Waking up itchy is bad enough. But when you find suspicious bugs in your home, maybe on your mattresses, in your closets, or crawling across your windowsills, you might wonder if one treatment can handle everything.
Bed bugs and carpet beetles are two common culprits, and while they can sometimes appear in the same home, they behave very differently.
So here’s the big question: can a bed bug treatment also wipe out a carpet beetle infestation?
Key Takeaways
• Bed bug treatment does not usually kill carpet beetles because they live differently and need separate treatment plans.
• Carpet beetles eat lint and natural fibers while bed bugs hide in mattresses and feed on people at night.
• Getting rid of both pests often means vacuuming, hot water, steam, and using products in cracks and crevices.
• The best way to treat both pests is with a full-home service from a licensed pest control company.
Does Bed Bug Treatment Work on Carpet Beetles Too?
Not usually. A standard bed bug treatment is carefully targeted for bed bugs and their specific habits. It doesn’t reliably eliminate carpet beetles, especially not a widespread infestation.
If you’ve spotted signs of bed bugs like reddish-brown bugs on your sheets, tiny black dots (which could be droppings or shed skins), or itchy bite marks, you’re probably dealing with a bed bug infestation.
But if you’re also finding fuzzy, oval-shaped bugs or bare patches in wool clothing or rugs, that’s a separate issue, most likely carpet beetles or their larvae.
To get control of both pests, you’ll need a pest control service that knows how to tailor the approach. Let’s break down why.
Bed Bugs and Carpet Beetles Have Different Targets
Bed bugs live in crevices around beds and couches, feeding on your blood while you sleep. That’s why our bed bug treatments focus heavily on places like wood or metal bed frames, box springs, and mattresses. We use methods like dusts and liquid products designed to reach into tight cracks where they hide.
But carpet beetles, especially the larvae, have a different lifestyle. They feed on organic materials like natural fibers, lint, pet hair, and even dead insects.
You’ll usually find them hiding in attics, closets, and shelving, or crawling around open windows and baseboards.
These pests aren’t drawn to humans like bed bugs are; they’re drawn to food sources like wool sweaters, down pillows, and upholstered furniture.
Without treating the whole home and targeting these food sources, bed bug treatment alone won’t touch the root of a carpet beetle problem.
Different Methods Are Needed for Each Pest
At LaJaunie’s, our bed bug treatment includes liquid products, dusts, and follow-ups using a special dusting machine. It’s highly effective for stopping their life cycle and eliminating nests around sleeping areas.
But when it comes to carpet beetles, the strategy changes.
Carpet beetle larvae behave more like caterpillars; they crawl into dark, undisturbed places and chew through natural materials.
That’s why we also recommend vacuuming regularly, especially in hidden areas like under couches and along the edges of baseboards.
Steam cleaning and hot water laundering are especially helpful for killing both bed bugs and carpet beetle larvae in fabrics and linens.
In some cases, using a natural product like diatomaceous earth in cracks and crevices can help dry out soft-bodied larvae.
Essential oils like peppermint or apple seed oil may offer mild repellent effects, but they’re no replacement for professional pest control.
A Heat Treatment Might Help, But Only If It’s Whole-Home
Heat treatment is a popular bed bug control option because it can penetrate deep into walls, upholstery, and furniture without using materials.
But unless the entire home is treated evenly, adult carpet beetles and their larvae can easily survive in cooler, untreated areas like closets or beneath shelving.
Carpet beetles are also more resilient in terms of where they hide, unlike bed bugs, which stay within a few feet of where you sleep. That’s why a DIY heat treatment isn’t likely to be enough for infestations of carpet beetles.
You’ll need an exterminator to apply the correct methods, whether that’s heat, dust, or targeted sprays.
Book Your Carpet Beetle and Bed Bug Service Today
One-size-fits-all treatments often miss the mark with multiple pests.
At LaJaunie’s Pest Control, we offer professional pest control services tailored to both bed bugs and carpet beetles. Whether you’re dealing with shed skins in your bedding, caterpillar-like larvae in your sweaters, or bugs crawling across your windowsills, we’ve got a plan that works.
We serve all of Southeastern Louisiana, from Thibodaux to New Orleans, and offer same-day service when you need help fast. Our exterminators know exactly how to track down pests in all stages of life, from larval to adult, and how to get them out of your home for good.
Call today or schedule online and take the first step to getting your home back.
