If you or someone in your family has unexplained bite marks, you are probably searching for answers. Could you have bed bugs, or do you have another type of insect biting your family? Finding the answer is very important so that you know whether to seek bed bug control services in Kitchener. Here are some simple ways to tell the difference between the bites, bodies and nests of bed bugs and other bugs. 

It is best to be mindful of them since bed bugs carry diseases and knowing the difference between the three is important since it allows you to decide if you need to seek medical intervention or otherwise. 

Bed Bug Bites

At night, while you are sleeping, bed bugs insert their mouthparts, administer a numbing chemical into the skin and feed on human blood. The next morning you would be left with tiny holes, red in colour and somewhat raised. They often occur in groups of three around the face, neck and arms. Most people do not notice the bites at first, but they eventually begin to itch or form a rash.

In contrast, other blood-sucking insects bite at any time of day or night. Fleas, scabies and chiggers leave similar-sized welts, but they differ somewhat in appearance. Scabies bites result in a scaly rash on parts of the body with folds of skin, such as between the fingers or behind the knees. Chiggers usually strike places where clothing is tight, including the ankles, waist and groin. Fleas attack the feet and ankles, leaving bites that begin to itch immediately.

Bed Bug Bodies

Bed bugs are only 1.5 to 5 mm long, so at first glance, they are easy to mistake for another insect or even a speck of dirt. If you were to examine one with a magnifying glass, you would see a flat, oval insect with six legs and no wings. Babies are translucent, adults are reddish and those who have recently fed on blood are dark red in colour. Superficially, they resemble a small apple seed.

Fleas are about the same size or smaller than bed bugs, but they appear longer and thinner and are black in colour. If you try to capture a flea, it will hop away. Head and body lice are oblong and grayish or whitish in colour, resemble a sesame seed and remain primarily in human hair. Chiggers and scabies, in contrast, are so small that they are invisible to the human eye.

Bed Bug Nests

Bed bugs don’t build nests in the true sense of the word, but they do congregate to mate, molt and lay eggs. They generally choose out-of-sight places in close proximity to the bed where they feed. Some places to check first are mattresses, bed frames, nightstands, wallpaper and bedroom curtains. Signs of a nest may include these indicators:

• Large numbers of bedbugs together
• Shed exoskeletons
• Dark blotches on walls or floor
• Bed bug eggs
• Unusual sweet odor

Fleas also infest a home with their nests, but these breeding grounds tend to be associated with pet bedding and are full of wriggling flea larvae. The excrement of fleas does not leave a stain but instead resembles dark pieces of dirt. Flea eggs appear similar to sand. Chiggers don’t nest indoors but instead make their way outdoors to moist, shady areas with thick ground cover once they have completed their larval stage. Lice and scabies lay eggs on human bodies and do not nest in the home.

Bed Bug Experts

If you are unsure whether the insects in your home are bed bugs, call or contact our bed bug control services in Kitchener to schedule an inspection. Our technicians know what to look for and can give you a definitive answer about what is biting you or other household members. A bed bug infestation is a serious matter because bed bugs create a gradually worsening situation that only Truly Nolen’s professional pest control can remedy. Protect your family’s health by getting the answers you need today.