Carpet Beetles or Bed Bugs — Know the Difference

Bed bugs and carpet beetles may have a similar shape and size body, but their similarities end there. Because bed bugs are so small, they can be difficult to identify, which is why many people assume they have a dreaded bed bug problem when they actually have carpet beetles! Needless to say, carpet beetles are less of a threat than bed bugs, making it important to learn how to differentiate between the two.

Read on to learn whether you have carpet beetles or bed bugs in your Bristol TN home!

How to Identify Carpet Beetles

In many ways, the carpet beetle resembles a bed bug. They are oval-shaped from above and minuscule in size, but the main difference is in the color. Carpet beetles do have brown on their backs, but they look more spotted or striped with white and light-colored patches mixed with brown. If this isn’t enough to tell them apart, it’s easy to differentiate them by the appearance of their larvae.

Bed bug larvae look like little worms, while carpet beetle larvae look like fuzzy little caterpillars.

Is it a Bed Bug or Carpet Beetle?

Because bed bugs and carpet beetles are so small and tend to hide, it can be hard to tell when you’re dealing with an infestation. They exhibit many different behaviors and habits, which are important to know:

• True to their name, carpet beetles feed on fabrics like carpet, wool, and other natural fibers.
• Bed bugs feed when their host is at rest and get their name from their tendency to breed and live in mattresses or in and around beds.
• Carpet beetles are not blood-feeders and do not leave the bite marks that bed bugs do.
• It’s hard to see the signs of carpet beetles, which get inside through openings or spaces in the exterior of your property.

Carpet Beetle Removal Services

If you’ve spotted a carpet beetle in your home, or are having trouble differentiating it from the bed bug, it’s time to call a beetle exterminator. At Leo’s, we treat both beetles and bed bugs. Our team has more than 50 years of experience providing extermination for both of these pests.