How to Tell If You Have Bed Bugs or Fleas?

Bed bug infestations and flea infestations have much in common; both involve invasions of tiny parasitic insects that bite people and pets to drink blood, leaving behind itchy welts. Both can be a nightmare to have living in your Raleigh home, especially because they're very difficult to fully exterminate. To most effectively remove an infestation of fleas or bed bugs, it's vital to identify which pest species is plaguing your household. Continue reading to learn how to tell the difference between bed bugs and fleas.

The Difference Between Fleas & Bed Bugs

You'll likely first notice that you're having a problem with either bed bugs or fleas when you begin discovering itchy bumps on your body all the time. If you have pets, they might have these bites as well. Fleas and bed bugs are difficult to see because they are so tiny but if you do manage to get a closer look, you'll notice distinctions between these two bloodsucking bug species. Bed bugs are only 5 mm long, which is about the size of a pencil eraser. Fleas, however, are only half that size, growing to just 2.5 mm. While both bugs are flat, bed bugs have an ovular body while fleas have a more elongated, irregularly shaped body. Perhaps the easiest way to distinguish the two comes in the way they move about; bed bugs crawl around, while fleas like to jump all over the place.

If you're having a hard time finding the bugs that have been biting you, take a closer look at the bites themselves. While both pests leave itchy red bumps behind, the exact appearance varies between them. Bed bugs often bite in a cluster or a straight line. Fleas are more chaotic, tending to bite at random all over the place. Flea bites also often have circles around the bumps. Where the bites are occurring is also significant. Flea bites are usually focused on the legs, particularly around the ankles. By contrast, bed bug bites will occur over the entire body, often on the face. That's because fleas often jump out of the carpet to bite us while we're walking around, while bed bugs hide in our mattresses and attack us in our sleep.

There are other signs that can help you determine whether you have fleas or bed bugs in your Raleigh area home. If you have cats or dogs in the house, one such indicator is whether you or your pets are being targeted for bites. While both bed bugs and fleas will drink the blood of any mammals, bed bugs prefer to target humans, whereas fleas are more likely to infest the fur of dogs and cats. You may also find dirt or stains left by the bugs' waste in the areas where they're living. Bed bug waste will likely be found on your mattress, while flea waste will most easily be found in pet bedding. If you have bed bugs, you might start to smell a strange, musty scent in areas where the pests are living.

Reliable Bed Bug & Flea Exterminators in Raleigh

Whether you have bed bugs or fleas, it's important to work with an experienced, licensed and insured pest control company to get rid of the infestation. Contact Sustainable Pest Systems today if you need flea or bed bug control services in the greater Raleigh area!