Did you recently wake up and notice new itchy red spots on your skin? You are probably trying to remember if you didn’t use enough bug spray the last time you were outdoors, thinking about if you switched laundry detergent, or something else. The truth is, the last thing you are likely considering is if you may have a bed bug infestation in your Ohio home. Could those new marks on your skin be the first sign of bed bugs? We are going to help you identify bed bugs bites and review some of the differences between them and rashes or other insect bites.
Why are they called bed bugs?
Bed bugs are insects from the genus Cimex that feed on human blood, usually at night. Bed bugs are small, oval, insects with a brown tent that live on the blood of animals or humans. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, bed bugs’ bodies swell and are a reddish color. Bed bugs do not fly, but they can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bed bugs may lay hundreds of eggs over a lifetime, each of which is about the size of a speck of dust.
These little pesky critters are called, “bed bugs”, because they feed on their host while they are sleeping, and that is usually in the bed. Bed bugs bite to feed and survive. Bed bugs feed by piercing the skin and withdrawing blood through an elongated beak. The bugs feed from 3 to 10 minutes. Most bed bug bites are painless at first, but later turn into itchy welts.
How can I identify beg bugs bites?
Bed bug bites can result in a number of health impacts including skin rashes, psychological effects, and allergic symptoms. Bed bug bites may lead to skin changes ranging from small areas of redness to prominent blisters. Symptoms may take minutes or days to appear and are typically extremely itchy. Bed bug bites can cause some people to become tired or have a fever. While the bite of a bed bug is not known to transmit any infectious disease, it may still lead to health complications and is a nuisance.
If you have noticed new red and swollen bites on your skin, don’t panic, bed bugs may not be the cause. Bed bug bites can appear anywhere on the body that is exposed while you are sleeping, so if you notice new itchy marks on your skin, use the below, from healthline, to help you identify if they are bed bug bites or something else.
- Red and swollen, with a dark spot at the center of each bite (they may also look like a hive or welt)
- Arranged in lines or clusters, with multiple bites grouped together (sometimes in a zigzag)
- Itchy
- Burning
- Fluid-filled blisters
- You may also find blood stains on the sheets from scratching
Keep in mind, bed bug bites, like all things, will look different from person to person and some people may have more adverse reactions than others. If in doubt, you should visit a medical professional to help you identify and diagnose your skin ailments.
Do you have a bed bug infestation?
Bed bugs are a problem all year round, so you should always watch for signs of them around your home, business, while outside of the home and traveling, and really anywhere you go. Some signs of bed bugs around your home or business that you should keep watch for:
- Finding bed bugs’ exoskeletons throughout your home or business.
- Locating bed bugs in the fold of mattresses and sheets.
- Discovering small brown or tan streaks on your sheets, blankets, pillows, and/or on the mattress or nearby furniture.
- Smelling a new sweet musty odor.
- Actually seeing bed bugs throughout your home or business.
If you identify bed bug bites (or what you think are), or noticed other things that point to an infestation, you should contact a local pest control company immediately, as a small problem can become larger rather quickly.
If you happen to find these unwanted pests in your home or business, Delving Pest Control can help. We get rid of nasty bed bugs by using a safe and effective solution to exterminate bed bugs with thermal treatment. Delving Pest Control treats your infected home or business with heat and eliminates bed bugs from beds, walls, floors, furniture, and bedding.
Delving Pest Control is the leading discreet bed bug exterminator in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Our vehicles are unmarked for your privacy. All you need is, a free inspection and strategy to help eliminate your out-of-control bed bug issues.
