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How to Tell if You Have Bed Bugs or Carpet Beetles
It’s easy to mistake bed bugs for carpet beetles. You can best tell them apart by looking at their larvae. Bed bug larvae can appear to be tiny worms, while carpet beetle larvae look like little, fuzzy caterpillars.
Bed bugs and carpet beetles also have different habits:
- Carpet beetles eat carpet, wool, and other natural fabrics.
- Bed bugs often live in or around mattresses.
- Bed bugs feed on blood, leaving itchy, red bite marks.
The Differences Between Carpet Beetles and Bed Bugs
It’s easy to confuse adult carpet beetles and bed bugs with each other. They are both tiny, oval-shaped insects, but in truth, their similarities stop there. Carpet beetles vary in color, have shorter antennae, and are usually smaller than bed bugs.
Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown insects that are about the size and shape of an apple seed. When you look at them closely, you can see their eyes, whereas it is very difficult to see carpet beetles’ eyes. The easiest way to tell the difference between carpet beetles and bed bugs is by their larvae: bed bug larvae are thinner and longer, and carpet beetle larvae are fuzzy like caterpillars.
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Do Bed Bugs And Carpet Beetles Both Bite?
Carpet beetles do not bite people, unlike bed bugs do so infamously. Bed bugs are known for biting their victims at night, leaving them with itchy, red marks. They do this to feed on our blood. Carpet beetles do not bite us, but the fibers that their larvae have are able to cause itchy, bumpy rashes. These symptoms are confused for each other sometimes. In either case, it’s important to seek medical attention if your symptoms continue to worsen.
Identifying Bed Bugs And Carpet Beetles In Lubbock TX
These bugs may look quite similar, but the kinds of damage that they each cause are quite different. Bed bugs are less fun to have—they pose a more serious threat to your belongings and your home. If you are having trouble trying to tell which you’re dealing with, you can always talk to your local pest control company.