It’s late. You finally get in bed after a long day’s work, ready to get some well-deserved rest. Then, within a minute of getting comfortable, you feel little bites all over your skin. Sound familiar?
Chances are, you have an unwelcome pest visitor in your home. Fleas or bed bugs. It’s a disconcerting experience to have them in your house. Not to mention it’s a very particular task to identify and remove your uninvited guests.
Read on, and we’ll walk you through the major differences between bed bugs vs fleas.
Appearance
Bed bugs are reddish-brown, oval-shaped, and about the size of an apple seed. Fleas, however, are dark brown and appear more segmented.
While both have segmented bodies, fleas are narrower and have three sets of legs to help them jump. Bed bugs, however, have six legs and no wings.
Bed bugs also have a distinct flat shape that helps hide in small cracks or crevices. Fleas have larger and more defined eyes, antennae, and wings. Additionally, when viewed under a microscope, fleas have bristles that appear like hairs, whereas bed bugs do not.
Biting Patterns
The key difference between bed bugs and fleas is their biting patterns. Bed bugs bite multiple times in a line or small clusters, often resulting in red itchy welts and large areas of irritation.
Meanwhile, fleas tend to bite the host in single spots rather than multiple times in a row. They can leave red marks that look like hives or blisters.
Behavior
Bed bugs stay close to their hosts, such as the bed, and feed in the dark, especially at night. Fleas, on the other hand, are usually more active during the day.
Fleas can also quickly jump off a host and vanish. Bed bugs may crawl slowly, which makes them easier to spot if you look carefully.
To differentiate between fleas vs bed bugs, note the speed of movement and their activity time to detect which bug is causing you distress. And if you think you have a bed bug infestation, don’t think twice. Look at bed bug treatment for home so you can get rid of them as soon as possible.
Habitat
Generally, bed bugs are more likely found in indoor habitats such as bedrooms, furniture, or wall cracks. On the other hand, fleas tend to inhabit outdoor areas or animal homes like kennels.
Bed bugs are typically found in groups around beds, floorboards, mattresses, and other fabric-covered items. Fleas prefer to live on fabrics and carpets in and around pet beds, floor mats, or other furry areas.
Bed Bugs vs Fleas: Know the Difference!
Correctly identifying bed bugs vs fleas is essential to successfully treating and eliminating the pest. Identifying appearance, biting patterns, behavior, and habitat is key.
It is best to consult a professional pest control service to provide a more detailed evaluation if infestations occur. Don’t wait! Contact a pest control specialist today to take the necessary steps to rid your home of unwanted pests properly.
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