4 Bugs That Look Like Varied Carpet Beetles

1. Bed Bug

A flat, oval, apple-seed-sized insect that hides in mattress seams, bed frames and furniture and feeds on human blood at night. Infestations spread through luggage, used furniture and shared walls.

How it differs:

• Group: Varied Carpet Beetle belongs to beetles, while bed bug belongs to true bugs. Hard wing covers that meet in a straight line down the back.
• Size: Bed Bugs are larger, reaching 7 mm, while varied carpet beetles top out around 3.5 mm.
• Wings: Varied Carpet Beetles have wings, while bed bugs are usually seen without them.

2. Drugstore Beetle

A small, reddish-brown pantry beetle with rows of fine grooves along its wing covers. It infests dried foods, spices, pet food, and even books and medicines.

How it differs:

• Color: Varied Carpet Beetles are black, white, yellow and brown; drugstore beetles are brown and red.
• Where found: look for varied carpet beetles in bedrooms and beds and indoors; drugstore beetles turn up in pantries and stored food and in the kitchen.
• Signature feature: Varied Carpet Beetles: very small, round beetle with a mottled scale pattern. Drugstore Beetles: oval, reddish-brown body with lengthwise grooves.

3. Larder Beetle

A dark, oblong beetle with a pale yellowish band across the front half of its back. Its hairy larvae feed on dried meats, pet food, cheese and dead insects.

How it differs:

• Size: Larder Beetles are larger, reaching 9 mm, while varied carpet beetles top out around 3.5 mm.
• Color: Varied Carpet Beetles are black, white, yellow and brown; larder beetles are black, tan and brown.
• Where found: look for varied carpet beetles in bedrooms and beds and indoors; larder beetles turn up in pantries and stored food, in the kitchen and in basements and garages.

4. Webbing Clothes Moth

A small, golden-buff moth whose larvae eat wool, silk, fur, feathers and cashmere. Adults avoid light and are more often found in closets than flying around lamps.

How it differs:

• Group: Varied Carpet Beetle belongs to beetles, while webbing clothes moth belongs to moths & butterflies. Hard wing covers that meet in a straight line down the back.
• Size: Webbing Clothes Moths are larger, reaching 8 mm, while varied carpet beetles top out around 3.5 mm.
• Color: Varied Carpet Beetles are black, white, yellow and brown; webbing clothes moths are tan and yellow.

Side-by-side comparison

Quick identification checklist

1. Count the legs. Varied Carpet Beetles have 6 legs.
2. Check for wings. Varied Carpet Beetles have wings.
3. Measure it. Varied Carpet Beetles are 2–3.5 mm (up to about 0.14 in).
4. Look for the signature feature: very small, round beetle with a mottled scale pattern.
5. Note where you found it. Varied Carpet Beetles are usually in bedrooms and beds and indoors.

When you'll see varied carpet beetles

Varied Carpet Beetles are most active in spring and summer. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.

Typical places to check: bedroom or bed and indoors, anywhere.

About beetles

The varied carpet beetle is one of the beetles. Beetles go through complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (grub), pupa and adult. The larval stage often does the most feeding and damage, and it can last from a few weeks to several years depending on the species. Adults protect their flight wings under hard wing covers called elytra, which is why most beetles look armored and meet in a neat line down the back.

Look closely at larvae as well as adults. Grubs in soil, fuzzy larvae in closets and small worms in flour are all beetle larvae, and finding them tells you where the problem is centered.

Are varied carpet beetles or their lookalikes dangerous?

• Varied Carpet Beetle: Carpet beetles don't bite, but larval hairs can cause itchy skin rashes in some people.
• Bed Bug: Bed bug bites itch and cause stress and sleep loss, but bed bugs are not known to spread disease.
• Drugstore Beetle: Drugstore beetles don't bite or spread disease, but they ruin stored food.
• Larder Beetle: Larder beetles don't bite, but larvae can bore into wood and they contaminate food.
• Webbing Clothes Moth: Clothes moths don't bite people; larvae damage natural-fiber fabrics.

Frequently asked questions