How to Tell if You Have Bed Bugs or Fleas

Are you getting bitten by something and dying to know what’s biting you? If you’re getting bitten at home, most of the time it’s bed bugs or fleas. But how do you know which pest is doing the biting? To help you figure this out, here are three things to look for.

There are three simple ways to tell if you have bed bugs or fleas:

1. When and where are you getting bitten?

If you’re infested with bed bugs, then you’ll most likely get bitten in bed at night. Bed bugs rarely attack anywhere other than your bed. In most cases you’ll wake up with bites. This will get worse as the bugs multiply and time goes on, and if it’s a shared room then the other person may be getting bitten too. On the other hand, if it’s fleas, you’ll get bitten in places with carpets and sofas (such as your lounge). Fleas love living in carpets and also down the sides of furniture. Fleas may also bite you in areas where your pets sleep or live.

2. What do the bites look like?

Whether it’s bed bugs or fleas, the bites will be small and red. That being said, there are subtle differences between these bites. For example, bed bug bites are usually found in a scattered pattern. These bites also itch like hell and will turn into large red welts if scratched. You will also find these bites on areas of your body which are exposed during sleep. This could include your arms, legs and neck.

Flea bites are also red and will be surrounded by a swollen red ring. Flea bites are often found in lines. If they are not in lines, then they appear in clusters. These bites also itch less that bed bug bites, and will go away faster. Because fleas live on the ground, their bites are most often found on your ankles and legs.

3. What other signs are present?

No matter if you’re dealing with bed bugs or fleas, there are going to be other signs and you should always get in touch. With bed bugs these include things like blood spots and stains on your bedding. You may also see dark brown spots. These brown spots are bed bug faeces. You could also detect a musty smell when there are large numbers of these bugs. Another thing to look out for are things like egg casings and skin.

The signs of fleas are harder to spot and you should find out more about our services. With these pests, the biggest sign are your pets. Are they scratching themselves or do they seem irritated? Also check your pets for flea dirt. This is a dark powdery material that is basically flea faeces.