Bed bug bites and chigger bites, while similar in appearance, are actually very different. They share some characteristics like their reddish welts and itchiness but chiggers are completely different from bed bugs. Let’s dive in to the comparison between bed bugs and chiggers and see the differences for ourselves. You know those itchy red bumps you can get from something called chigger bites? Well, bed bugs bites behave the same way. In desperation, and without knowing what it might be, people often initially think that they have chiggers. They don’t. Chigger bites are a type of mite bite, while bed bug bites are caused by blood-sucking insects (Cimex lectularius, Cimex hemipterus). Both kinds of pests cause a bumpy rash similar to the skin irritation and swelling caused in Lyme disease victims.

Bed Bug Bites Vs Chiggers

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs, also known as cimicidae, are small insects that feed on the blood of mammals. Adult bed bugs are about 1/4 inch long and reddish brown in color. They have a flat body shape and can move rapidly over walls, floors and ceilings. Their size makes them easily overlooked or mistaken for other insects such as ticks or mites.

Bed bugs do not transmit disease; however, they can cause skin irritation from an allergic reaction to their saliva or feces left behind after feeding on a person’s blood (which contains an anticoagulant). When this happens people develop a rash with itchy welts that may appear within minutes to several days after being bitten by a bed bug depending on individual reactions to their bites.

What do bed bug bites look like?

Bed bug bites usually appear in groups, forming a line of red welts that vary in size and shape. They can also occur in clusters, which are often confused with mosquito bites.

Bed bugs inject an anesthetic during their bite, so the resulting sensation may range from mild to severe depending on your body chemistry and how sensitive you are to bug bites. If you scratch the area after being bitten by a bed bug, the skin may break open or become irritated and inflamed.

Bed bug bite symptoms

• Itchy, red bumps that are often grouped together
• May be accompanied by a skin infection
• Skin irritation and inflammation

What do chigger bites look like?

If you are in an area where chiggers are common, you will see a lot of them. Chigger bites are usually small and do not cause much discomfort beyond the itching. The bites often appear in a line of 3 or more bites, starting at the ankle and moving up the leg. When they bite, they inject their salivary glands into your skin. This causes your immune system to react as if it were fighting off an infection, which is what causes the swelling around the bite site (inflammation).

Chigger bite symptoms

Chigger bites are typically itchy for two to four days. They’re not dangerous, but they can lead to secondary infections if left untreated. Chigger bites may be confused with other skin problems because they do not leave a mark on the skin.

A person bitten by chiggers usually has multiple red bumps that swell up into large, fluid-filled blisters over a few days. The blisters have a tiny dark center and a clear edge where they meet healthy skin surrounding them. The fluid inside these blisters is rarely associated with any pain or discomfort beyond itching or burning sensations while they’re forming; however, it can cause significant discomfort if present along with an allergic reaction or secondary infection after the bite has healed up completely

Make sure you know which bug is biting you.

You may have bed bug bites, or you may have chigger bites. In order to know for sure, you need to identify the symptoms of each. Bed bug bites:

• Are itchy and red
• Sometimes appear in a row from an insect bite
• Can be visible for up to 9 days after the bite occurs Chigger bites:
• Cause intense itching that results in raised welts (also called wheals)
• Are not contagious If you think you’re being bitten by either type of insect and want more information about them, there are several resources available online.