But the photograph tells a different story.
Is This a Carpet Beetle Larva?
Probably not.
Carpet beetle larvae are usually elongated and covered in noticeable hairs or bristles. They often look fuzzy rather than smooth.
The insect in this photograph appears to have a smooth, oval, flattened body with visible abdominal segments, and it has a reddish-brown coloration.
Those characteristics are much more suggestive of a bed bug than a carpet beetle larva.
However, a photograph alone isn’t enough to make a definitive species identification.
The Shape Is the Biggest Clue
Look closely at the insect.
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