If you’ve seen tiny bugs in dust or on your carpet, it’s easy to see why they can be confused for bed bugs. Due to their minuscule size, it’s difficult to identify them. This makes it very common for the tiny bugs called carpet beetles in your home to be mistaken for bed bugs. Carpet beetles are less of a threat than bed bugs, making it important to learn how to differentiate between the two.
Keep reading for top tips from our experts at Magic Exterminating on identifying these two beetles in the Flushing NY area.
What Are Carpet Beetles?
Carpet beetles are oval-shaped from above just like bed bugs, 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.
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Carpet Beetle or Bed Bug? How to Tell Them Apart
Both of these pests reproduce quickly, are small in size, and prefer to be inside your home. Thankfully, there are many differences that can help set the two apart:
- True to their name, 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.
Carpet Beetle Removal
If you’ve spotted a carpet beetle in your home, or are having trouble differentiating it from a bed bug, it’s time to call a beetle exterminator. At Magic Exterminating, we treat for 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. Contact us today for a free quote!
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