- Bed bug: flat, oval, reddish brown, 5 to 7mm, no wings, lives in the bed and bites.
- Adult carpet beetle: round like a tiny ladybird, mottled black, white and brown, 2 to 4mm, flies, often seen at windows. Does not bite.
- Carpet beetle larva ("carpet bug" or "woolly bear"): long, hairy and striped brown, up to 5mm, lives in carpet edges and wardrobes. Does not bite, but its hairs can cause an itchy rash.
Carpet beetles are one of the most common reasons people in the UK think they have bed bugs. Both turn up in bedrooms, both can leave you itchy, and both are small and brown at a glance. But they need completely different treatment, so it is worth two minutes to be sure.
Carpet beetle or bed bug? Quick check
What does it look like?
Where did you find it?
What are your skin marks like?
Any other damage?
Side by side
| Bed bug | Carpet beetle larva | Adult carpet beetle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Flat, oval | Long, hairy, stripy | Round, domed |
| Size | 5 to 7mm | Up to 5mm | 2 to 4mm |
| Colour | Reddish brown | Brown with bands | Mottled black, white, brown |
| Moves by | Crawling | Crawling | Flying and crawling |
| Bites? | Yes | No; hairs can irritate skin | No |
| Eats | Blood | Wool, fur, feathers, dust and lint | Pollen and nectar |
| Where | Mattress, bed frame | Carpet edges, wardrobes, under furniture | Windowsills, flowers |
Carpet beetle rash vs bed bug bites
Carpet beetle larvae do not bite. Their tiny bristles can irritate the skin and cause an itchy, bumpy rash, sometimes called carpet beetle dermatitis. It tends to look less organised than bed bug bites, which often appear in lines or clusters on skin exposed while sleeping. If the rash keeps coming back and you cannot find either bug, dust mite allergy is another common cause of itchy skin in bed. Try our what is biting me quiz.
How to get rid of carpet beetles
- Vacuum hard along carpet edges, under beds and furniture, inside wardrobes and along skirting. Larvae live in the dust and lint there. A HEPA vacuum stops fine hairs and allergens being blown back out.
- Wash or freeze wool clothes, blankets and rugs that can be washed (hot wash if the label allows, or a sealed bag in the freezer for a few days).
- Store wool and natural fibres in sealed bags or boxes.
- Check for the source: old birds' nests in lofts and eaves are a common starting point.
- Keep windows screened in spring and summer when adults fly in.
If it is bed bugs
Bed bugs live in the bed itself, so the fix starts there: hot wash bedding at 60°C, vacuum, and seal the mattress in a full-zip encasement so anything inside is trapped. Then follow the 8 step plan.
Frequently asked questions
Are carpet bugs the same as bed bugs?
No. "Carpet bugs" usually means carpet beetle larvae, which live in carpets and wardrobes and feed on natural fibres. Bed bugs live in the bed and feed on blood.
Can carpet beetles live in your bed?
Larvae occasionally wander into bedding, especially wool blankets or feather duvets, but they do not live in mattresses the way bed bugs do.
Are carpet beetles harmful?
They do not bite or spread disease, but larvae damage wool and natural fabrics and their hairs can cause itchy skin in some people.
It is bed bugs? Seal the mattress tonight
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Shop the bed bug encasement Carpet beetles? See our HEPA vacuumWritten by Richard Williams, founder of iDustMite, former NHS worker, guest speaker at the Allergy UK Show in 2025 and 2026, and adviser on over 1,000 one-to-one bedroom consultations. Reviewed October 2026.
