Bed Bug Bites Vs. Mosquito Bites: How to Tell the Difference

Have you ever woken up in the morning with bug bites on your arm? Such a situation can arise, whether you’re at home or in a hotel.

The problem is usually identifying the insect that bit you. What if it was a bed bug? Identifying the type of bite is important so you know what control measures you need to take.

Differentiating bed bug bites Vs. mosquito bites can help you know which action to take. But how can you tell the difference? This guide will help you tell the two bites apart.

Bed Bug Bites Vs. Mosquito Bites

Differentiating between bed bug bites and mosquito bites can be challenging because some people don’t react at all, while others react differently. Both mosquitoes and bed bugs can cause itching and red bumps after biting. But you can tell the difference between the two by considering the time when the bite occurred, among other things.

Here are the symptoms of each insect bite:

Symptoms of Bed Bug Bites

Bed bugs are more likely to bite you at night when you’re sleeping in your bed. Since bed bugs are crawling creatures, they can easily get under your clothes and bite you in covered parts of your body. Symptoms of bed bug bites include having a number of bites clustered on your skin. These bite marks might be larger than those of a mosquito.

Once bitten, you may not feel itchy immediately. But this feeling may come after a few hours or days. That makes it hard to tell when you’ve had a bed bug bite.

Fortunately, for most people, the bite symptoms disappear on their own.

Mosquito Bite Symptoms

Mosquitoes thrive in warm areas with standing water. Only female mosquitoes bite because they need blood to produce eggs. Also, males don’t have the mouth parts required to pierce through human skin. Some people may be at higher risk for mosquito bites than others.

If you live near a pond or lake, you may experience mosquito bites more often. Unlike bed bugs, mosquito bites appear on exposed skin parts, such as the hands, face, and neck. They can’t get under your clothes, but if you’re wearing light clothing, they can bite through them. These bites are more isolated and appear as small red bumps.

A mosquito bite leads to itchiness almost immediately after being bitten. Some people experience mild symptoms, but those with allergic reactions may start swelling and develop rashes.

How to Prevent Bed Bug Bites

Once you find bed bugs in your home, the best solution is to call a professional to exterminate them. But to prevent having these pests in the first place, you can try the following:

• If you sleep in a hotel, check your clothes for bed bugs before bringing them home
• Protect your mattress with a bed bug-proof cover
• Inspect second-hand items before bringing them home
• Wash your bedding regularly
• Reduce the clutter in your house

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites

Here’s how you can avoid mosquito bites:

• Ensure you don’t have any standing water in your compound. You can do this by ensuring proper drainage of rainwater and removing any containers in your yard that can hold water.
• Use bug screens on your doors and windows and ensure they have no holes.
• Mosquitoes can bite you when you’re outdoors, especially in the evening. So, wear pants (instead of shorts) and a long-sleeve shirt.
• Use mosquito traps with lighting (there are several available on line for indoors & outdoors)

What to Do If You Have Insect Bite Marks?

It may not be easy to differentiate bed bug bites vs. mosquito bites because some of the symptoms may be similar, and not everyone reacts the same way. That said, bed bug bites are more likely to happen at night when sleeping and appear clustered than mosquito bites. It’s essential to know that not all bite marks come from mosquitoes and bed bugs. Other marks may come from flies, ants, and spider bites.

Knowing the insect that bit you is critical, as it helps you know which action to take. A bed bug bite may indicate your house has an infestation. In that case, call pest control services to inspect your house and provide a professional solution.

McDonald Pest Control can help you get rid of bed bugs and any other pests in your house. Call us today to book our pest inspection and bed bug and mosquito treatment services.