Do I Have Bed Bugs?
Visual / Obvious Signs Of Bedbug Bites VS Other Pest
Check For Patterns Of Bites:
3-5 bites close together
Bites in a straight line, zig-zags or clusters.
(Mosquito and Spider bites are usually random and isolated.)
(Flea bites are usually found on feet and lower legs.)
Where Are You Getting Bit?:
Bedbugs bite exposed skin while you are sleeping, look over face, neck, shoulders, arms, & legs.
(Bedbugs typically don't bite under tight clothing.)
What Bedbug bites look like:
- Adult bedbugs are small, brownish insects that typically measure about ¼ inch in length, resembling an apple seed. They have flat, oval bodies and are wingless.
- nymphs (young bedbugs) are less than 5 millimeters (mm) in length, whitish-yellow or clear-colored, and invisible without a microscope or magnifying glass.
- Their colors can change from translucent at birth to reddish-brown to a darker hue after feeding on blood. Bedbugs are known for their distinctive horizontal stripes on their abdomen.
(It's important to note that everyone reacts to bites differently...Some swell, some have mild reactions, while others show no signs of being bit, even though others who share the same bed or couch do show signs.)
(Bedbugs have a preference in blood types and can smell the different types off your breath.)
How Do Bedbug Bites Differ From Other Bites?
Bite type Key Differences
Mosquito Larger, isolated, itches immediately
Flea Small clusters around ankles
Spider Usually single, panful, may blister
Chigger Intense itch, waistband, or socks
Allergic Rash Symmetrical, spreads not bite like
Timing of Symptoms:
Bedbug bites usually appear overnight.
New bites show up over several mornings.
Itching usually starts from a few hours to days later, and some don't itch at all.
(Bites from mosquitos, spiders, and fleas appear more quickly.)
(To relieve some of the itching use over-the-counter (OTC) hydrocortisone cream or anti-itch creams.)
Other Signs That Bedbugs Are Present Other Than Bites:
Small blood stains on sheets or pillow cases
Black dots (fecal spots) on mattress especially in or around seams, or on walls close by.
Shed skins near bed edges, along the bed frame, or base of walls.
