What can bite besides bedbugs? - briefly
Various arthropods and small animals bite humans, such as fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, mites, spiders, ants, chiggers, and some lice. Leeches and marine creatures like certain jellyfish also inflict bites.
What can bite besides bedbugs? - in detail
Various arthropods, vertebrates, and parasites are capable of delivering bites that may be confused with those of Cimex species.
Insects that bite include mosquitoes, which inject anticoagulant saliva causing itchy welts; fleas, which feed rapidly and leave clusters of small punctures; sandflies, responsible for painful, reddened lesions; and biting midges (no‑see‑ums), whose tiny mouthparts produce burning sensations.
Arachnids add several sources: ticks attach for extended periods, secreting cement and causing localized swelling; spider species such as the brown recluse and black widow inject venom that can produce necrosis or systemic effects; and mites, including chigger larvae, embed their mouthparts into skin, leading to intense itching.
Mammalian mammals contribute bites as well. Rodents, particularly mice and rats, may gnaw or nip at exposed skin, leaving puncture marks with potential for infection. Bats occasionally bite when handled or trapped, delivering saliva that can transmit pathogens.
Reptiles and amphibians are less common but capable: certain snakes, such as the venomous viper, bite with fangs that introduce venom; some lizards, like the Gila monster, can inflict painful punctures.
Other organisms include leeches, which attach to moist skin, secrete anticoagulants, and cause prolonged bleeding; and parasitic worms in their larval stages, such as Strongyloides, which penetrate the skin and produce itching and rash.
Identifying the culprit requires examination of bite pattern, location, timing, and any accompanying symptoms. Prompt medical evaluation is advisable when bites are accompanied by severe pain, swelling, fever, or signs of infection.