Carpet Beetle Larvae Bed Bugs

An adult bed bug next to a carpet beetle larvae.

Carpet beetle larvae bed bugs.

The carpet beetle and bed bug not only leave similar looking bites but there are other. If you re not sure which you have you can have an exterminator come look for bedbugs. Carpet beetle larvae are the form of beetles that comes between the egg stage and the adult stage of their growth cycle. One big difference between bed bugs and carpet beetles that can help you determine which pest you re dealing with is that bed bugs go through an incomplete metamorphosis while carpet beetles go through a complete metamorphosis.

Bed bug larvae look like little worms while carpet beetle larvae look like fuzzy bugs with little spines all over them. Bed bugs actually create red itchy welts on the skin from biting you while the carpet beetle doesn t bite at all but causes a similar red itchy welt due to an allergic reaction from the prickly little hairs on the carpet beetle larvae pictured center. Larvae are basically immature carpet beetles which have come out of their eggs and are now looking to feed. Bed bugs are usually found on mattresses or close to your bed and carpet beetles live close to their food.

An important detail when understanding the difference. They re both dangerous to humans because bed bugs bite and carpet beetles can cause allergies. Varied carpet beetles do have brown on their backs but they look more spotted or striped with white and light colored patches mixed with brown. Bed bugs eat human blood and carpet beetle larvae feed on wool and animal based materials.

Because carpet beetle larvae are bigger than bed bugs you may be more likely to see the beetles themselves. The main difference is the color.