Is this a bed bug or carpet beetle?

Help! I found this dead bug on the floor of my bedroom. Is it a bedbug?

Editor Response

Based on the visual evidence in the photo, this does not look like a bed bug.

It appears to be a Carpet Beetle larva (or possibly the shed skin of one).

Here is a breakdown of why this matches a carpet beetle larva rather than a bed bug:

Shape: Bed bugs are typically round or oval and very flat (often compared to an apple seed). The insect in your photo is elongated and somewhat carrot-shaped or tapered, which is characteristic of carpet beetle larvae.

Banding: The insect has distinct alternating bands of light and dark brown. Bed bugs are usually a uniform reddish-brown (adults) or pale yellow/translucent (nymphs).

Hairs: While hard to see in detail, the silhouette suggests it is "fuzzy" or bristly. Carpet beetle larvae are covered in tiny bristles/hairs, whereas bed bugs appear smooth to the naked eye.