-- Cordless Crazy

[MarkTheSpark]

I am almost completely sure these are beetle larvae of some kind - which kind is the question. I think it's a safe bet they could be eating the carpet or stuff trapped along its edge. Some time soon, you may have an adult to identify....