Bed Bug Bites VS Mosquito Bites 

Bed bugs and mosquitoes are two pesky insects that feed on the blood of virtually any living thing. Because these insects thrive on the blood of almost any animal, you may find yourself falling victim to these pests as they leave bites on the surface of your skin. While most insect bites look similar upon first glance, there are different signs to look at when determining just which pest decided to have a snack. But, before explaining how to tell the difference between a bite from a bed bug or a mosquito, let us explore these insects a little further. If this is a common problem in your home your defiantly going to need a pest control expert to help.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small brown insects, about the size of an apple seed. Typically these bugs will have flat bodies, except after they feed on blood; turning reddish in color as they swell. Although these pests cannot fly, they can scurry quickly across surfaces which help them stay hidden. With high reproduction rates, it can be very difficult to contain and eliminate a bed bug problem. Because they tend to live inside mattresses and box springs it makes it easy for them to access exposed skin and feast. They will feed anywhere from three to ten minutes on the skin and retreat back to their hiding spaces. In order to identify these bugs you may have to find the bugs themselves or identify them based on their bites as explained below. 

Some Information On Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are flying insects that you’ll commonly hear buzzing in your ear around the time you notice they’ve taken a bite. Identified by their body shape, wings, and six legs, mosquitoes can be found near water as these are the areas they spawn. Mosquitoes are also attracted to human sweat and warmth, and are mostly active from dusk to dawn. Not only are mosquitoes a nuisance, they can also transmit diseases which can be life threatening. 

How To Know Its Bed Bugs & Not Mosquitoes

Let us now dive into the appearance of bed bug bites, some symptoms and the general locations in which they tend to feed on the skin. Bed bug bites can sometimes be confused with other insect bites and can even resemble some skin conditions such as eczema. When bitten by a bed bug, one may experience a pimple-like bump that turns red and puffy. The center of the bite will be red and irritated and some may notice a fluid-filled center. These fluid-filled centers are typical of a reaction to the bite which aren’t common. When skin reactions do occur they typically happen hours or days after the bite happens. Bites from bed bugs can be very itchy but irritation tends to settle as the day goes on. No area of the skin is safe from a bed bug bite as they will feed on any area of exposed skin. In addition to feeding on exposed skin, bed bugs can also bite through fabric, sometimes burrowing in clothing. It is rare to see just a single bed bug bite; usually they will appear in a straight line with three or more bites. As stated earlier, skin reactions seldom occur but when they do or bites get infected one can experience fever and nearby lymph node swelling. Contact CTRL today for more information.

Why Is Mosquito Bites & Not Bed Bugs

Next, let’s look at mosquito bites and how they differ from bed bug bites. Mosquito bites tend to be small, raised red bites on the skin. Just like bed bug bites they can be very itchy, but more people tend to have reactions towards mosquito bites. The size of the bit will vary depending on an individual’s reactions to the mosquito’s saliva, and so will their level of itchiness. Similar to bed bugs, mosquitoes will bite any area of exposed skin but will not bite or burrow through clothing like their pesky insect counterpart. It’s common to have a single mosquito bite or multiple, but they will not appear in a straight line like bed bug bites. A mosquito is only on the skin for a minimum of six seconds before they feast, but their bite is instantly visible and usually goes away in one to two days. Serious allergic reactions can be present with mosquito bites which can include hives, difficulty breathing, and throat swelling. These reactions can be life threatening and should be assessed by a medical professional immediately.