Knowledgebase

Carpet beetles? Bed bugs? Something else? #935094

Asked June 11, 2026, 11:02 AM EDT

My partner has crazy itchy bites so I am pulling things apart looking for a culprit. I collected samples and took photos of the mattress cover and rug around bed. Photos attached.

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

We are sorry your partner is dealing with skin irritations. 

Thank you for sending photos. Based on the photos we do not recognize any signs of insects/arthropods. We would recommend contacting a health care professional to take a look at the skin irritations. There could be a number of things that cause bites, itching, and/or skin irritations including outdoor insects/arthropods and/or irritating products like detergents, perfumes, fibers, and even medications. If you see any further signs of insects, feel free to send us more photos or contact a professional pest control company. 

I would also highly recommend reviewing this webpage titled: "Is Something Biting Me?" by Penn State Extension: https://extension.psu.edu/is-something-biting-me.

Answered by University of Maryland Extension faculty. For more information on a variety of yard and garden topics, visit the HGIC program web page and blog, Maryland Grows. Replied June 11, 2026, 12:45 PM EDT

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