What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
If you’ve been bitten or stung by an insect before, you know the common symptoms: red, swollen bumps that are often itchy. A bite from a bed bug can often be confused for other types of bug bites, making it important to learn what sets their bites apart. Bed bug bites often are red bumps with a darker center and a lighter, swollen area surrounding the bite. The two main things that set apart bed bug bites are:
- Bed bug bites often appear in lines or zigzag patterns.
- Bites are typically on areas of the body that are exposed at night.
Flea vs. Bed Bug Bites
Flea bites are one of the common bites confused with bed bug bites. The biggest difference between bed bug bites and flea bites is the pain level. Flea bites can be felt immediately and can be somewhat painful. Bed bug bites do not hurt until symptoms show up hours later. Flea bites are most commonly grouped on the lower part of the body and around the ankles in random patterns. Bed bug bites appear in lines. While both bites can cause red bumps and itchiness, bed bug bites tend to be significantly larger in size.
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Bed Bug vs. Mosquito Bites
More than any other insect, the bite of a mosquito looks very similar to the bite of a bed bug. Unlike bed bug bites, though, mosquito bites appear in isolated, random areas on the body. A bite from a mosquito will form a bump that can appear mere minutes afterward, and their bites can be felt immediately. It is important to note that mosquito bites are much more dangerous than bed bug bites for their ability to transmit disease. Any symptoms from a mosquito bite tend to heal much quicker than bed bug bites.
Did a Bed Bug Bite Me?
It can be distressing to discover you’ve been bitten by anything, let alone a bed bug! Because bed bug bites are commonly mistaken with other types of bug bites, it’s crucial to know what sets bed bug bites apart. It can also be helpful to look for other signs of bed bugs in your home. When in doubt, always contact your local bed bug control experts for help knowing if you have a bed bug problem in your property.