You were likely bitten by bed bugs, fleas, mosquitoes, or mites, with bed bugs often leaving itchy red bumps in lines or clusters on exposed skin, while fleas target legs and ankles. Mosquito bites are single, puffy bumps, while mites cause tiny red spots in skin folds. Check your mattress for signs like blood spots or dark feces for bed bugs, or pets/carpets for fleas.
Sometimes you can see dark spots on your bedding too. This is where the bed bugs have defecated on your bed after eating a meal of your blood. Similar to bed bug bites, mosquito bites will also bed red and itchy. However, a mosquito bite will leave a small bump with an area of red skin around it.
Bed bugs. They are notorious for biting around the extremities/limbs. You won't hear or see them unless you're looking. Check the creases, seams and corners of your mattress.
To tell what bit you, look at the pattern, location, and appearance of the bites: mosquitoes leave random itchy bumps on exposed skin; bed bugs bite in lines or clusters ("breakfast, lunch, dinner") on covered skin; fleas cluster on ankles and lower legs; spider bites are often single, painful, sometimes with two fang marks; while ant bites (especially fire ants) cause burning, itchy bumps that can blister. Note if you see the insect, and see a doctor if symptoms are severe, as patterns offer clues but aren't definitive.
Besides bedbugs, numerous insects bite at night. These night biters can be mites, fleas, mosquitoes, lice, spiders, and ticks. Most of these insect bite marks look alike; hence, you should first look for bedbugs and investigate further.
Three key signs of bed bugs are itchy bites (often in lines or clusters), dark spots or rust-colored stains on bedding (fecal matter or crushed bugs), and the presence of the bugs or their pale, shed skins in mattress seams, bed frames, and crevices. A musty odor in severe infestations and tiny, pearly eggs in hidden spots are also strong indicators.
By contrast, Ireland has relatively few biting insects. You may encounter midges (especially in the west or in boggy areas), ticks (in wooded or grassy areas), or the occasional wasp or flea bite. These are usually harmless but can still cause discomfort or, in rare cases, infection.
To tell what bit you, look at the pattern, location, and appearance of the bites: mosquitoes leave random itchy bumps on exposed skin; bed bugs bite in lines or clusters ("breakfast, lunch, dinner") on covered skin; fleas cluster on ankles and lower legs; spider bites are often single, painful, sometimes with two fang marks; while ant bites (especially fire ants) cause burning, itchy bumps that can blister. Note if you see the insect, and see a doctor if symptoms are severe, as patterns offer clues but aren't definitive.
Although most people do not realize they have been bitten by a bed bug until bite marks appear (which can be as long as 14 days after the bite), finding a bite mark is the easiest way to identify a bed bug infestation.
If a person gets bitten by a bedbug, the bite will feel itchy. Bedbug bites look like little red bumps (similar to mosquito bites) and they can sometimes happen in a line on the body.
Bed bugs dislike strong scents like lavender, peppermint, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus. These natural aromas can deter bed bugs by creating an environment they find unpleasant, though they're not guaranteed to eliminate an infestation. Using essential oil sprays or sachets can help as a preventive measure.
Showering can help remove any bed bugs present on your skin temporarily, as water and soap can disrupt their ability to cling to surfaces. However, showering alone is not sufficient to eliminate a bed bug infestation, as these pests primarily reside in hidden cracks and crevices within your home.
Chemical reactions: Exposure to chemicals such as detergents, soaps, and perfumes can cause itching and redness, leading to bites that mimic bug bites. Physical irritants: Physical irritants such as tight clothing, jewellery, and harsh fabrics can cause itching and redness, leading to bites that look like bug bites.
Bed mite bites tend to appear in clusters or lines on the upper body and are less inflamed at the center. Mosquito bites are usually isolated, larger, and appear soon after a bite. Bed bug bites often develop over time, appearing as small, grouped welts.
To tell what bit you, look at the pattern, location, and appearance of the bites: mosquitoes leave random itchy bumps on exposed skin; bed bugs bite in lines or clusters ("breakfast, lunch, dinner") on covered skin; fleas cluster on ankles and lower legs; spider bites are often single, painful, sometimes with two fang marks; while ant bites (especially fire ants) cause burning, itchy bumps that can blister. Note if you see the insect, and see a doctor if symptoms are severe, as patterns offer clues but aren't definitive.
Press the Start button, then select Settings. Click on System. Go to About and look for the System type field to check your bit version.
Reasons to choose the 64-bit version
Computers running 64-bit versions of Windows generally have more resources such as processing power and memory, than their 32-bit predecessors. Also, 64-bit applications can access more memory than 32-bit applications (up to 18.4 million Petabytes).
There are three likely sources for bug bites at night — spiders, mosquitos or bed bugs.
Spider bites
Some spiders in Ireland are venomous. Spider bites leave small puncture marks on the skin. They can be painful and cause redness and swelling. They can become infected.
Bed bug infestations have become a pressing issue in Ireland over the past decade. Once considered a rarity, these parasites have made a significant resurgence, infesting homes, hotels, and even public transportation.
Bed bugs are not generally attracted to specific smells like some other insects are. Instead, they are drawn to the scent of human skin and breath.
The adults can easily be seen with the naked eye. Adult bed bugs are reddish brown in color, wingless, and are about the size of an apple seed. Immature bed bugs (there are 5 immature or nymphal instar stages) can also be seen with the naked eye but they are smaller than adults, and translucent whitish-yellow in color.
High heat (steam, hot dryer) and some contact sprays like rubbing alcohol or specific low-toxicity sprays kill bed bugs and their eggs instantly, but complete eradication requires persistent treatment like vacuuming, sealing cracks, using diatomaceous earth (DE), and washing items at high temperatures. While chemicals work, heat is highly effective, killing bugs in all life stages on contact, especially when temperatures reach 60°C (140°F) or higher, according to health.vic.gov.au and myhealth1st.com.au.