Bedbug? Flea? They're biting us!

[guidog77]

Hi!

I need and would very much appreciate an ID of the following insects that are biting my wife and daughter while sleeping. We're located on Long Island, NY (Nassau County).
I found two: One dead and one alive. The photos of the one that was alive are the ones that hold the bug with tweezers.
Both were found in our beds.


Thank you!!
Guido.

Found  alive:
ibb.co/0YcC1qf

ibb.co/QHBcHsf

ibb.co/3z0HGqv


Found dead:
ibb.co/5WWywKC

ibb.co/Ydz7s6K

ibb.co/KXqc8cT

ibb.co/0tx6Ln6

ibb.co/FHdcX0X

ibb.co/jGrD16M

ibb.co/2jxkn4b

ibb.co/h2411hs

ibb.co/0DgVpRG

ibb.co/T04QtwY

ibb.co/6FRdSy7

[Adam Cotton]

The live one looks like a carpet beetle larva (Dermestidae) and the dead one seems to be a wood louse. I doubt that either of these would be whatever is biting your family, although the hairs on the carpet beetle larva may be irritant.

Adam.

[guidog77]

Thank you Adam.

Based on your answer I tried to find more bugs near/under beds and sofas. It seems that, indeed, they are carpet beetles. Could you confirm based on the photos below please?

[bandrow]

Hi guidog77,

Adam is exactly right on both specimens. The Dermestidae are common household pests, feeding on a variety of organic debris, and are notorious problems in museums, especially in insect collections. They do not bite humans, but as Adam said, certain people can have a sensitivity to the hairs on them and may have minor local skin irritation. There is plenty of info online as to how to remedy problems with them, but the most effective is removal of their food sources. In the case of a bedroom, vacuum the carpet well, and be sure to pay close attention to where the carpet meets the baseboard, removing any lint along that edge and on the top of the baseboard. The "dust bunnies" in a typical room can be all they need to survive.

The isopods - or woodlice, roly-polies, pillbugs, etc., depending where you live - are also scavengers on organic debris, but rarely are they any issue inside a home. I occasionally find them in my house, even once in an upstairs bathrooom, but all were "wanderers" that came in under a door frame somewhere and couldn't find their way back out. They are harmless as well...

Hope this helps,
Bandrow

[guidog77]

Thank you both very much!
I did a google search on "carpet beetle bite" and the rash or allergy reaction on my wife and daughter looks like those photos.

Kudos to you!

PS: I just started a major vacuuming

[bandrow]

Oct 31, 2021 8:19:45 GMT -8 guidog77 said:

Thank you both very much!
I did a google search on "carpet beetle bite" and the rash or allergy reaction on my wife and daughter looks like those photos.

Kudos to you!

PS: I just started a major vacuuming

Glad to help - but sorry to instigate a cleaning project for you on a weekend - especially a holiday weekend!!

Cheers!
Bandrow