If you’re reading this you’ve likely been bitten by either a bed bug or mosquito. Of course, we know that it’s impossible to tell the difference between bed bug bites and mosquito bites based on the symptoms, but some people do mistake one for the other. Summer is here, temperatures are rising and for many that means heading out on vacation. For those of us staying home, this season also means mosquito bites. But how do you tell the difference between bed bug bites and mosquito bites? You’re unpacking a box when you notice something small and red bump on your arm. You quickly try to figure out what it is, and assume its some sort of insect bite. “This sucks,” you think, as the tiny bite turns into two now three, then four red bumps. The next day you wake up with dozens more of red bumps all over your body. You want to know what happened but googling “what do bed bug bites look like” or “what are mosquito bites” brings up hundreds of different pictures, no obvious answers, and a lot of conflicting information. So if you want to know what happened to you — read on! And if you want to save yourself from ever having similar problem —  make sure to read my advice at the end 🙂

Bed Bug Bites Or Mosquito Bites

What are bed bug bites?

Bed bugs are small, oval and brown insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are most active from midnight to 5 am, but will feed at any time if they can find a host. Bed bugs are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide emitted by sleeping humans. They do not spread disease but can cause significant discomfort when bitten.

Bed bug bites may be mistaken for mosquito bites or allergic reactions such as hives. The first clue that you have bed bugs is seeing small blood spots or smears on your sheets after being bitten (or finding an actual bug in your bed). You might also notice small welts on your skin where you were bitten (especially if it’s darkly pigmented).

If you think you’ve been exposed to bed bugs, call an exterminator immediately—you don’t want these pests living in your home!

What are the symptoms of bed bug bites?

Bed bug bites can be difficult to identify, as they look similar to other bug bites. The symptoms of bed bugs also vary depending on the time since the bite and the size of your reaction.

Here are some typical characteristics of a bed bug bite:

• Bite marks may be red or pale in color. Smaller bites will be flat, while larger ones are raised. Sometimes there is no visible puncture wound at all. They can also appear in a line or cluster, which is called “breakfast, lunch and dinner” because they happen during meals when people tend not to notice them until later on in their stay.
• You may feel nothing initially; however, by morning you will have an itching sensation that can last for several days leading up until four weeks after being bitten by a bedbug (the average length of time between being bitten and making sure they’re gone). The itchiness may increase if you scratch it—this helps spread fluids from their skin glands that contains histamine and other chemicals into your system causing inflammation around itchy spots! If there are already red marks present when scratching occurs then this could lead to further swelling making one uncomfortable for even longer periods than expected due to increased blood flow into those areas (thanks again Mother Nature!).

Which individuals are more prone to bed bug bites?

• Children and the elderly. In general, children are more likely to be bitten by bed bugs than adults, because they spend more time on the floor where the insects tend to live. Elderly people are also more prone to bites because their immune systems may be weaker.
• People with poor immune systems or other medical conditions that compromise their ability to fight off infestations. Immunocompromised individuals are also at risk for additional problems such as secondary infections from bacteria or fungi present in a bed bug bite wound.*
• People with anemia (a low blood count). This could indicate a lower immune system response which would make them more susceptible to being bitten by bed bugs.*
• People who have diabetes or other blood sugar disorders that make it difficult for their bodies to produce enough insulin (this is called hypoglycemia). A person experiencing low blood sugar can exhibit symptoms such as confusion, nausea and vomiting which can result in an inability to react quickly enough when bitten by something like a bed bug.*

What is medical care for bed bug bites?

Bed bug bites are itchy and uncomfortable, but they are not dangerous. It is important to be careful when washing the area with soapy water, because it could increase the pain and swelling. To relieve itching and swelling, apply an anti-itch cream (e.g., Benadryl) or 1% hydrocortisone cream (available at most drug stores). If you have a severe allergic reaction to bed bug bites, your doctor may prescribe oral antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl). An ice pack can help reduce swelling.

How can you prevent bed bug bites?

To prevent bed bug bites, the best thing you can do is to clean up clutter and reduce hiding spots in your home. This includes making sure that you thoroughly inspect your bed and bedding regularly for signs of bed bugs such as shed skins, blood spots or fecal stains.

If you have a mattress encasement, it will help prevent any unwanted guests from hiding in your mattress while they feast on your blood. You can also use a bed bug spray on furniture and other areas around your home where these pests may be lurking.

What are mosquito bites?

You’ve probably had mosquito bites before. You know, those itchy red bumps that feel like you have a bad case of hives? Mosquito bites are common skin irritations caused by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are small insects that bite humans and animals to obtain food. They feed on the blood of mammals, birds and reptiles. Mosquitoes can transmit several diseases to humans including West Nile virus, Zika virus and malaria.

Though not as prevalent as bed bugs, mosquitoes are still an annoying pest that can ruin your summer days or evening barbeques if you let them hang around too long!

Mosquitos are attracted to carbon dioxide (CO2), which is emitted from our bodies when we breathe out carbon dioxide molecules into the air or exhale through our mouths when we breathe in oxygen molecules into our lungs (this process is called respiration). CO2 is also released into the atmosphere when plants photosynthesize during photosynthesis – they trap CO2 from the air using sunlight energy (photosynthesis) and then release oxygen back into it again.”

What are the symptoms of mosquito bites?

• Small red bumps that itch, swell and sometimes hurt.
• Hives (swelling of the skin due to an allergic reaction).
• Pain in the area where you were bitten.

Which individuals are more prone to mosquito bites?

The number one factor that increases your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes is living in or traveling to tropical, subtropical or humid regions. This means that people who live in the southeast U.S., as well as some other areas along the Gulf Coast, are at higher risk than most Americans. You may be more likely to get bitten if you work outside and are exposed to mosquitoes during daylight hours — which also makes sense if it’s hot out!

What is medical care for mosquito bites?

Medical care for mosquito bites is only necessary if you are bitten by a mosquito that carries disease. The best way to treat mosquito bites is to avoid getting bitten in the first place, which can be done with common sense precautions such as using repellants, window screens and avoiding areas of standing water. If you do get bitten by an infected mosquito, though most cases are harmless and will heal on their own, there are certain diseases that can have serious consequences if not treated quickly; these include malaria, yellow fever and West Nile virus.

How can you prevent mosquito bites?

To prevent mosquito bites, you can:

• Use an insect repellent. Insect repellents containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) or picaridin are effective against mosquitoes.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants. Light colors make it easier for you to see mosquitoes that might land on you. Tuck your shirt into your pants to help keep mosquitoes away from bare skin.
• Avoid being outside during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active in search of blood meals from humans or animals that may have been bitten by a previous mosquito host during the day; however, some species of mosquitoes are active at night as well as during the day so it is important to take precautions regardless of time of day or night!
• Remove standing water where larvae can develop into adulthood which will then bite humans/animals causing transmission of diseases such as West Nile virus and malaria depending upon whether they have infected hosts with whom they share their blood meal (feeding stage) before maturing into adults which bite again after having consumed enough blood so as not be killed en masse by our immune systems’ defenses like white blood cells reacting against foreign bodies such as bacteria getting inside our bodies through open wounds created by scratching them raw due to itching caused by some other cause such as scabies mites burrowing under skin layers until coming back out from between layers onto outermost layer so scratching won’t get rid them but only makes scarring worse due to repeated attempts at removal (scratching). This leads us back around again…”

Learning how to treat and prevent these annoying bugs.

If you are bitten by a bed bug or mosquito, it is important to know how to treat and prevent them. Bed bugs can be treated with over-the-counter insecticides, but the safest and most effective way of dealing with these pests is by hiring a professional exterminator. A trained and experienced company will know how to identify where the infestation is coming from so they can properly apply their treatment methods, which usually involve heat or fumigation.

Mosquitoes are also very destructive pests that inhabit warm climates across the world. While they do not bite humans as aggressively as bed bugs do, mosquitoes still pose serious health risks such as West Nile Virus (WNV) infection. Aside from getting rid of your current infestation as soon as possible, there are also steps you can take in preventing future outbreaks from occurring again:

• Drain standing water from areas around your house on an ongoing basis so there will be no breeding opportunities for mosquitoes;
• Apply DEET repellents when going outside at night (when female mosquitoes are more active);