Have you ever woken up to a pattern of itchy bumps on your skin? It is quite a common occurrence, and you may wonder if the bites are from mosquitoes, fleas, or even spiders. Or bed bugs (hope not!)
Do bed bugs bite in straight lines?
Bed bugs usually aren’t top of mind, as they are little vampires that only come out at night, almost always unseed. However, you may find that the bites are from these dreaded culprits.
So how do you know if you are dealing with bed bug bites? Here’s what we know:
- Bed bug bites may form a straight line
- But often bed bug bites may form a zigzag pattern
- The bites typically appear in clusters of 3 to 5 bites
To learn more about bed bug bites and their bite patterns, read on!
Do Bed Bugs Bite in Straight Lines? Why?
The straight line pattern left by bed bugs after they feed on you may look like a coincidence, but it’s not. The lines consist of 3 bites hence the nickname: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
However, this appears by chance as a result of :
1. The Bed Bug Being Interrupted Mid-feed
When the bugs are interrupted during feeding, they stop and attack another part of your body once they resume feeding. For instance, when you turn in your sleep or switch on the lights, you will scare off a bed bug that is feeding on you. As a result, the bed bug may bite another area near the previous one. These bites may appear as a straight line.
2. The Bug Trying to Find a Blood Vessel
These parasites are attracted to areas near blood vessels, allowing them to draw as much blood as possible.
Therefore, the bugs might bite different areas of your skin to locate a blood vessel, resulting in a straight-line pattern.
The bugs might bite different areas of your skin to locate a blood vessel, resulting in a straight-line pattern.
3. Being Bitten by More Than One Bug
Another explanation is the presence of two or more bugs. For example, multiple bed bugs feeding near each other may feed in the same area. Therefore, the bites may form a straight pattern or a cluster.Â
4. Exposed Skin in a Narrow Line
Bed bugs can’t bite through clothing, they need to have access to skin. If your night clothing only has a few spots where your skin is exposed, bed bugs may bite in a line along those spots (e.g. a small line of exposed skin between the bottom of your pajama pants and your socks).
How to Identify Bed Bug Bites
Many insects and bugs find their way into your house, especially as the seasons change. They enter your homes through cracks, crevices, gaps, and open windows. Therefore, any bug or insect can crawl into your bed and bite you. And some insects, such as mosquitoes, fleas, and bed bugs, feed on human blood.Â
Nasty little Draculas!
Differentiating the bites is not easy, but it’s crucial. Bites from distinct insects are treated differently, and you need to know what sort of infestation you might be dealing with!
Determining the bugs responsible for the bites will help you apply the right control measures. Let’s discuss how to tell if the bites are from bed bites.
1. You Find Blood Stains on Your Bedding
Other insects and bugs feed on a particular part of the skin, and the bites don’t bleed much. However, bed bugs feed to their fill, and the bites that occur can bleed a good amount. What’s more, bed bugs are easily squashed when you turn in your sleep resulting in blood stains on your sheets and pillowcases.Â
On top of that, the bugs have a protruding mouthpart they use to suck blood. Sometimes, it drips after a meal, leaving blood stains on the bedding.
2. Bed Bug Bites are Found on Exposed Parts of the Skin
Bed bugs feed on exposed skin; they can bite exposed hands, faces, and arms. Contrastingly, insects like spiders and mosquitoes can crawl into your clothes and will bite you anywhere.Â
3. Bed Bug Bites Appear in a Cluster or Pattern
Unlike other bugs that bite you in different areas, bed bugs like to feed on one part. Therefore, you will find a cluster of 3 to 5 bites, and usually, the bites form straight lines or zigzag patterns.
4. The Bites Swell Easily
Bed bug bites may not appear immediately. However, they are characterized by swelling, red bumps, and itchiness when they do.
People react differently to bed bug bites. Some people may develop smaller bites than others. What’s more, itching the bites aggravate the symptoms.
In severe cases, you may feel a burning sensation after constant itching.
Other Bugs and Insects That Bite in a Line
Apart from bed bugs, other insects and bugs leave straight-line patterns after feeding. That’s why it’s important not to assume before a professional confirm what’s causing the bites. Other pests that bite in a line include:
- Gnats
- Mosquitoes
- Sand flies
- Lice
- Fleas
And as we mentioned above, bed bugs, as well as other bugs, don’t necessarily bite in a line. It’s often coincidental, and single bites are common as well.
Bed Bug Bites Vs. Flea Bites
Both bed bugs and fleas may infest your home and prey on you, drinking your blood.
The bites from these two parasites have some similarities as well as differences. For this reason, you must be discerning to tell them apart. Here are a few signs that will help you identify which pest you are dealing with:
How to Distinguish Flea Bites and Bed Bug Bites
- Flea bites appear randomly and have a dark center in the middle. On the other hand, bed bug bites appear raised and red due to an allergic reaction to the bite.
- Bites from fleas itch and swell immediately, while bed bug bites may take days to become visible. Additionally, bites from bed bugs don’t swell immediately.
- Flea bites may form an open wound. Inversely, bed bug bites don’t form sores. Instead, they form red bumps that worsen after itching.
How to Treat Bed Bug Bites
Even the smallest bed bug bite may cause extreme irritation to your skin. Therefore, you should act on bed bug bites as soon as you identify them to minimize irritation and worsen symptoms. That said, here are a few ways to treat bed bug bites:
Even the smallest bed bug bite may cause extreme irritation to your skin.
- Wash the bites with a block of mild soap and water to minimize itching
- Get an over-the-counter cream to help reduce inflammation
- Contact a pest control expert to begin a bed bug elimination strategy.
Conclusion
Bed bug bites often form a straight line or zigzag pattern. Straight-line patterns from bed bug bites are more common in the event of an infestation, as multiple bed bugs feed on an individual. However, the straight line pattern from the bites is not usually planned but is purely coincidental.Â
Also, distinguishing bed bug bites is easy as they feed on exposed skin areas while many other insects can attack anywhere.
If your bites are from bed bugs, get ready to wash everything on hot, and contact an expert to help you with your infestation.
