Bed bugs feed on blood while carpet beetles feed on nectar pollen wool hair bristles feathers silk furs insect collections dried plants clothing and fabrics.
Carpet beetle rash vs bed bug bites.
Check the area with a magnifying glass for the shed larval skins remembering that even a single carpet beetle skin could result in multiple bite like reactions due.
Most doctors have trouble pinpointing exactly what causes someone s dermatitis.
They simply bite you while you sleep.
I started to think that they were bed bug bites but the exterminator found only carpet beetles.
This saliva causes an allergic reaction in some people which registers as raised red welts that itch.
The bug injects anesthetic and anticoagulant into your skin with its mouth to ensure a quick feeding that won t disturb your sleep.
Bed bugs do not damage your belongings.
And i really hope you haven t.
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.
I have always been allergic to bug bites and i was the only one in getting bitten.
Bed bugs bites are a lot more frequent than carpet beetle rash.
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.
Bed bug bites are itchier and the carpet beetle s rash is more painful.
However there is another one called carpet beetle dermatitis which can cause you to have an itchy rash on the affected area of your skin.
The result of carpet beetle bites will be tiny red rashes on your skin.
If only one person in the bed is getting bites or a rash it s more likely that you have.
These rashes will often itch and may even create a burning sensation.
However carpet beetles obviously cause carpet beetle dermatitis because that is where the name comes from.
The moral to this story is.
Carpet beetles can also leave red bumps on your skin but they aren t bites.
This usually occurs when you are asleep and there are carpet beetles around the area of your bed.
However rashes from bed bugs are from bites while rashes from carpet beetles are from allergic reactions.
If your skin is exposed to carpet beetles they will likely bite you.
Although it s hard to know the difference if you ve never experienced both.
Bed bug bites are actual bites.