Bed Bugs vs Fleas vs Mites

Small insects like fleas, bedbugs, and mites are commonly found in the home, and they can look similar at first glance. However, each one comes with its own set of issues, so identifying the bug quickly will help prevent them from spreading.

Today, we’ll teach you the difference between them, including the types of bite marks to look for and how to distinguish them from each other.

What are bedbugs?

Our beds are where we rest, and knowing there’s an uninvited guest can quickly make us feel uncomfortable in our own homes. Thankfully, these bugs are among the easiest to spot, since they’re 4–6 mm in size.

You’ll find them jumping around on your mattress, bed frame, or headboard, with activity increasing at night. They’re drawn to human body heat and the carbon dioxide released when sleeping, which is why you’ll often wake up with a number of bite marks.

While bedbugs are commonly related to an unclean home, this isn’t the truth. They can appear in even the cleanest of homes, often entering your home from old furniture you’ve bought or from luggage after travelling.

If you think you’re dealing with bedbugs, call us for bedbug pest control today.

How to spot them

Look out for a flat, oval, reddish-brown insect hiding in cracks and seams around your bed. You might see tiny black dots on your mattress, smell a sweet, musty smell in your room, or find rust-coloured marks on your bedding.

Since bedbugs prefer to stay close to where you sleep, have a look at the following areas:

• Bedframes and headboards
• Divan bases
• Mattress seams and piping
• Skirting boards and floorboards
• Curtains
• Behind loose wallpaper and picture frames near your bed

What are fleas?

If you have a home with pets, then you’re most likely dealing with fleas.

Yes, these are more commonly known to feed on animal blood, but they’re not opposed to biting humans too (especially if they’re lingering around carpets and soft furnishings). Fleas are sized around 1.3mm and are strong jumpers, so you might spot them hopping about if you look closely.

Since the flea life cycle moves so quickly, this catches most people out. If you treat a pet, you still have to find and kill any eggs and larvae in your home to stop them from spreading again. That’s why professional flea extermination is so important; it treats your home, not just your pet.

How to spot them

Most people start by checking for small black bugs attached to their pets’ skin underneath the fur. These are fairly visible once you know what to look for, and warning signs include your pet dealing with constant scratching, nibbling, or over-grooming.

Adult fleas often stay on pets’ fur, but you may also find them in the following places:

• Carpets and rugs
• Pet beds and blankets
• Sofa seams and upholstery
• Car interiors
• Cracks in floorboards or along skirting

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are another common infestation in many UK homes. While these don’t bite like fleas and bedbugs, they do infiltrate our furniture and cause allergic reactions due to droppings and body fragments.

As microscopic relatives of spiders, you won’t see them crawling around like fleas or bed bugs, and they don’t live on people. Instead, they like to hide out in warm, hidden places, such as carpets, pillows, mattresses, and upholstered furniture.

While they don’t leave bites, they can cause itchy skin and rash-like patches that could be mistaken for a bug bite. Since these are invisible to the naked eye, it’s best to keep track of any symptoms you’ve started to experience.

How to spot them

As we’ve just stated that you won’t be able to spot them in your home, the following allergic reactions will serve as a warning sign instead:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness
• Sneezing or a blocked and runny nose
• Itchy skin or eczema flare-ups

How to spot the difference

Misidentifying the type of pest you’re dealing with can cause more issues and greater stress.

You don’t realise how much your peace is worth until it’s disrupted. We’ve included a little comparison table below so you don’t drive yourself crazy trying to guess what it is you’re dealing with.

Where did my bite come from?

It’s always a shock when you discover an insect bite on yourself. As we’ve just discussed, there are a number of culprits, each one as irritating to discover in your home as the next.

While bedbugs and fleas are known to bite humans, they produce different bite marks and symptoms. Knowing the difference will help you quickly identify what you’re dealing with and get the infestation under control.

What bedbug bites look and feel like

Bed bug bites can look like small red welts, sometimes with a darker centre. The itchiness can range from mild to intense, and the bites often show up:

• In clusters or lines (sometimes called a “breakfast, lunch, dinner” pattern)
• On exposed skin: arms, shoulders, neck, upper back, and legs.

What flea bites look and feel like

Flea bites tend to be small, red, very itchy bumps. However, not everyone reacts badly to them, so a lack of bites doesn’t mean you’re not dealing with fleas in the home.

Children may show up with rashes, and anyone with sensitive skin may find bites flare up quickly. The bites typically show up:

• On ankles, feet and lower legs
• Itchy spots that lead to sore and broken skin
• In clusters or tight groupings

How to prevent further spread

Luckily, there are a few things you can do yourself to stop these pests from spreading before and during treatment.

Bedbugs

• Strip the bed, wash bedding, and sleepwear on a hot wash (around 60°C)
• Vacuum thoroughly around the bed, mattress seams, bed frame joints, skirting boards, and cracks.
• Move the bed slightly away from the wall and keep the bedding off the floor.
• Avoid moving items from room to room.
• Reduce clutter so there are fewer spaces for them to hide.

You can find out more about bedbugs and why ongoing treatment is necessary here.

Fleas

• Wash pet bedding and soft throws on a hot wash
• Vacuum daily for at least 7–10 days, focusing on carpets, sofa seams, floors, and furniture.
• Groom and treat pets regularly using a flea comb and flea treatment.
• Keep pets out of bedrooms to prevent them from spreading to bedding.

Dust Mites

• Wash sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers weekly on a hot wash (60°C)
• Use allergen-proof covers for your mattress and pillows
• Vacuum weekly using a vacuum with a HEPA filter
• Aim to keep indoor humidity below about 50% if you can
• Cut down on heavy throws, spare cushions, and clutter in bedrooms

Get your infestation under control with Premier Pest Control

Are you dealing with a pest infestation that’s gotten out of hand?

Our team of professional exterminators will review your property, identify the issue, and provide professional pest removal services. We can get out to you within 24 hours!

Just contact us today to tell us a bit more about your issue, and we’ll provide you with a quote.