You never want to find a bug in your bed – but don’t panic! A bug found in a bed is not automatically a bedbug; it could also be a carpet beetle, a completely different kind of bug that isn’t harmful to people. These bugs are similar in size and general appearance and can be found in similar places, so people mix them up sometimes.
Luckily, no matter what pest you’re dealing with, the Forest Pest Control team is here to help. Read on to learn more about the differences between bed bugs and one of their most common lookalikes – the carpet beetle.
What do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs are small – usually 5-7 mm long, smaller than a grain of rice. Their shape is often compared to an apple seed, and they’re usually reddish-brown in color – redder and larger if they’ve recently consumed a meal. Bed bug larvae look similar to their adult counterparts, but they’re lighter in color – and much smaller.
Most distinctly, bed bugs rarely work alone. If you find one on your bed or on your body, check the sides of your mattress; you’ll likely find many, many more clustered there. If you just found one bug and no others hidden nearby, you might be dealing with a carpet beetle instead.
What do Carpet Beetles Look Like?
Carpet beetles are slightly smaller than bed bugs at around 3 mm in length. They have a more uniform, oblong body shape. Most distinctively, they come in a variety of colors; their wing scales can be any combination of black, yellow, white, and brown. Their larvae are truly distinct, though; they don’t even look like carpet beetles, let alone bed bugs! Carpet beetle larvae resemble tiny caterpillars with long, bristly “tails.” These hairs may cause irritation in certain people – which we’ll get into later.
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Identifying Bed Bug Bites
You may have heard that bed bugs bite in rows of three – commonly called “breakfast, lunch, and dinner bites.” However, this is actually a myth; bed bugs will bite any number of times and in any configuration. Bed bug bites are most commonly found on parts of the body that are exposed during sleep – the arms, legs, and neck – but can show up anywhere. You may also notice blood spots on your sheets if you have a bed bug infestation.
Do Carpet Beetles Bite?
Nope! Carpet beetles eat natural fibers and have no interest in (or ability to) bite people. However, some people may experience irritation when they come into contact with carpet beetle larvae due to the bristles on their bodies. This is especially true if you are allergic to carpet beetles. These irritated areas may look and feel like bites, but aren’t. So, if you think you have bed bug bites but can’t find a single bed bug, you may simply be allergic to carpet beetles!
It’s important to remember that while both kinds of bites can be irritating, neither are dangerous to humans outside of allergic reactions. Neither bed bugs nor carpet beetles are known to spread disease to people.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Getting rid of bed bugs requires help from professional bed bug exterminators. Bed bugs are hardy creatures; they bite about once a week if they can, but can go for months without eating, so starving them out is impractical for most people. Even if you wash all your clothes, your mattress, your sheets, and anywhere else bed bugs might hide, you’re extremely unlikely to get them all – and then they come right back. For that reason, it’s best to call a professional to get to the root of the issue.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles
Getting rid of carpet beetles is a much simpler process. If you find a carpet beetle, thoroughly wash and/or vacuum the place where you found it. Wash clothes in the hottest water they can stand, vacuum affected carpet thoroughly and throw out the vacuum bag when you’re done – if you can shampoo the carpet as well, that’s a great way to kill larvae and eggs that may have been left behind.
Got Bed Bugs? Call Forest Pest Control For Help!
Regardless of the type of bug crawling around on your bed, in your clothes, or in your carpet, you want to make sure that they’re taken care of – and that they stay gone. That’s why it’s best to call the Forest Pest Control team as soon as you notice an invading insect – bed bug, carpet beetle, or anything else.
Give us a call to get started with a free quote!
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