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Why is my bed itchy but no bed bugs?

Scabies mites: When microscopic scabies mites burrow into human skin, they cause rashes and itchiness. A scabies rash looks like a cluster of bed bug bites, which makes it easy to confuse mite bites with bed bug bites. Unlike bed bugs, you won't be able to see scabies mites on your skin or in the bed.

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What Is Biting Me in My House?

What if you’re waking up with bites, but not bed bugs? If there are no signs of bed bugs but you have bites, you may have other types of bugs living in your home. The bug bites on your body could be due to any of the following pests.

1. Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles and bed bugs have a similar appearance and size with a few distinctions. While bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, carpet beetles can be black, white and yellow. Unlike bed bugs, carpet beetles can fly. A carpet beetle’s name is a little deceptive, as you may find these insects anywhere in your home. Though they don’t bite humans, coming into contact with carpet beetle hairs might cause an itchy, welt-like skin rash. If you suspect you have carpet beetles in your home, an exterminator can help you take care of them right away.

2. Spiders

Spiders are timid arthropods, so they only bite when they feel threatened. You’ll typically only notice one spider bite, in contrast to a collection of bed bug bites. Though spider bites are generally harmless, they produce a variety of different symptoms. Spider bite symptoms may include swelling, red skin and pain at the site. A spider bite allergy may cause difficulty breathing or tightness in the face. If you notice these symptoms, you should seek medical attention right away. You could also develop tetanus from a spider bite, so make sure you keep up with your tetanus shots. It’s important to seek medical attention if a poisonous spider bites you, including: Black widow spiders: A black widow spider bite looks like two puncture marks on your skin. After 30 to 40 minutes, you could have pain or inflammation around the puncture marks. Within eight hours of the bite, you could also develop nausea, vomiting and muscle rigidity. Brown recluse spiders: Brown recluse spiders are also poisonous to humans. They tend to live in dark, unused spaces. A brown recluse spider bite causes a small pinch on the skin. Severe symptoms of a brown recluse spider bite — such as nausea, sweating and chills — develop hours later. Over time, the bite could result in kidney failure, coma or a seizure. To avoid spider bites indoors, clean out cobwebs in your home. You can also wear long sleeves and pants when you’re working outside. If the pests pose a continual problem in your living space, call an exterminator to get rid of them immediately.

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3. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the same size as carpet beetles at about 2 to 4 millimeters long. Though they live outdoors, they can fly into your home and get trapped there. If this happens, the mosquito may be active at night or in the early morning. Mosquito bites cause itchy, pink bumps to appear on your skin at the bite location. In some cases, mosquito bites can carry malaria, West Nile virus and Zika virus: Malaria: While malaria is rare in the United States, it’s possible to develop this disease from a mosquito bite. Flu-like symptoms can develop 10 days to four weeks after the bite. West Nile: Symptoms of West Nile virus can appear between two and 14 days after the bite occurs. These symptoms include headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, skin rashes and body aches. Severe cases of the West Nile virus cause convulsions, disorientation and neck stiffness. Zika: Zika virus causes flu-like symptoms in most people. The Zika virus could harm a pregnant woman’s unborn child or a woman trying to get pregnant. If you find mosquito bites on your skin, mosquitoes could be drawn to standing water in your home or crawl space. Call an exterminator to diagnose and deal with the issue properly.

4. Mites

The word “mite” indicates a group of insect-like organisms that can irritate humans. The following types of mites can bite you and cause skin reactions: Scabies mites: When microscopic scabies mites burrow into human skin, they cause rashes and itchiness. A scabies rash looks like a cluster of bed bug bites, which makes it easy to confuse mite bites with bed bug bites. Unlike bed bugs, you won’t be able to see scabies mites on your skin or in the bed. Scabies is contagious, so be careful interacting with those who show signs of scabies. Chiggers: Chiggers are microscopic mites that live outdoors. You may find chigger bites on areas near tight clothing, such as around the waist and under socks. You can differentiate chigger bites from bed bug bites by their location on your body. If the bites are from bed bugs, they will likely be on the exposed areas of your body, like your neck or face. Rodent and bird mites: These types of mites enter the house through birds or mice. When their host dies or leaves the nest, the mites travel indoors and bite humans. Domestic pets, such as chickens and hamsters, can also host rodent and bird mites. Like bed bug bites, rodent mite bites often appear in groups. Rodent mite bites also appear in the same spots on your body as bed bug bites, especially the neck and the face. Rodent mite bites are less common than bed bug bites, but they carry disease. You should check with an exterminator to make sure the bites aren’t from rodent mites.

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5. Fleas

Fleas are a similar reddish-brown color to bed bugs, but they are smaller and more ovalish. They favor the blood of animals over human blood. You are more likely to find fleas near your pets than in your bed. Fleas jump high when they encounter humans and pets, which can make them difficult to identify. You can detect fleas by:

Trapping them with glue traps

Taking your pet to the veterinarian

Walking around with white socks

If fleas do bite humans, they tend to focus on the lower leg. Since fleas travel in groups, flea bites would result in several small, red and itchy welts. Flea bites usually appear after a couple of hours and may cause a skin infection if you keep scratching them. To prevent flea bites, keep your pets off of your bed and vacuum often. In case of an infestation, you should bring your pets to the veterinarian to check for fleas. An exterminator can give you the best recommendations to rid your home of pests for good.

If Not Bed Bug Bites, Then What?

Sometimes, what people think are bed bug bites are actually caused by these conditions:

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