Carpet Beetles or Bed Bugs, Know the Difference

If you see a tiny bug inside your home or on your mattress, it’s understandable why you may panic and assume it’s a bed bug. Because bed bugs are so small, they can be difficult to identify, especially when you spot just one or two. In many cases, this supposed bed bug is actually a carpet beetle! Needless to say, carpet beetles are less of a threat than bed bugs, making it important to learn how to differentiate between the two.

Keep reading for our top tips on identifying these two beetles in the Knoxville area. 

Carpet Beetle Identification

In many ways, the carpet beetle indeed resembles the infamous bed bug. For this reason, it’s important to learn how to differentiate the two. Carpet beetles are oval-shaped from above, 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. An even bigger difference between the two is in the larvae appearance: Bed bug larvae look like little worms, while carpet beetle larvae look like miniature fuzzy caterpillars.

Differences Between Bed Bugs and Carpet Beetles

Both carpet beetles and bed bugs can breed fast and are known to remain hidden for a while before making their presence known. The main difference in these two insects is, of course, their behaviors and habits:

• Carpet beetles devour fabrics like carpet, wool, and other natural materials. 
• Bed bugs prefer to feed at night 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.

How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles

If you’ve spotted a carpet beetle in your home, or are having trouble differentiating it with the bed bug, it’s time to call a beetle exterminator. At Russell’s Pest Control, we treat both beetles and bed bugs. Our exterminators will identify the type of bug you are dealing with and apply treatment to ensure the infestation is controlled. To learn more, call us today!