That s because bed bugs always look the same but there are a lot of carpet beetle species.
Carpet beetle vs bed bug bites.
No these insects are not dangerous.
The difference here is that bed bugs have a mouth made for piercing skin and sucking blood while carpet beetles have a mouth made for chewing on plants and other fibrous material.
They are usually a dark brown or even red and can be seen well on a light colored surface.
They tend not to infest beds or around people in the same way bed bugs do.
Both pests can be worrisome and may create stress.
Bed bugs measure of an inch long.
While bed bugs damage the skin carpet beetles mostly damage your belongings.
Bed bugs are in the family cimicidae while carpet beetles are in the family dermestids.
They are not blood feeders and do not leave the bite marks that bed bugs do.
The adult beetle feeds on pollen so any plants and flowers may attract them.
Carpet beetles on the other hand measure between 1 16 of an inch and 1 8 of an inch long.
The adult carpet beetle usually finds entry points to access the property or just fly in through an opened window or door unlike bed bugs that are being introduced with infested luggage or furniture.
Both insects can breed fast and may remain hidden for a while before you start to notice them.
An important detail when understanding the difference 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.
Carpet beetles prefer to devour fabrics like carpet wool and other natural materials.
However carpet beetles can damage fabrics and bed bugs can bite people.
If your skin is exposed to carpet beetles they will likely bite you.
Carpet beetles are not bed bugs.
However carpet beetles and bed bugs do leave similar evidence on your skin.
The result of carpet beetle bites will be tiny red rashes on your skin.
A bed bug is a tiny bit larger in size than a carpet beetle and the coloring is much darker.
Carpet beetle vs bed bug bites as stated previously carpet beetles don t bite humans.
They will feed on the blood of a host which is the person that is sleeping in the area they have infested as opposed to the materials that a carpet beetle eat.
These rashes will often itch and may even create a burning sensation.
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.