If you find that you have bitten by bugs on your skin by finding red spots and you think that it is bitten by bed bugs, but you cannot find the signs of bed bugs in your mattress and in any other places at your home, first you have to know the signs of bed bug bites to make sure whether it is bitten by bed bugs or any other bugs. If the signs are the same as bed bug bites, then it may be true that you are bitten by bed bugs, but if not, it may be other types of bugs.
Signs of Being Bitten by Bed Bugs
As explained on the Health Line site, bed bug bites usually have a tendency to look the same as other insect bites. Bed bug bites are very itchy and these are smaller than a quarter-inch across. If you have white skin, you may find that the bites are red. If you have dark skin, you may find that the bites look faint-pink or purplish and turn deep brown the longer they remain on the skin.
However, it is important for you to know that they are also able to develop into big weals such as itchy, fluid-filled bumps which are able to be larger than 2 inches. Usually, bed bug bites happen on parts of your body which are exposed while you sleep such as feet, hands, arms, neck, face and shoulders. Bite marks usually appear in a line or zigzag of three or more bites.
Other Bugs That Bite At Night
Well, bites that you find on your skin may not be because of bed bugs. It can be because of other types of bugs. It is important for you to know that there are some other bugs which can bite humans at night. According to the Healthline site, here are some other bugs which bite at night.
- Spiders
There are a lot of types of spiders which are more active at night than during the day. However, being bitten by a spider in your sleep is fairly uncommon. Usually, spiders bite when they feel threatened. Most spiders have toxic venom, but the majority of spiders do not have strong enough venom to cause serious danger to humans. Usually, they can only cause minor injury. Some symptoms of being bitten by spiders are swelling, blistering, rash, itchiness, and red or purplish welts. Spiders are not the same as bed bugs because spiders do not feed on blood. Spiders bites are more likely to be isolated. Meanwhile, bed bug bites are usually clustered together. - Mosquitos
- Mosquitos have a long tube-like mouth and they use it to penetrate your skin. There are a lot of types of mosquitos which are more active at dusk and night than during the day. As we know that mosquitos bites do not cause serious harm. However, there are some types of mosquitos which can carry deadly diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus and dengue fever. If you are bitten by mosquitos, they will leave an itchy welt that looks like a pimple. Usually, mosquitos bites vanish in a few days. Mosquito and bed bug bites are able to look the same. However, it is important for you to know that mosquito bites are more likely to be in a random pattern and they are bigger in size than bed bug bites. Usually, bed bug bites are in a straight line or zigzag.
- Mites
What are mites? They are small insect-like critters which often live on animals like birds and rodents. The symptoms of mite bite can vary. However, in general, the symptoms of mite bites are swollen skin, a rash, itchiness, and hard or inflamed bumps that are red on light skin or dark purple or brown on dark skin. Mite bites are so tiny and the bites do not create a noticeable puncture like most other types of bug bites. - Fleas
If you have pets at home or if you sleep with your pets in the bed, you have a bigger chance of being bitten by a flea. As explained on the Healthline site, people often mistake flea bites for bed bug bites. No wonder why people think that bed bug and flea bites are the same because both types of bites are usually itchy and can be found in lines or clusters. However, usually fleas target your legs, feet, armpits, knees, and elbows. If you find that the bites around your upper body or around your face, it seems that the bites are done by bed bugs.
Common Bugs That Can Bite People
According to the Healthline site, there are some common bugs which can bite people. Those are listed below.
- Lice
These bugs usually live on the hair on your head and they bite your scalp. The symptoms of being bitten by these insects are extreme itchiness and the existence of sores. - Scabies
Scabies are small types of mite and they spread by sharing clothing or bedding. Usually, they can cause a rash and intense itching that is worse in the evening. - Ticks
Usually, ticks have a tendency to bite warm and moist parts of your body such as your armpits or groin. After biting, they are able to remain on your skin for more than a week. - Chiggers
For your information, chiggers are members of the arachnid family and they live in tall weeds and grass, wooded areas and berry patches. The ones which can bite humans are the larvae. They usually have a tendency to choose warm, moist areas of the body. When the chigger falls off, you will find that you have bumps which look reddish on light skin and pink or purple on dark skin. In the center, you may see a bright red dot. The bumps caused by chiggers may look like blisters, welts, pimples or hives.
Rashes That Are Like Bug Bites
As also explained on the Healthline site, there are several types of skin conditions which can be the same as bed bug bites. Those are hives, fungal infection, miliaria, and dermatitis herpetiformis.
