What Do Bedbug Bites Look Like? Symptoms and Photos

Finding out what bed bug bits look like can help you catch a bed bug infestation before it gets too out of control. Bed bugs often come in used furniture, used clothing, mattresses, hotels, motels, hostels, and luggage that has been in those places. What is the best way to get rid of bed bugs? Extermination, of course. However, many victims of bed bug bite rashes report that inexperienced bed bugs extermination companies do not find the bed bugs and therefore are not helpful in bed bugs extermination. All the more reason to know for sure what bed bug bites look like and how you can recognize them. 

Bed bug bites usually look like a reddened rash of raised bumps. This of course depends on allergic reaction, skin color, and other conditions. The bed bug bite picture above is a classic example. Notice especially the three bumps in a row running up the back. This is called the breakfast, lunch, dinner pattern. Bed bugs often bite in one spot, crawl a little farther, take another sip of blood, then crawl again. Two or three bites in a line is a tell tale sign but not always present. Bed bug bites can look like a localized rash or can be spread around the body. Many physicians are not able to distinguish bed bug bite rashes on site. As a result you need to know how your body normally responds to other itchy rashes such as mosquitoes and poison ivy. Bed bugs extermination is also aided by confident victims who can show the rashes. 

African American skin shows bed bug bites a little differently than Caucasian.Darker skin hues often do not show the redness associated with allergic reactions on the skin.

Instead you will notice the raised bumps. They will also itch more than mosquito bites and last longer than mosquito bites generally speaking.

If you think you have bed bug bite symptoms and aren't sure consider putting double sided carpet tape around the bed on all four sides. Often bed bugs will then get caught on the tape. This doesn't always work but often does. You can also place sticky bug traps around the headboard of your bed or other places you suspect them living. 

Where do bed bugs come from? How can I find them? What do they look like? How big are bed bugs? These questions are common for those who are afraid they may need bed bugs extermination for good reason. If you can find them, so can the exterminator. Bed bugs are very small bugs with a flat body. They often leave behind the husks or shells of their skin (see photo to the right) as well as rust-colored or dark brown spots on the sheets. Rust colored spots come from the blood feeding (bed bugs are parasites). Dark brown spots are the scat or fecal matter they leave behind. Delicious little things aren't they? The bed bug pictures here show some of these realities.

Look for bed bugs in cracks and crevices of furniture, around picture frames, underneath bed frames, and other out of the way dark places they can hide during the day.

* For more information and help with bed bugs extermination look around the page for related resources and articles.