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What do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?

Bed bug bites look a lot like other kinds of insect bites you might get here in Des Moines. A bed bug bite often appears as a small, dark red bump surrounded by a lighter, swollen area. 

Two things that make bed bug bites different from other kinds of common insect bites are:

  1. Their alignment in zigzag patterns.
  2. Their placement on exposed skin at night.
Bed bug bites on the legs - Springer Professional Home Services in Des Moines IA

How Are Bed Bug Bites and Flea Bites Different?

The main difference that you would notice between bed bug bites and flea bites is the degree of pain. Flea bites cause pain in the victim right away. Conversely, bed bug bites do not hurt at all for hours after the bite. Flea bites are usually found lower on the body and aren’t organized in any way. Bed bug bites, on the other hand, are often laid out in lines or zigzags. They are also usually larger. One of the symptoms that these bites share is the itchiness that they cause for days after the bite.

Do I Have a Bed Bug Bite or a Mosquito Bite?

Much like bed bug bites, mosquito bites leave you with red, itchy marks on your body. Mosquito bites aren’t organized in lines, though. Mosquitoes bite you wherever they can on your body. When they bite you, it only takes minutes for the itchiness, swelling, and pain to set in. Mosquito bites are much more dangerous than bed bug bites because of the possibility of a disease being passed on. Thankfully, though, most mosquito bites heal much quicker than bed bug bites.

How to Tell If You Have a Bed Bug Bite

It’s easy to mistake a bed bug bite for other kinds of insects’ bites. This makes it important to learn about how bed bug bites are different. If you think that your current insect bites are from bed bugs but aren’t sure, look around your house for physical indicators of bed bug activity. Reaching out to professional bed bug control experts is highly recommended.

What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?

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