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EEEk. Looks like bedbugs to me.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bedbugs/

I think it might be a carpet beetle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermestidae

That looks like a carpet beetle to me.

If this is what it is, then they can damage different types of materials, and are attracted to soiled linens (so if you've spilled juice on your shirt, don't throw it in the basket...wash it ASAP!) and they also like wool rugs.

Be careful of your food as well, as they feed on cereals and grain foods.

I wish I knew of prevention methods for you. I love bugs but not in masses parading around my home!

Good luck.

Yeah, that looks like a carpet beetle.

They're definately not bedbugs - If they were, they wouldnt be out on the walls but hiding in the bed (they're very light-sensitive)

Looks like you have carpet beetles. There are hundreds of different species, but yours might be a furniture carpet beetle: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/A/I-CO-AFLA-AD.001.html

The larvae are potentially harmful, as they will eat natural fibers. By the time you see adults, they are trying to make their way outdoors, where they feed on pollen and nectar. I occasionally spotted a few adults in my home when I lived in Washington state, but never noticed any damage caused by them.

absolutely NOT a bed bug. don't go getting all bed bug crazed on us. If they were, you probably wouldn't be seeing them so easily/frequently.

Definitely NOT a bedbug from one, who unfortunately, knows.

It's a varied carpet beetle. They come in in the spring and summer and find homes everywhere as they feed on pretty much anything - pet hair, human hair, natural fibers, wood, foods, etc, etc...if you ever find little wormy things (that shed their skin) in your cereals or pastas, corners of closets, etc... its from them, that is their larvae. It's important to keep the apartment super clean, vacuum and dust under and behind furniture and in closets and keep all your foods in airtight containers to try and limit the places for them to go to nest/feed off of. Also, I always invest about $200 in the beginning of the season on these pheromones traps - it absolutely minimizes their survival rate and you will be much happier come winter not to have a gazillion larvae all over in every nook and cranny eating all your stuff. Once you get the traps, you will be AMAZED at how many you collect in them. I have one in every room and they are all pretty much full.
Good luck!
http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/moths_control.htm#beetles

Ditto the carpet beetle ID.

I've had them in older rentals, but apparently they prefered snacking on my good woolen sweaters and silk scarves (they LOVE silk) as I've never found any in food.

Just adding to say definitely not a bedbug in case you still a teeny bit scared.

I had a carpet beetle infestation, and met with an insect exterminator. He recommended that I remove all cloth/fiber materials and spray with insecticide along the edges of the walls and ceilings where the beetles crawl. I did the following:

-Disposed of the rug in the room. (I've read that items can be dry cleaned to eradicate carpet beetles.)
-Sprayed with an insecticide containing permithrin. Please be careful because it is toxic to you and your pets. (I used Raid Ant and Roach Killer. There's a list of agents containing permethrin here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin.)

It smelled awful for about 2 weeks, but I haven't seen any beetles since.

looks eerily similar to a deer tick. except the pattern. otherwise, that's my guess. i have no experience with carpet beetles.

They can get in through spaces in the walls - from other apartments, if it is building, or in the walls already, if it is a house.

I'd get an exterminator with a quarterly follow-up for a year, after you've cleaned everything out, spackled all cracks and holes in the wall, sent everything to the dry cleaner, etc., etc.

If you have good rugs, ask a rug dealer whether mothproofing them will also keep carpet beetles from eating them. Mothproofing lasts 3 years. Things most at risk are those in dark closets and crannies.

CARPET BEATLES
I first encountered carpet beatles when I found my new apartment was totally infested with them. After doing some research on them the solution I found that worked was to:
1. Wash/ brush down with soft bristle brush/ shake out clothes;
2. Spray apartment every few months with "Hot Shot" home insect spray (available from Home Depot);
3. Vacum regularly.

This worked for me - good luck!

One note - I don't know how if this stuff is pet safe so sending Fido to a friends house for 24hrs after spraying may be a good idea.

It does look like a varied carpet beetle, and, not to take anything away from the fairly accurate remedies above, I would not start to worry about an infestation unless you begin to find masses of the beetles. At this time of year, with all the rain that NYC's been getting, these beetles head indoors. If all you are finding is the occasional beetle on the wall, there probably isn't much need for concern. Just flush it down the toilet or toss it outside (whatever your preference). If you start finding large numbers of the beetles, try to find the source among your carpets, stored winter clothing, etc. and follow the advice above.

Yeah, seriously, no dramatic approach is necessary - just vacuum regularly and get the pheromone traps. It will make a big difference already. They are very common in NYC and pretty much everywhere, people just don't know it, I am sure its not just an infestation in your place, don't worry!
Good luck!

I believe that's the rare and elusive "Theo van Doesburg" beetle, close cousin to the lady bug, but prefers to express it's preference in geometric art: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_van_Doesburg

hi, this is rose -- thanks for all your comments!

definitely makes me feel better that it's not something i should be REALLY worried about (like bed bugs!) *relief*!. i have not found a mass infestation of these carpet beetles around the apartment as 1) i don't have carpets! 2) i keep the apt as clean as i can.

but i'll definitely keep my eyes out and take care of my clothes! thanks so much again. :)

They are called carpet beetles but the the amount of infestation has nothing to do with carpets. I have hardwood floors throughout and always get them through the spring and summer.

If you can get one in a jar with alcohol, and find an Agriculture Officer with Customs and Border Protection, I bet they will identify it or tell you to send it for identification. Then, you can search for the specific poison or pheromones needed to either drive them away from your space or kill them.

They are definitely varied carpet beetles. The larvae are beige and brown with tiny hairs.

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-carpet-beetles.htm

If it is real bad the link below offers more serious suggestions including permethren spraying which is generally safe for pets and humans (we dip, dry and then wash t-shirts in it that last about 20 washings in the summer -- keeps ticks, mosquitos and flies away when outdoors).
http://www.bugspray.com/articles98/carpetbeetle.html

We found a larvae and are in the process of vaccuming and cleaning the carpets and checking the clothes closets. It will be ongoing for us as we have a lot of cats. I want wood floors now and furniture that floats off the floor. ;)

Good luck with yours.