Bed bug bites and mosquito bites look very similar, like little red bumps. To make sure that you are not mistaking one for the other, it’s important that you know how to tell the difference. If it is bed bugs, you need to get those pests dealt with right away!
As well as the way the skin reacts, there are several ways to tell the difference between bed bug bites and mosquito bites including the bite pattern and bite location.

Bed Bug Bites vs Mosquito Bites: General Symptoms

Mosquito bites will usually appear as small red bumps with a puffy white surrounding just minutes after being bitten. After a day or two, these bumps will turn reddish-brown. In extreme cases, mosquito bites can appear as small blisters and dark patches that look much like bruises. Generally, mosquito bites are moderately painful, very itchy and irritating, and will leave a pinkish-red mark on the skin for a few days.
Bed bug bites, on the other hand, have variable symptoms, and many people won’t have any visible signs when they have first been bitten. The bites will turn into small reddish bumps after a day or two, which can become itchy and may produce a burning sensation. Generally, these bites are painless at the time of the bite and can go unnoticed for some time.

Mosquito or Bed Bugs: Sensitivity Levels

Bed bug bites and mosquito bites also differ in terms of sensitivity. Our sensitivity to mosquito bites tends to lower the more we are bitten, whereas people often become more sensitive to bed bug bites the more it happens.

Healing Time

Mosquito bites typically heal more quickly than bed bug bites, which can last for at least a few days. If your bites aren’t fading as quickly as you’d expect, they may be bed bug bites.

Bed Bug Bites vs Mosquito Bites: Bite Location and Distribution
An easy way to tell whether you have mosquito bites is where they are on your body and how they are distributed.
Mosquito bites are most often seen randomly over the parts of your body that were absent of clothing since mosquitoes will not bite through clothing.
Bed bug bites, on the other hand, will be clustered, usually in a distinct pattern of a line or circle. Bed bug bites will often be found around the neck and face, back, arms and legs, and around the crotch, essentially anywhere that directly touches your mattress!

Example Photos

Get a Free Inspection

If you suspect your itchy red bumps are bed bug bites, you must have the bed bugs dealt with as soon as possible. If you’re in Arizona, we’re here to help. We offer free bed bug inspections to check your home or business for signs of bed bug infestation. Click here to book your free inspection now so you can get back to being bite-free and comfortable.