How To Tell Mosquito Bites From Bed Bug Bites

How To Tell Mosquito Bites From Bed Bug Bites

How do you know if the red spots on your skin and the itching you’re experiencing is from mosquitoes, or from bed bugs? Bed bugs and mosquitoes are like night and day, because one you want to avoid and the other you don’t. Mosquitoes can be annoying, but they’re not a bad thing (well, for the most part). Bed bugs, however? Bed bugs are nasty creatures that will ruin your life. Rather than risk finding bits of them in your bed sheets after your vacation or risk getting bitten by them while sleeping, take preventative measures using these tips on how to tell if those itchy red spots are from bed bugs or mosquito bites.

Bites are pesky, especially when they’re itchy and hurt. Have you ever wondered if you have bed bugs or just mosquito bites? Find out what separates these two pests, and how to get rid of bites once and for all!

How To Tell Mosquito Bites From Bed Bug Bites

How to Tell the Difference Between Bed Bug Bites and Mosquito Bites

While both bed bugs and mosquitoes are members of the order Diptera, they do not share many similarities. In fact, there are only two ways to tell if you have bed bug bites or mosquito bites:

1. Look for a bump: Bed bugs leave behind small red bumps that can be confused for mosquito bites. If you see these bumps on your skin, it’s likely you have been bitten by a bed bug.

2. Check for blood: Mosquitoes suck blood from their victims with their proboscis to survive; while mosquitoes do not bite humans often, they do leave behind visible marks when they do. Bed bugs, on the other hand, do not suck blood from their victims—they simply feed on them while they are sleeping and leave behind small red bumps as evidence of their presence.

Bed bugs are a common problem in areas where people live in close quarters. They can bite you and cause itching, welts, and swelling. If you think you have bed bugs, it’s important to know how to tell the difference between bed bug bites and other kinds of insect bites, such as mosquito bites.

How to Tell the Difference Between Bed Bug Bites and Mosquito Bites

The most obvious difference between bed bug bites and mosquito bites is that mosquitoes only bite during the day. Mosquitoes are attracted by the carbon dioxide you exhale when you breathe, so if you see a cluster of bites on your arm or leg at night, it’s probably not a mosquito.

Bed bugs are attracted by heat, which means they will bite anywhere on your body—but it also means that one person in your house may be bitten more than others. Unlike mosquitoes, bed bugs are not repelled by light or loud noises; this means they will come out in the middle of the night while everyone else is sleeping.

How To Tell Mosquito Bites From Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs and mosquitoes are both insects that love to prey on humans and animals, and they feed 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 actually see it happen. By paying close attention to the appearance of your bites and symptoms, you can tell the bites apart. Why does it matter if your bites are from mosquitoes vs. bed bugs? Knowing the culprit can help you determine the proper treatment for the insect bites and which plan of attack you need to rid your home of the biting insects.

Appearance and Location of Bites

Bites from mosquitoes and bed bugs may look like small, red bumps, but that is where their similarities end. Mosquito bites tend to be random and can occur anywhere that clothing does not cover. They present as a puffy, swollen white or red bump with a small puncture wound in the center.

On the other hand, bed bug bites are small red bumps that can blister or look like a pimple. Because they 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 get bitten. Bed bug bites are more likely to be in a cluster of three to five bumps and may occur in a line or zigzag pattern. Any area of your body exposed while you sleep is prime real estate for bed bug bites.

When you are awake, you may quickly notice the itch and irritation of a mosquito bite, but you may not realize you have bed bug bites until you notice the bumps a day or two after these critters bite you. 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 irritated bumps and welts. You can get more than an itch 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 at them.

Treatment for the Itch

To make bug bite irritation go away, clean the area well with soap and water. Try not to scratch your mosquito or bed bug bites; too much 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 any reaction.

While most people can manage any discomfort from bug bites at home, others may have a more acute reaction. If you experience any severe allergy symptoms, especially difficulty breathing and throat swelling, seek emergency medical treatment because you may have anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially fatal allergic response.

The Search for Their Hideouts

If you still aren’t sure what type of bite you have, 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.

List Of How To Tell Mosquito Bites From Bed Bug Bites