Bed Bug Bites: What They Can and Cannot Tell You

What bites look like
Why bites are not proof
Free in-home inspection
Licensed & insured, AZ #8129

Bites are one of the first things John Taylor tells people to watch for. He also says that a bed bug bite looks just like a mosquito bite, and that no one can positively say a bite came from a bed bug, not even a doctor.

What a bed bug bite looks like
Why one person reacts and another does not
Whether the bites are dangerous
What to do about bites with no bugs

Call 623-451-0541 for a free in-home inspection. Calls answered 7 days a week, 7 AM to 7 PM.

What is known about bed bug bites

What bed bug bites look like

They look just like mosquito bites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes them in much the same way: similar to a mosquito or flea bite, a slightly swollen, red area that may itch. The marks can be scattered or in a line. Because the look of a bite cannot identify what made it, John goes by the bugs and the signs they leave.

Why one person reacts and another does not

Two people can share a bed, and only one wakes up with bites. John's answer is that everyone gets bitten, and about 40% of people do not react to the bites. That figure is from his own experience. The CDC notes that bites affect each person differently and that some people show no physical signs at all.

Whether the bites are dangerous

Bed bugs do not carry any known disease. The CDC states that they are not known to spread diseases to people. The bites can itch and cost you sleep. The CDC also says an allergic reaction is possible and that anyone who thinks they are having one should speak with a health care provider. This page is not medical advice.

Bites, but no bugs

When John inspects a home because of bites, about 20% of the time he finds another pest, such as carpet beetles, or no cause for the bites at all. When that happens, he says so, and he asks the customer to monitor for a few days.

We will not sell you a treatment you do not need. The inspection is free whichever way it turns out.

Call 623-451-0541 for a free in-home inspection.

What you have noticed, and what it means

What you have noticedWhat it means, or what to do

Bites and nothing elseNot enough to say.

Bites, and small blood spots on the sheets where you sleepA reason to look closer. The signs guide shows how.

Bites, and a bug you can photographTake a clear, close-up photo and call. John may ask for it.

No bites, but dark spotting or shed skins on the bedCall. A lack of bites does not rule bed bugs out, because not everyone reacts.

Signs of bed bugs, and what each one looks like

If you are waking up with bites

1. Look at the bed
Check the sheets for small blood spots, then follow the signs guide, which gives John's order for the rest of the home.
2. Do not move anything
Do not take the bed apart, throw anything away, or move things to another room. The inspection page explains why.
3. Call John
Tell him what has been going on. The in-home inspection is free.
The free in-home inspection

Phoenix-area customers who called about bites

From a Bed Bugs Arizona customer
“As a host to exchange students from all over the world, we recently encountered a situation that required urgent attention. One of our students woke up with what appeared to be bug bites. Concerned that it might be bed bugs, we immediately contacted John at Bed Bugs Arizona. He responded promptly, visiting our premises within a few hours. After a thorough inspection, he confirmed that the issue was not bed bugs, providing us with a reassuring resolution.”
Dennis Salazar, Google review
From a Bed Bugs Arizona customer
“John conducted a free inspection, determined that no bed bugs were present, didn’t upsell me on anything, and kindly shared his expertise. Though I hope I never need his services, he’d be my one and only call in the future. Though I still have to identify the mystery villains biting me, “no bed bugs” gives me invaluable peace of mind.”
Kelly Vockell, Google review

Read all our Google reviews

Questions about bed bug bites

Can a doctor tell if a bite is from a bed bug?

John's answer is no. If you think you are having an allergic reaction, the CDC recommends speaking with a health care provider. Finding out whether it is bed bugs takes an inspection.

How do I tell bed bug bites from mosquito bites?

By the bites, you cannot. What you can check is the bed: blood spots on the sheets, dark spotting, shed skins, or the bugs themselves.

Do bed bugs spread disease?

None that is known, and the CDC agrees.

My partner has bites, and I do not. Do we have bed bugs?

You might. Not everyone reacts to the bites, so having one person with bites and one without does not settle it.

I have bites but cannot find any bugs. What now?

Start with the section above on bites with no bugs, then call. A free inspection is how it gets settled.

How long after a bite does the mark show up?

It varies. The CDC says that most people do not notice the marks until one to several days after the bite and that in some people they can take as long as 14 days.

Bites and no answers? Call John.