Bed Bug vs. Mosquito Bites: How to Tell the Difference
Bed bugs and mosquitoes are both insects that love to prey on humans and animals, feeding on blood to survive. Bites from bed bugs and mosquitoes can look pretty similar at first glance, making it difficult to tell which one bit you if you didn't see it happen. By paying close attention to the appearance of your bites and any other symptoms you experience, you can usually determine which type of bite you have.
Why does it matter if your bites are mosquito bites vs. bed bug bites? Knowing the culprit can help you determine the proper treatment for your insect bites. It can also help you decide which plan of attack you need to take to rid your home of the biting insects that have invaded it or how to better protect yourself when you leave the house.
Do Bed Bug Bits Look Like Mosquito Bites?
Bites from mosquitoes and bed bugs can both look like small, red bumps, but that is where their similarities end. What do mosquito bites look like? Mosquito bites tend to show up individually (as opposed to in clusters) and can occur anywhere on the body that clothing did not cover when the bite happened. They present as a puffy, swollen white or red bump with a small puncture wound in the center. Mosquito bites are found anywhere you have exposed skin when you go outside, but the arms and legs are always targets. A lot of people who wear flip-flops or go barefoot in the yard will have bites on their ankles and feet. The neck is always a spot mosquitoes like, especially if you start to sweat.
Bed bug bites are small red bumps that can blister or look like pimples. Because bed bugs tend to bite when you are asleep, you may not even know you have bed bug bites until a few hours or days after you are bitten. Bed bug bites are more likely to show up in a cluster of three to five bumps than as a single bite, and they may occur in a line or zigzag pattern. Any area of your body that is exposed while you sleep is prime real estate for bed bug bites, but there are spots to look at first. Bed bugs usually attack your face, neck, chest, back or arms. Basically, the upper half of your body is prime real estate for bed bugs. They can bite your legs, but they are more commonly found toward the top of your bed and body.
You will probably quickly notice the itch and irritation of a mosquito bite, either right after you are bitten or, if you are bitten in your sleep, as soon as you wake up. However, you may not realize you have bed bug bites until a day or two after these critters bite you. When it comes to the length of time the bites stay on your skin, mosquito bites may disappear after a day or two, while bed bug bites can last several days.
Symptoms of Bed Bug Bites vs. Mosquito Bites
Both bed bug bites and mosquito bites can leave you with itchy, red or irritating bumps and welts. You can get more than an itchy bump from mosquito bites; these flying pests can transmit diseases including Zika, malaria, West Nile virus and dengue fever. Bed bugs don't transmit diseases, but you can get an infection from their bites if you scratch them and break the skin open.
People have experienced insomnia because of the itching and wanting to scratch all night due to bed bug bites. It's best to treat the itching as soon as possible for all bites so the scratching doesn't break the skin open.
Treatment for Bed Bugs and Mosquito Bites
To make any bug bite irritation go away or at least calm down, clean the area well with soap and water. Try not to scratch your mosquito bites or bed bug bites, as scratching can break the skin's surface and lead to infection. Apply an anti-itch cream or take an over-the-counter antihistamine to reduce your body's reaction to the bite and relieve the pain and irritation from the itching.
When it comes to how to treat bug bites, most people can manage any discomfort at home, while others may have a more acute reaction that may need medical attention. If you experience any severe allergy symptoms, especially difficulty breathing and throat swelling, seek emergency medical treatment because you may be experiencing anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially fatal allergic response to the bug bite.
The Search for Their Hideouts
If you still aren't sure whether you're dealing with bed bug bites vs. mosquito bites, look for the source. It's harder to find mosquitoes since they can exist anywhere outdoors and even in your home, but you can easily rule out bed bugs by checking your bed. You should look at your mattress, box spring, bed frame and furniture within a few feet of where you sleep. If you find small, dark bugs in these areas, your bites are likely from bed bugs.
Mosquitoes live outdoors but don't mind finding a way to sneak inside your home, buzzing around until they find a warm-blooded victim. They tend to breed in any standing water near or around your yard and love tall grass and wild, untamed greenery. Dark, damp spots, like messy piles of wood are fun hangout spots for mosquitoes.
For reference, below are pictures of a bed bug (top) and a mosquito (bottom). Compare the insects you find to these photos to help determine whether you're dealing with bed bugs or mosquito bites.
An Ounce of Prevention
Unfortunately, infestations of bed bugs and mosquitoes are both common. Once relatively rare in America, bed bugs are now found in every U.S. state. Mosquitoes are found in more locales than ever before due in part to rising temperatures around the globe. Prevention is the best policy when it comes to not getting bit by any bugs - inside or outside. From wearing bug spray with DEET when you go outside to making sure all doors and window frames are free from holes or cracks, take steps to keep bugs away from your yard and home from the start.
Know When to Call Professionals
The last thing you want in your home are mosquitoes, bed bugs and other biting insects that can cause discomfort and spread disease. To get rid of bed bugs and mosquitoes quickly and effectively, bring in a trained professional with prevention services to stop bugs in their tracks. Sometimes, you just need extra help, and that means calling a professional pest control service to treat your yard or home.
At MosquitoNix®, we offer a wide range of mosquito control services to meet the needs of your home or business. We also have pest control services that cover flies, ants, bed bugs, ticks and more. Ready to get started? Request a free quote today. For more helpful resources about common insects and how to get rid of pests that are plaguing you, visit our MosquitoNix blog.
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