Bed Bug Bites vs Mosquito Bites: How to Tell the Difference
The quickest way to tell them apart is the pattern. Bed bug bites usually appear in a line or a small cluster on skin that was uncovered while you slept, such as arms, neck and shoulders, and you notice them in the morning. Mosquito bites tend to be single, scattered and puffy, and they can happen anywhere, indoors or out. Because bites look different on different people, the real proof is what you find on the bed.
What do bed bug bites look like?
Small red, itchy bumps, often in a row of three or more or a tight group, on the parts of the body that touch the sheets or stay uncovered at night. New bites keep appearing after nights in the same bed, and someone sharing the bed may have none, because reactions vary from person to person.
Mosquito bites look like raised, pale or pink welts that itch within minutes. They're randomly placed, you may hear buzzing at night, and you can get them on the balcony or in the garden as well as in bed.
How do I check my bed for bed bugs?
Strip the bed in daylight and use a torch. Check the piping and seams of the mattress, the corners of the base, the joints and screw holes of the bed frame, the back of the headboard, and the skirting and sockets nearest the bed.
• Rusty or dark red spots on sheets and pillowcases • Tiny black specks, like marker dots, on seams and wood • Pale, empty shed skins • The bugs themselves: flat, reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed
What should I do if I think it's bed bugs?
Keep everything in the room where you found them. Moving the mattress, sleeping on the sofa or carrying bedding through the house spreads bed bugs to new rooms. Wash bedding on the hottest setting the fabric allows and dry it on high heat, then bag it.
Don't throw the mattress out yet; most can be saved with proper treatment. And avoid store-bought bug bombs, which push bed bugs into walls and neighbouring rooms. For bites that swell a lot, blister or look infected, see a doctor or pharmacist.
When should you call a professional?
• New bites keep appearing after nights in the same bed. • You find blood spots, black specks or shed skins on the mattress or frame. • You've recently travelled, had guests, or brought home a second-hand bed or sofa. • More than one person or room is affected. • You manage a hotel apartment, short-let or staff accommodation.
Friends runs a room-by-room bed bug treatment that targets adults, nymphs and eggs, treats adjoining rooms and includes a follow-up visit. Visits can be discreet on request. Call 050 112 7654. If it turns out to be mosquitoes, we treat those too.
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Call 050 112 7654 or request a quote. Serving Abu Dhabi and Al Ain since 2003.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see bed bugs with the naked eye?
Yes. Adults are about the size of an apple seed and reddish-brown. Young ones are smaller and paler, so the specks and spots they leave are often easier to find.
Why am I the only one getting bitten?
People react differently. Others in the bed may be bitten too but show no marks, which is why checking the mattress matters more than comparing bites.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
They're not known as disease carriers, but the itching, broken sleep and stress are real reasons to treat them quickly.