The carpet beetle and bed bug not only leave similar looking bites but there are other similarities.
Pictures bed bugs carpet beetles.
As they mature these bugs gradually become dark and black.
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.
First and foremost they feed not on blood but on animal based fibrous materials like textiles silk and fur much like clothing moths.
Both can live in mattresses and other bedding and are attracted to the carbon dioxide you exhale as.
Also knowing you have a bug problem can cause you to feel like there are things on you even when there aren t.
Some varieties even feed on plant based materials meaning they can also be found in food products.
Female black carpet beetles can lay up to 100 eggs and their larvae can stay in the larval stage for up to 3 years.
Differences between bed bugs and carpet beetles.
If you think you have either bed bugs or carpet beetles contact your local ehrlich pest.
However carpet beetles can damage fabrics and bed bugs can bite people.
That s because bed bugs always look the same but there are a lot of carpet beetle.
They are very common in homes and properties and people continually ask if they have found the first signs of a bed bug infestation when they see a carpet beetle.
The difference here is that bed bugs have a mouth made for piercing skin and sucking blood while carpet beetles have a mouth made for chewing on plants and other fibrous material.
The most prevalent and popular one is however the carpet beetle.
If you notice bed bug like red spots and discover that you have carpet beetles but not bed bugs then they may be the cause.
Carpet beetles are not bed bugs.
They have a round spherical body.
Carpet beetles on the other hand measure between 1 16 of an inch and 1 8 of an inch long.
While carpet beetles don t bite or feed on humans their larvae can irritate the skin.
Bed bugs measure of an inch long.
If carpet beetles are living in your bed it can be hard to tell if you have them or bed bugs.
The carpet beetle is referred to as the anthrenus verbasci that grows from 1 7 mm to a maximum of 3 5 mm.
These tiny carpet beetles start out their adult life as white beetles.
The biggest difference is in size.
Bed bugs are in the family cimicidae while carpet beetles are in the family dermestids.
You ve noticed that carpet beetles length varies a lot while bed bugs are always the same length.
Even though it is the larvae that cause destruction you should get rid of the adults.
Both pests can be worrisome and may create stress.
Several types of carpet beetles are found in the united kingdom.
Carpet beetles vs bed bugs one of the insects most often confused with bed bugs is the equally small and flat varied carpet beetle.