How To Tell The Difference Between Bed Bugs And Carpet Beetles

The first step toward eradicating common household bugs is properly identifying which pest has invaded your home.

For example, many people have mistakenly assumed they have carpet beetles when in fact they have an infestation of bed bugs.

Both of these pests can leave you with similar looking itchy, red blotches.

Bed bugs actually create red, itchy welts on the skin from biting you while the carpet beetle doesn’t bite at all but causes a similar red itchy welt due to an allergic reaction from the prickly little hairs on the carpet beetle larvae (pictured center).

The carpet beetle and bed bug not only leave similar looking bites but there are other similarities. Bed bugs and carpet beetles are both very small.

However, the carpet beetle is the smallest of the two and averages 1/8th of an inch in length while the bed bug is about 1/4th of an inch long.

Differences Between Bed Bugs And Carpet Beetles

Don’t worry though! There are in fact physical differences between them that will help identify which pest has moved into your home.

The carpet beetle larvae has white and yellow-brown scales and tufts of hair on the back of their abdomen while the adult bed bugs are a reddish brown color and oval shaped, much like that of an apple seed.

Additionally, a behavioral difference is that bed bugs feed on blood while carpet beetles feed on material type substances like carpet, woolen fabric, and other materials as well as types of stored up food.

Bed bugs have small, flat bodies making it possible for them to fit into tiny spaces about the width of a credit card.

They hide during the day and do their biting and feeding at night.

Their hiding places include bed clothing, mattress ribbing, carpet around the bed, behind the headboard, inside dressers, behind baseboards and wall coverings.

Bed bugs typically stay anywhere humans and animals live. Carpet beetles can live in homes, warehouses, museums, outdoors and other places where their food sources exist.

Not Sure If You Have Bed Bugs Or Carpet Beetles?

Home pest control services are often needed to ensure proper identification of the type of insect you are dealing with and the manner in which to treat the home.

American Pest has been in business since 1925 and stands ready to serve you with their state of the art pest management skills.

Their staff of more than 100 employees includes state certified technicians, entomologists, and a K-9 Bed Bug Detection Team.

American Pest’s regular services are the ideal choice for home pest control in Maryland, DC, and northern Virginia. If you are in need of effective bed bug services or would like to learn more about the services we offer contact us today!