Who, besides bedbugs, can bite in the bed? - briefly
Fleas, some mite species, spiders, ants, and mosquitoes are capable of biting in the bed. They may arrive on pets, clothing, or through open windows.
Who, besides bedbugs, can bite in the bed? - in detail
Various arthropods and small animals can deliver bites while a person is in bed, even when bedbugs are absent. The most common culprits include:
- Mosquitoes: attracted to body heat and carbon dioxide, they can enter through open windows or gaps in screens. Bites appear as raised, red papules with a central puncture point, often clustered on exposed skin.
- Fleas: especially cat‑ or dog‑fleas, which may hop onto bedding from infested pets. Flea bites are small, red spots surrounded by a halo of inflammation, frequently found on the lower legs and ankles.
- Ticks: soft ticks (Ornithodoros spp.) can hide in mattress seams or cracks in the bedroom frame. Their bites are painless at first, later developing into a red, sometimes ulcerated area.
- Mites other than bedbugs: bird mites, straw itch mites, and tropical sand mites may migrate to human sleeping areas when their primary hosts are absent. Bites are typically intense, pruritic wheals that appear in lines or clusters.
- Spiders: certain indoor species, such as the common house spider, may bite if disturbed. Bites are usually localized pain with mild swelling; severe reactions are rare.
- Ants: fire ants and carpenter ants can infiltrate bedding, delivering painful stings that cause immediate burning sensations and welts.
- Cockroaches: nocturnal roaches can bite exposed skin, leaving small, itchy punctures that may become infected.
- Centipedes and millipedes: these arthropods can crawl onto mattresses and bite with forcipules, producing sharp, localized pain and swelling.
Less frequent sources include:
- Leaches: in humid environments, leaches may attach to bedding near water sources, causing a sucking wound that bleeds.
- Small rodents: mice and rats may bite if they encounter a sleeping person, leaving puncture marks with possible infection.
Identification of the biting agent relies on bite morphology, distribution pattern, and environmental clues such as the presence of pet fur, insect droppings, or visible arthropods. Preventive measures consist of sealing entry points, maintaining low humidity, regular laundering of bedding at high temperatures, and treating pets for ectoparasites. When bites persist despite eliminating bedbugs, a systematic inspection for the above organisms is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective control.