Can’t Find Bed Bugs but Have Bites
If for some time, in your living space, you’ve been thinking that you have bed bugs, there’s a reason why. You can’t find bed bugs but have bites, and this has gone on for quite some time without you knowing for sure what’s going on. However, you should know that thinking you have an infestation doesn’t mean you do. If you can’t find bed bugs but have bites, a lot of other things may be responsible for that.
Check out the possible explanations for any bites you may have.
Are There Small Bugs in the Cracks and Crevices Around Your Home?
You had those bites the previous night. Then you’ve seen several cylindrical-shaped insects all over your living space. Before you freak out, relax a bit. Some other bugs look like bedbugs and are often mistaken. German cockroach nymphs, for instance, look a lot like bedbugs, but in reality, they’re not. Bedbugs have an oval shape and shorter length. In contrast, German cockroach nymphs have a cylindrical shape. Of course, the two insects are active at night. Both are also primarily found in harborages. Except, cockroaches are usually around moisture and food. If you don’t see these insects around your bed or couch, then they’re likely not bedbugs.
Do You Have Bites Around Your Ankles?
Bedbugs hardly bite anyone around their ankles. However, if you can’t find bedbugs but have bites near your feet around your ankles, it may be another insect. If you have pets, it can possibly be a flea infestation giving you problems.
Do the Bugs Around You Have Wings?
If the insects you see have wings, you can relax because they’re not bedbugs. You may be confusing carpet beetles for bedbugs because they’re in your bedroom. However, carpet beetles have noticeable wings.
Is Your Bed Clean?
Bedbugs cause visible damage to mattresses that you’ll easily notice. You probably don’t have bedbugs if you don’t see anything out of place on your sleeping spot. Signs of an infestation include black dots or small blood stains on your bedding. Look for markings behind and around your sheets to see if you have bedbugs. If there aren’t any stains, you have another type of insect biting you.
Are You Itchy?
If your skin’s itchy, you may think you have bedbugs around, but that may not be the case. If you can’t find bedbugs but have bites, it may be other things. Skin irritations can be from medications, detergents, body soap, or an allergic reaction. Specific foods and pollutants can make you itchy.
Do You Have Bites Inside Your Elbows or Lower Body Parts?
If you can’t find bedbugs but have bites all over the lower half of your body, it could be flea bites. A pet may have brought in the fleas, and they’re the ones giving you those bites.
Often, if you can’t find bedbugs but have bites, they’re not your problem. Bedbugs are easily noticed, and if you have them, you’ll definitely see them.
I haven’t seen any bed bugs but I’ve been getting something on me that is stuck to my skin, usually on my arm and hands, sometimes on my chest. It looks like a scab when I pick it off of me and the site where is at starts to bleed. When I take a pic of it I can’t get it identified and it looks like an alien from space, a face and a jaw with teeth..I also see black dots on my skin and have to use alcohol to get it off. What the heck is it???
I work in a nursing home they have an outbreak of bed bugs my husband and I have both been bit but no sign of bugs any where I was my bedding every other day dry my pillows on high heat and still no sign of bugs but we have bitez
I have bites all over my body and have been bitten by something, yet never seen a bedbug nor evidence of any bedbugs. No fleas. What could be eating me?
Have these weird bites on my stomach like hives after sleeping on floor by mistake on rug like welts lmk please help
I have bites ALL OVER MY UPPER HALF OF MY BODY INCLUDING MY FACE ( I AM SP EMBARRASSED. BUT WEARING A MASK HIDES THEM ) BUT MY APARTMENT HAS BEEN CHECKED AND NO EVIDENCE OF BED BUGS. I HAVE BITES ALL OVER MY BREASTS ,ARMS, AND FACE. HELP ME
I have the same Sharon. And around my neck, under my chin.
I also have bites on face , arms, hands. Back. Even on breasts, no sign of bed bugs. Had pest control service come check. Had friend tear room apart. Nothing. This has been going on for 8 months. Now almost continually. Red, swollen , itchy. Think I’m going crazy from itching.
I have the bites of bed bugs, no sign of the bugs yet. Hoping I catch it early maybe only a few bugs… Going on a few days now still no sign. I have covered my bedroom in Diatomaceous Earth. I would think hives too except my dog has the same bites just as itchy the poor baby is so miserable. Bites are on her back and tummy, mine on my arms and neck. Bites are 2-4 in a straight line. They are so itchy that I have dug my skin open. Please help me, I’m freaking out!!! Tell me where to look to get this nipped in the bud. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
I have the same problem, but it is my whole body except my head.
My dog does not seem to have a problem.
If the bites are in a line or zigzagged line, then it’s probably bedbugs !
Good post! It can be somewhat easy to confused bedbug bites with other pests. Bird and poultry lice can leave similar bit marks and as you mention fleas as well.
Bites in ALL
different places on my arms and legs
I get bites in my arms. They just come out from time to time during the day. I don’t see any bugs. We do have bedbugs but I have not seen them on my body.
I had bed bugs and a carpet beetles infestation at the same time, my apt has been fogged 3 times, and treated 6 times, now I’m all ate up over my entire body, all I see are insect eggs all over my entire apartment, so what’s biting me?
Hey so I for sure have carpet beetles can you help me identify the difference in bites or allergic reaction I no everyone is different but I no we have fleas and I no we have carpet beetles but I’m praying no bed bugs I asked. Inspection guy to come said no sign of bb so I don’t no what to think
I’m getting bit all over my body – legs, arms, hands, back and NO SIGN OF ANY BUG OF ANY SORT. A sigh of relief but I’m tired of getting bite and not know how to fix the problem. And they’re not rashes or clusters it’s one bite on different parts of my body.
SAME Mimi!! Did you figure it out I’m going crazy!
This same thing is happening to me and my partner. The bites are also worsening in severity and are 4 inches wide.