When you find a bug in your home that isn’t your typical spider or ant, the first thing you want to do is try to identify it. It’s important to know what type of bug it is so you know if getting rid of the one is good enough, or if you might have to search for a potential infestation of pests. Unfortunately, no matter how meticulous you are with your cleaning, bugs will still find a way into your home and enjoy themselves until you notice them. Two pests that can go undetected while causing a lot of damage to your home, and even yourself, are bed bugs and carpet beetles. Someone not well versed in bugs may not be able to distinguish the difference between bed bugs vs carpet beetles, and therefore, don’t know where to start when it comes to getting rid of them.
Carpet Beetle Rash vs Bed Bug Bites
One of the biggest differences one might notice between carpet beetles and bed bugs is that carpet beetles don’t bite, while bed bugs do. A bed bug prefers blood and tends to feed at night. While they love blood, they can survive without a meal for a few months, which is one of the various reasons why getting rid of bed bugs is so tough. They will hide in the smallest, most inconspicuous spaces until the sun goes down, at which point they will feast on your blood while you snooze. A bed bug bite will leave a red mark on your skin, and it is very itchy and irritating.
While carpet beetles don’t bite, some people are allergic to the fibers that grow on carpet beetle larvae. If they come into contact with your skin and you happen to be sensitive to them, they will leave red marks and rashes on your skin that can actually be painful.
If you’re trying to determine whether or not a red mark on your skin is due to a bed bug or carpet beetle, there are distinct differences. Bed bug bites tend to form a triangular pattern or appear in clusters of three. This is because there are typically multiple bed bugs feeding off of you at once. They typically stay close together while they are eating, which is also why their bites don’t typically appear far apart.
As mentioned, carpet beetles don’t bite, but they can leave a painful rash if you happen to be allergic to their larvae. This condition is called Carpet Beetle Dermatitis, and it doesn’t usually pose a health risk to you. The unfortunate thing is if you happen to be allergic and the first sign you see of a carpet beetle infestation is the rash, chances are, the infestation has grown quite large. Many people will not notice carpet beetles in their homes until they see a rash.
Signs of Carpet Beetles and Bed Bugs
Carpet beetles survive off of the fibers of your belongings, like your carpets, clothing, and other linens. This can absolutely be a nuisance as if you are unable to rid your home of carpet beetles for some time, they can cause a lot of damage to your goods. A carpet beetle will continue to eat at their meal of choice until they become an adult, and then they prefer pollen.
If you see bugs that looks like bed bugs and cannot determine whether or not it is a carpet beetle or a bed bug, there are some small but distinct differences in their appearance. A bed bug is a small size and has a flat body that looks similar to an apple seed. They are typically a red-brown color or tan. While there are a few types of carpet beetles, they are typically either black, brown, orange, or white, and have a little bit of a pattern on their outer shell. They are oval-shaped like bed bugs which are one reason why you might not be able to distinguish between the two right away.
Carpet beetles and bed bugs also leave different signs in your home that’ll help you figure out which one is present.
Signs of Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetle signs
- Flying beetles or climbing walls
- Carpet, upholstery, and garment damage
- Trophies’ hairs are falling out
- Skin sheds by larvae and larvae
- Dead bugs on the windowsill
As mentioned before, a carpet beetle likes to eat your clothing, your carpets, and other fabrics, so you might notice some holes in those items. You may also see the beetles flying around or walking up to your walls, as they aren’t as adept at hiding as bed bugs. You may also see their larvae around, as they do change form as they grow. Because they love window sills, especially as they mature, you might notice them or their carcasses in that area.
One of the first ways you’ll probably notice that you have bed bugs is if you find bites on your body. They also leave reddish-brown stains on your bed and other pieces of furniture. Carpet beetles look like small smears and are typically either blood or fecal matter. They also lay small white or yellow eggs, and if the infestation is big enough, you may also notice a sweet but musty odor in the areas where they are populating.
Signs of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs signs
- Sheets or pillowcases with bloodstains
- Rust stains on the bed and furnishings
- Cases of eggs
- The skin sheds
- Musty smell
Bed bugs will typically attach themselves to your clothing, your suitcase, or the other belongings that you bring to a location where they are, and come home with you. It only takes one or two hitchhikers to start an infestation in your home. They lay eggs quite rapidly, so they can populate your home quickly.
Carpet beetles can attach themselves to your clothing or other items, but they can also fly into your home through a window or a small crack in the door. If they are reproducing, they lay eggs in their feeding grounds, like your carpet. They will continue to reproduce and feed off your items until they become adults. At this point, they will leave your home in search of pollen.
How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles and Bed Bugs
Unfortunately, regardless of whether your home has been visited by bed bugs or carpet beetles, both species breed quite fast. Bed bugs can lay multiple eggs in a day if they are eating enough. Their eggs typically hatch within a week. Carpet beetles take a little bit longer to reproduce, and their eggs hatch in a couple of weeks. Bed bugs don’t have a larvae state and just grow in size until they reach adulthood. Carpet beetles do, and regardless of which state they are in, they can be destructive.
No matter which bug is in your home, there are a few things you can do to help control the spread of these bugs before calling in a professional to exterminate them.
1. Sanitize
It’s important to sanitize your surfaces and belongings and get rid of any dust and clutter. If your concern is carpet beetles, you’ll want to carefully inspect your clothing to look for beetles, and subsequently store your garments in tight, plastic containers. If the problem is bed bugs, you’ll want to do the same with your bedding and other linens, and wash and dry the garments in high heat before storing them in tight, closed plastic containers or bags.
2. Vacuum Cleaning
You’ll also want to vacuum your furniture and bedding very carefully, regardless of which bug is in your home. You’ll want to sanitize and clean your vacuum with rubbing alcohol after, and dispose of the bag if there is one. It can also be helpful to steam clean your furniture, baseboards, and walls to try and kill anything that is lurking in those areas. Neither bug likes heat, and so if it’s hot enough, they will both die.
3. Use carpet beetle traps.
The adhesive is already on the traps, so all you have to do is take them out of the packaging, pick one trap, and fold it. Put it in the area where you observe the most beetles crawling.
4. Use a Spray
Bed bug sprays come in a wide variety of formulas. Some of them are made of synthetic materials. Permethrin or pyrethroids are the active ingredients in these products, which are highly efficient in keeping bed bugs away. The EcoRaider spray is the one we suggest most heartily. So far, this is hands-down the greatest spray. However, we also advise washing your bedding with a bed insect detergent after using this product. It’s the quickest and most effective technique to avoid being stung. There’s a good reason why this is an enduring best-seller!
It will probably be tempting to frantically search for items around your home to get rid of either bug yourself. Most love a good DIY project, but in each scenario, it’s best to call the professionals to get the job done well. It can be a costly endeavor, but it is also costly to have to replace all of your belongings that are destroyed or infested by bed bugs or carpet beetles. These professionals have the best tools to give you the best chance of getting rid of a bug infestation permanently. They also have products that are the safest for your home, your belongings, and your health. Many DIY products, or even products sold in stores, are heavy chemicals that are hard to use and can be potentially hazardous.
Conclusion
It can feel embarrassing to have bugs in your home, regardless of whether they are bed bugs or carpet beetles. However, it’s important to remember that these bugs don’t care what state your home is in. It’s not a reflection of your cleanliness. These bugs are both annoying to deal with even though they do different things. Thankfully, there are ways to differentiate bed bugs vs carpet beetles, get rid of them, and get your home back to its peaceful state.