Difference Between Carpet Beetle Larvae And Bed Bug Larvae
The main difference is the color.
Difference between carpet beetle larvae and bed bug larvae. The carpet beetle and bed bug not only leave similar looking bites but there are other similarities. An important detail when understanding the difference. The official name for the varied carpet beetle is anthrenus verbasci they are small about 3mm in length and flat in their shape. Bed bugs can cause red itchy welts on the skin due to their bites and although carpet beetles do not bite the larvae have prickly little hairs that can.
However the carpet beetle is the smallest of the two and averages 1 8th of an inch in length while the bed bug is about 1 4th of an inch long. The first notable difference is that of size as bed bugs are twice as big as carpet beetles. The presence of either one can cause skin reactions as the bites of bed bugs are itchy and can get infected if. Bed bug larvae look like little worms while carpet beetle larvae look like fuzzy bugs with little spines all over them.
Both carpet beetles and bed bugs are insects but bed bugs feed on blood and carpet beetles feed on substances like carpet woolen fabrics and other materials as well as stored food sources. Differences between bed bugs and carpet beetles. 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 and carpet beetles are both very small.
How to tell the difference. The second difference and the biggest nuisance is the fact that bed bugs feed on human blood while carpet beetles feed on animal fibers. But the main difference is that the varied carpet beetle does not feed on blood. Also once magnified the varied carpet beetle larvae actually look like tiny furry caterpillars with little spines on them whereas the bed bug larvae look like little worms.
As household pests go most people would consider bed bugs the worst and that is why it is so important to be able to tell the difference between a bed bug and a carpet beetle. 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.