Bed bugs and carpet beetles are two common household pests that can easily be confused with one another. Although they may seem similar at first glance, they have very different behaviours, feeding habits, and potential impacts on your home. Correctly identifying whether you are dealing with bed bugs or carpet beetles is crucial for choosing the right treatment method.
Letโs explore the key differences between these two pests and how you can identify them to address the problem properly.
Appearance: How to Tell Them Apart
The most obvious difference between bed bugs and carpet beetles is their physical appearance, though it can be easy to mistake one for the other, especially if youโre not sure what to look for.
Bed Bugs
Size: Bed bugs are small, flat, and about the size of an apple seed, measuring roughly 5โ7 mm in length.
Shape: They have a distinctly flat, oval body when unfed, which swells and becomes more rounded after feeding.
Colour: Bed bugs are reddish-brown, and their colour deepens after feeding on blood.
Movement: Bed bugs cannot fly but are capable of moving quickly across surfaces, using their legs to crawl.
Carpet Beetles
Size: Carpet beetles are smaller than bed bugs, typically about 2โ4 mm long.
Shape: They have a more rounded, almost dome-like shape.
Colour: Carpet beetles come in various colours depending on the species, with patterns of black, white, yellow, or orange. They often have a mottled or spotted appearance.
Movement: Carpet beetles are capable of flying, unlike bed bugs, and are often found near windows or light sources.
Habitat: Where to Find Them
Both bed bugs and carpet beetles prefer indoor environments, but they have very different preferred habitats.
Bed Bugs
Common hiding spots: Bed bugs are typically found in and around beds, as they feed on human blood. They hide in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and nearby furniture.
Habitat: Bed bugs will stay as close as possible to their food source (humans), hiding in cracks and crevices around sleeping areas. As infestations grow, they can spread to other parts of the house, including sofas, carpets, and even behind wallpaper.
Carpet Beetles
Common hiding spots: Carpet beetles are usually found in carpets, rugs, curtains, and upholstered furniture, where they feed on natural fibres. They may also be found in closets where they can damage wool clothing.
Habitat: Carpet beetle larvae are the destructive stage and are often hidden in dark, undisturbed areas like under furniture or in air ducts. Adult carpet beetles are more mobile and may be seen near windows or flying around lights.
Feeding Habits: What Do They Eat?
Understanding the feeding habits of bed bugs and carpet beetles can also help differentiate between the two.
Bed Bugs
Diet: Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, preferably human blood, which is why they are found in beds and other places where people rest. They come out at night to feed and return to their hiding spots during the day.
Bite marks: If you wake up with itchy red bites, especially in clusters or straight lines, bed bugs are likely to blame. Bed bug bites are usually found on exposed skin, such as the arms, legs, neck, and face.
Carpet Beetles
Diet: Carpet beetles do not feed on blood. Instead, their larvae feed on natural fibres like wool, silk, feathers, and fur. They can also consume other organic materials such as pet hair or food crumbs.
Damage: Carpet beetles donโt bite humans, but their larvae can damage fabrics, leaving irregular holes in clothing, carpets, and upholstery. If you notice small, uneven patches in natural fibre materials, carpet beetles are likely the culprits.
Life Cycle: How They Develop
Another key difference between bed bugs and carpet beetles is their life cycle, which affects how and where you might find them in your home.
Bed Bugs
Eggs: Bed bug eggs are tiny, white, and about 1 mm long. They are laid in hidden places, such as mattress seams or cracks in furniture, and can be difficult to spot.
Nymphs: Bed bug nymphs look like smaller, paler versions of adult bed bugs. As they grow, they moult five times before reaching adulthood.
Adults: Once they reach adulthood, bed bugs begin feeding regularly and reproducing quickly. Adult bed bugs can live up to a year without feeding, which makes infestations hard to control.
Carpet Beetles
Eggs: Carpet beetle eggs are also tiny, white, and often laid in dark, hidden places where the larvae will have access to natural fibres.
Larvae: The larvae are more destructive than adults, with a bristly, hairy appearance. They are often called “woolly bears” due to their fuzzy look.
Adults: Adult carpet beetles are not harmful to fabrics and are more commonly seen flying or near windows. They do not live as long as bed bugs and are less persistent in the home.
Signs of Infestation: What to Look For
The signs of bed bugs and carpet beetle infestations are different, which can help you determine what pest youโre dealing with.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Bites: Red, itchy bites on your skin, particularly in clusters or lines, are a key sign of bed bugs.
Blood stains: You may find small blood stains on your sheets from bed bugs feeding during the night.
Dark spots: Bed bug faeces can leave small, dark spots on your mattress, sheets, or nearby furniture.
Shed skins: As bed bugs grow, they shed their outer shells, which can be found around hiding spots like mattress seams.
Signs of Carpet Beetles
Damage to fabrics: Small holes or irregular damage to carpets, clothing, and upholstered furniture are telltale signs of carpet beetles.
Larvae skins: As carpet beetle larvae moult, they leave behind their hairy, bristly skins, which you may find near-infested materials.
Adult beetles: You might see small, round beetles crawling near windows or flying around light sources in your home.
How to Treat Each Infestation
Once you’ve identified whether you’re dealing with bed bugs or carpet beetles, youโll need to take the right steps to treat the infestation.
Treating Bed Bugs
Professional pest control: Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of on your own, so itโs often necessary to hire professional pest control services. They can use heat treatments or insecticides to eliminate the infestation.
Regular cleaning: Wash bedding, linens, and clothing in hot water and vacuum thoroughly to remove bed bugs and eggs.
Treating Carpet Beetles
Cleaning: Vacuum your carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture regularly, especially in dark corners and under furniture.
Launder-infested items: Wash infested clothing and other fabrics in hot water or dry clean them to remove larvae.
Pesticides: Insecticides can be used to treat heavily infested areas, focusing on dark, hidden spots where larvae live.
Conclusion
Bed bugs and carpet beetles may seem similar at first, but they have very different characteristics that make them easier to identify once you know what to look for. Bed bugs bite and feed on blood, while carpet beetles damage natural fibres. By understanding their appearance, habits, and signs of infestation, you can take the right steps to eliminate the problem and protect your home. If youโre unsure which pest is causing trouble, donโt hesitate to contact a pest control expert for a professional evaluation.
