Carpet Beetle vs Bed Bug

One of the insects most often confused with bed bugs is the equally small and flat varied 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. So, what’s the difference between carpet beetles and bed bugs?

The official name for the varied carpet beetle is Anthrenus verbasci, they are small, about 3mm in length, and flat in their shape. But the main difference is that the varied carpet beetle does not feed on blood. Also once magnified, the varied carpet beetle larvae actually look like tiny furry caterpillars with little spines on them, whereas the bed bug larvae look like little worms. The varied carpet beetle from their name, feed on natural fibers when they are in larval form, such as wools, silks, fur and carpets.

Carpet beetles are a nuisance pest and they will eat your fabrics. This can be costly, but they are not a risk to your health. It is difficult to see signs of carpet beetles because they tend to feed in dark undisturbed places, such as underneath furniture. You are actually much more likely to see the adult beetles themselves. Carpet beetles will get inside through any opening or space in the exterior of a property and lay their eggs near a food source.

Identifying carpet beetles before they hatch and start to breed and infest a property is very hard. If you are seeing a lot of carpet beetles, you can call on a pest professional to help control varied carpet beetles and stop them from returning.