Bed Bugs or Dust Mites? | What’s Making You Itch?

All Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan pests and rodents are unwanted visitors and something you don’t want in your home or business, especially those that are prone to impact you when you sleep. We know that bed bugs can make it so we don’t sleep tight, but did you know that dust mites could also be under the covers with you? If you wake up with new bumps on your skin, do you know what is actually causing the issue? We are going to review the differences between beds bugs and dust mites, so you can determine which of these critters are invading your home.

Let’s have a Quick Refresher on Bed Bugs

Before we dive in deeper and review if you have bed bugs or dust mites, we wanted to give a quick refresher on one of the most common pests we tend to deal with, bed bugs. As we have reviewed before, bed bugs are insects from the genus Cimex that feed on human blood, typically at night. They are small, oval, insects that are a brownish color. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. They can typically be seen by the regular eye, and signs of bed bugs can be observed.

A bed bug bites to feed and survive. Bed bugs usually bite people while they are not alert and sleeping. Bed bugs feed by piercing the skin and withdrawing blood through an elongated beak. Bed bug bites are usually painless at first, but can turn into itchy welts.

What are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are often confused with bed bugs; however, they are not the same. Dust mites can be difficult to detect due to their small size. These microscopic arthropods are estimated to be only 1/4 to 1/3 millimeters long. You can only see them under a microscope, and even then, they only look like small white spider-like creatures (heathline). These pests feed off of dead skin cells and are most commonly found in areas of the home where those accumulate (i.e. bedding, furniture, carpeting, rugs, toys).

Unlike bed bugs, dust mites don’t actually bite, but they are allergenic, and commonly cause allergic reactions and rashes in people, that can resemble bites. Along with an itchy rash, these little critters can cause other common allergy symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, itchy throat, and more.

Do I have Bed Bugs or Dust Mites?

If you or your family find themselves with itchy red marks on them, you may be wondering what is causing the issue. Could it be bed bugs or dust mites? The easiest way to determine which of these pests is causing issues in your home or business, is by knowing the signs of bed bugs and watching for them. Bed bugs are much easier to see and notice than dust mites.

If it doesn’t appear that you have a bed bug infestation, it is likely dust mites causing your issues. According to the American Lung Association, dust mites are nearly everywhere; roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed.

How do I Keep Both Bed Bugs and Dust Mites out of my Home or Business?

No one wants pests, but both of these nuisances are extremely common and can be hard to detect. There are steps you can take to prevent bed bugs and dust mites from impacting you and your family. Vacuum, clean bedding, wash curtains and rugs frequently, and keep areas where both of these critters are common, clean and free of extra debris and items to attract them.

If you have a bed bug infestation in your NW Ohio or SE Michigan home or business, call in professional help to rid your space of these pests. Delving Pest Control treats your infected home or business with heat to eliminate bed bugs from beds, walls, floors, furniture, and bedding.

We are able to provide discreet bed bug remediation in residential or commercial settings where bed bugs infestations have occurred. Call us immediately to end your bed bug nightmare.