What do bed bugs bite look like?
What do bed bugs bite look like?
What do bed bugs look like is something I am often asked when advising people who are worried they have them or have been somewhere that had them. This is a good question as unless you have had bed bugs yourself or have seen them for some other reason, why would you know what they look like. Education is key in the battle against this pest.
Some people believe that you cannot see bed bugs. They are to small. Well in some instances that could be correct, like in their early stages I suppose if you did not know what you were looking for but to a professional not so.
Well, lets see, what do bed bugs look like?
Surprised? Not as small as you maybe thought? Well, those are adults.
New born bed bugs can be more difficult to see. Until they have had a blood feed they are translucent and due to their small size could easily be invisible to the untrained eye. Bed bugs will moult 5 times before adulthood and each time a blood feed will be required. As their size increases so does the chance of being able to see them.
Bed bugs infestation
Obviously if you are seeing lots of tiny bed bugs that would suggest there has been bed bug eggs laid. 300 is possible for a female bed bug in the right conditions. If you are finding eggs I would strongly advise you contact a pest control company that specialise in bed bug removal, like we do.
Bed bugs infestation in your living space can be one of the worst kinds of infestation. They are blood-sucking bugs and are notorious for getting rid of. Although they do not pose a severe threat to you, yet its presence can cause you discomfort. Bedbugs can quickly multiply in numbers and invade your living space.
Are you unsure about the bed bug infestation at your home? Or unsure about those bug bite marks you have been getting? Here is a guide to answer those questions.
What is a bed bug?
A bed bug is a parasite that feeds on blood from humans and animals. It has a reddish-brown colour, no wings, a flat and oval-shaped bug that can be 1to 7 millimetres long. They feed on us usually during the night when we are asleep and are the most active at night.
Where do they live?
Suppose you have a possible bed bug infestation start by getting rid of them right from its breeding space. They usually live in your bed, carpet, clothes, books, and other spaces. Folded areas on your mattress, beddings, pillows, or corners are where they usually are found along with their eggs.
It is important to note that a female bed bug can lay about 200-500 eggs during its lifetime. Hence, the bed bug spreads rapidly, so it needs to be dealt with early on.
What does a bed bug bite look like?
Bed bugs bites
Bed bug bites usually are small and are red with dark spots in the middle of each bite. Bitten areas are either flat or swollen, inflamed or fluid-filled blisters. They may sometimes cause a burning sensation. The bite pattern can be either clustered or maybe even zigzagged.
Where do they bite
Since they usually feed on you during the night when you are asleep, it bites on your body’s exposed areas. Bite marks can be seen on your face, arms, necks, hands, and feet.
It can also bite in any part of your body, so it’s no surprise if you see those marks on your back, stomach, or any unexposed areas.
Symptoms
Although not everyone displays the same symptoms, symptoms can start from a simple itch if you have been bitten. Reactions or symptoms don’t always occur immediately; in some cases, it takes a couple of days to manifest.
Itchings can progress to a burning sensation and develop into bumps or rashes. In more severe cases, it can cause blister skin inflammation.
You can immediately spot if a bed bug is feeding on you by finding small blood spots on your sheets. They sometimes leave behind their faeces like black spots and skins indicating their presence.
How to care for bed bug bites
Avoid itching the bite area. Get hold of some anti-itch cream or a calamine lotion to apply on the bites.
One of the first things I always look for when carrying out bed bug control is bed bug eggs. If you think you have bed bugs and are asking what do bed bugs look like, then you should definitely take a look at these eggs. These can be very difficult to see and be anywhere from a sofa or bed to curtains, walls, pictures or wardrobes not mentioning plenty of other areas bed bugs live!
In this video I made whilst carrying out a bed bug treatment in London you can see all stages of bed bug and eggs. Bed bugs eggs are not always clumped together like this. They can be spread far and wide across a room making them even harder to detect. It is always best to seek the help of a professional bed bug technician.
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If the symptoms are severe, seek medical advice for the bites or get in touch with you local pest control company. Try tackling the bed bug infestation early on to ensure you spend less time getting rid of those notorious bed bugs.