Bed bugs typically bite exposed skin, like the face, neck, arms, and hands, often in a distinctive zigzag line or cluster, as they feed while you sleep. Bites usually appear as itchy, red welts, but reactions vary, with some people having no reaction and others experiencing significant swelling or delayed reactions.
While the symptoms for many bug bites include itching, the bite pattern and location help separate each bug to better treat the bite. Bed bug bites: Bed bug bites form raised bumps that can show up in a zigzag pattern on skin that makes contact with your bed, including your arms, legs and back.
Biting zones
The areas accessible to bedbugs, and where most bites can be found, are mainly the back of the arms, the hips, the back of the legs, the lower back…
To get rid of bed bugs while pregnant, prioritize non-chemical methods like thorough vacuuming, steam cleaning, washing bedding in hot water (over 60°C) and drying on high heat, and encasing mattresses, while consulting a doctor and a licensed pest control professional (PMP) for safe, targeted treatments, especially for significant infestations, as they can use low-pesticide or heat-combined methods. Avoid DIY chemical sprays and always inform your PMP about the pregnancy to ensure the safest approach, potentially avoiding pesticides during the first trimester.
If you think someone in your family has been bitten by a bedbug, wash the bites with soap and water. Calamine lotion, an anti-itch cream, or cool compresses can help with the itching. In some cases, an antihistamine by mouth can ease itching. Bites clear up in 1–2 weeks.
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.
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.
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.
Many people cannot feel bed bugs crawling due to their quiet, swift movement and small size. Skin sensitivity varies; some individuals might notice a slight tickling or itching, while others may feel nothing. Bed bugs are nocturnal, often hiding during the day, making detection by crawling sensation less likely.
They are nocturnal parasites, which means they rest during the day and are active at night. However, bedbugs are opportunistic and will bite in the day, especially if starved for some time. They feed on the blood of humans.
Bedbug bites can look different on different skin tones: On lighter skin tones, they usually appear like small, smooth, raised bumps. On darker skin tones, the bumps may be harder to see. They can appear skin-colored, violet, or brown.
While bites on the face may occur, you don't need to worry about bed bugs crawling in your nose, mouth, or ears, which is a common (and understandable) concern. Bed bugs feed on the surface of your body and prefer to retreat after their meals rather than burrow on your skin.
At the very beginning of an infestation, it's possible to have a single bedbug bite or a few isolated bites. When bedbugs bite, the spot is flat, but it can quickly cause the skin to swell and itch. The appearance of a bedbug bite also has a red haemorrhagic spot in the centre of the spot .
Their flat shape enables them to readily hide in cracks and crevices. Bed bugs cannot fly. Bed bugs hide during the day in dark, protected sites. They seem to prefer fabric, wood, and paper surfaces.
Bed bugs emit a distinct musty odor, often compared to the scent of coriander or a wet, moldy cloth. This unique smell can be an early indicator of an infestation, even before you spot any physical signs of these tiny pests.
However, bed bugs aren't a seasonal pest as they're active year-round. Bed bugs seek heat signatures to find blood to feed on. If a house is warmer in the summer due to lack of air conditioning, bed bugs may be more active instead of hiding in cryptic places. They are known to be at their peak from June to October.
The two strongest attractants are heat and carbon dioxide, which mimic the warmth and breath of a sleeping human. They also respond to chemical signals, including pheromone trails, that help them follow paths to safe harborages or other bugs.
Do not squish a bed bug as it will release the blood and any pathogens it may be carrying. Resist the urge to scratch the bites. your agency's policy in regards to whether a doctor's order is required.)
Although it has a strong odor, there isn't much evidence to support the claim that Vicks VapoRub can help repel bedbugs or prevent bedbug bites. Scents like clove, citronella, and thyme may work better to keep bedbugs away.
Early signs of bed bugs include itchy bites in lines or clusters, rusty or dark spots on bedding (fecal stains), tiny pale eggs or shed skins in mattress seams, and a sweet, musty odor; you need to inspect mattress seams, bed frames, and furniture for these physical clues, as bites alone aren't always definitive.
Because bed bugs are attracted to warmth where they're most likely to find their food source, using various methods to heat the suspected infected areas could be helpful. Try heating your bed (or any infected area) with a steamer, blow dryer, or heater to bring bugs out of hiding.
➡️ Bed bugs mainly hide in mattresses, bed bases, cracks, skirting boards and furniture near the bed. ➡️ To find a nest, inspect bedding, furniture and dark corners with a torch and magnifying glass, ideally at night when they are active.
Bed bugs are averse to slick surfaces like glass, plastic, and polished metals and stone. They can, however, grasp and cling onto textiles and porous materials like wood.
Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not actually live in hair—though they may bite at your scalp. They prefer to live in dark, secluded spaces, such as behind your bed, between furniture and walls, or within cracks on your floorboard.