In-Depth Guides for Smarter Pest Control Decisions
February 10, 2026
Quick visual guide to identify bed bug bites and signs in your Genesee County home before calling for professional help.
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At first glance, bed bug and mosquito bites can look similar – they both cause raised, red, itchy bumps. But there are a few clues that can help you tell them apart. The biggest difference is in the pattern and timing.
Bed bug bites are usually grouped together in clusters of three to five bites, often in a straight line or zigzag pattern. This is because bed bugs usually bite more than once as they crawl across the skin. Mosquito bites tend to be isolated and scattered, usually happening in a random pattern.
Bed bugs tend to bite overnight, so if you wake up every morning with new clusters of bites, that’s a clue that bed bugs are playing a role. If you come home from an evening stroll with new bites, mosquitoes are the more likely culprit.
Bed bugs and fleas both cause small, itchy bites that can appear in clusters or lines. Bed bugs usually bite at night and are more likely to appear on the arms, legs, back, and neck. Fleas usually bite around the lower legs and ankles.
Here’s the key difference: flea bites are most frequently found in lower areas of the body because as people walk by, fleas jump and latch onto their host to feed. The height they can reach is rarely higher than an adult’s knee. So if you’re getting bitten on your torso, arms, or neck while sleeping, bed bugs are the more likely suspect.
People with flea bites usually have exposure to animals that carry fleas, like a dog or cat in the home. Flea bites are commonly associated with pets, as these tiny insects predominantly live on animals. If you don’t have pets and you’re getting bitten while sleeping, bed bugs move up the suspect list.
Flea bites are immediately visible and itchy. Bed bug bites can take a couple of hours, or even days, to be visible and itchy. Bed bug bites can take a few days or even a week to show up, and they gradually begin to itch more as the anesthetic from their saliva starts to wear off.
Bed bug bites include raised bumps in a line, zigzag or random pattern, pimple-like bumps with a dark red center and lighter skin surrounding it, round bumps containing clear fluid (blisters), or raised areas with several small bumps that are often red or purple (hives).
Some people may not develop any marks from a bite. Most people develop marks similar to mosquito or flea bites – slightly swollen bumps with a reddish bruise in the middle that itch. Not all humans react to bed bug bites, but many report getting bites in lines, sometimes in rows of three. Some people don’t react at all, while others get big itchy bumps that take two or more weeks to heal.
The timing is crucial: bites can show up within hours or two weeks later. Bed bug bite reactions may occur immediately, or up to 14 days after the bite. This delayed reaction is what makes bed bug identification so tricky – you might be getting bitten for weeks before you realize what’s happening.
Bed bugs are more likely to bite exposed skin on your arms, legs and back. The bites are usually grouped together in a straight line or cluster, and exposed areas of the arms, legs and back are more prone to bed bug bites. Think about what parts of your body touch the mattress and sheets when you sleep – that’s where you’ll typically find bed bug bites.
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You don’t need to be a pest control expert to spot the signs bed bugs leave behind. Even when the bugs are active, low-level infestations are hard to detect, and most people only see signs of bed bugs rather than the bugs themselves. Bed bugs are experts at hiding in small spaces. But they do leave evidence.
Dermatologists and pest control experts recommend carefully looking for signs of bed bugs in and around areas where people sleep. To perform a bed bug inspection, use a flashlight, magnifying glass, gloves, and a credit card or flat-edged tool to inspect small crevices.
Start with your bed – it’s the most likely place you’ll find evidence. The best place to find bed bugs is the mattress! Look under the tag and in corners along seams. Look for black dots (dried blood) which is a sign of infestation.
Start your inspection by examining the mattress and box spring. Remove all bedding and check for signs of bed bugs. Pay special attention to seams, piping, and tags on the mattress and box spring. Use your flashlight and flat-edge tool to investigate cracks and crevices.
Tiny black dots are one of the best signs you may have bed bugs! Unlike us, bed bugs don’t wait to go home to defecate – they do it right there, which helps us locate their nest. Those droppings are excreted human blood that sticks to fabric and looks like black dots made with a marker. These tiny black dots make them easy to spot – wipe them with a wet towel, and they may smear if it’s fecal matter.
Look for blood spots, which may look like rusty or reddish stains on sheets or mattresses from crushed bugs. Blood spots found on sheets and the presence of bed bug feces and cast skins are some indications of a bed bug infestation. Tiny white eggs (like rice) along the edge of the mattress are also a good indication of infestation. Look for translucent, hollow shells along the seams of your mattress – these white ovals signify that bugs are present.
Check along the folds and seams of the mattress while wearing gloves to protect your hands. You can run a card along the seams to push out any bed bugs, eggs, or skin casings that are wedged deeper inside the cracks. Use a strong LED flashlight to inspect mattress seams and behind tags, inside seams of bedding, and the dust skirt. For box springs, check the top seam, behind corner guards, and behind the seam of stapled fabric below.
Bed bugs can hide in cracks of furniture, sheets, pillows, mattresses, under area rugs, couch cushions, and inside electronics like cell phones. They can also move through walls and electrical sockets. This is especially important in apartments around Flint, shared housing in Burton, and student housing near Mott Community College where bed bugs can easily travel between units.
No bed bug checklist should be without outlets – they love hiding inside the ones close to your bed. Check headboards, even if they’re firmly attached to the wall. Use a credit card to swipe edges and look at what falls out. Check behind picture frames, especially next to the bed, and look behind the baseboard near the bed where there’s usually a gap – a perfect spot for bed bugs.
Check nearby furniture including bedside tables, dressers, and other furniture near the bed. Look at seams, drawer joints, and under furniture. Bed bugs can hide in the smallest of spaces, so be thorough. Examine upholstery – bed bugs can also hide in chairs, sofas, and other upholstered furniture. Use the flashlight and flat-edged tool to inspect seams, tufts, and under cushions.
Don’t forget about draperies – they’re easy to find and spot bed bugs in, but often missed during inspections. Another way to identify bed bugs is their bad smell – the odor may smell musty, like spoiled raw beef, or sweet like fresh red raspberries.
If you think you may have bed bugs, it’s very important to do a thorough inspection and begin treatment as soon as possible. Treating a bed bug infestation early will save time and expense. The only way to stop bed bug bites is to eliminate the bugs. Identifying and eliminating the infestation early can prevent the bugs from spreading and causing further discomfort.
If your inspection reveals black dots, blood stains, shed skins, or live bugs – or if you’re waking up with bite patterns that match what we’ve described – it’s time to call in the professionals. The best way to get rid of bed bugs is to call a licensed bed bug exterminator. These professionals inspect your house and customize treatments based on your situation, typically using a targeted combination of pest control chemicals, vacuuming, and heat.
We’ve been serving Genesee County for 20 years with personalized treatment programs and canine detection services. Don’t let embarrassment keep you from getting help – bed bugs aren’t a reflection of cleanliness, and the sooner you act, the easier and less expensive the treatment will be.
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