Who can bite in bed besides bed bugs and mosquitoes? - briefly
Fleas, dust mites, spider mites, sandflies, and occasionally small mammals such as mice or rats can also bite while you are in bed.
Who can bite in bed besides bed bugs and mosquitoes? - in detail
Various arthropods and small vertebrates can cause painful bites while you are lying in bed, aside from the commonly mentioned bed‑bug and mosquito.
Fleas – typically carried by cats, dogs or rodents – jump onto bedding and bite exposed skin, leaving clusters of tiny, red punctures that itch intensely.
Lice – body lice inhabit clothing and can transfer to sheets, especially if laundry is infrequent; their bites appear as linear or grouped spots with central redness.
Mites – several species bite humans in a sleeping environment:
- Dust‑mite relatives (e.g., Dermatophagoides spp.) generally cause allergic reactions rather than bites, but chigger larvae may attach to bedding and feed on skin.
- Scabies mites burrow under the skin, producing a rash that often worsens at night.
- Bird or bat bugs resemble bed‑bugs but feed on avian or chiropteran hosts; they may bite humans when their primary hosts are absent.
Spiders – small, nocturnal species such as the common house spider can occasionally bite if trapped in sheets; bites are usually mild but may cause localized swelling.
Flies – sandflies, black flies, and certain biting midges (Culicoides spp.) are attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat, entering bedrooms through open windows and delivering painless, itchy bites.
Ticks – soft ticks (e.g., Ornithodoros spp.) can hide in cracks of the bed frame or mattress and feed quickly during sleep, leaving a small, reddened spot that may develop a rash.
Rodents – mice and rats may gnaw bedding material and, if handling the animal, can be bitten; their teeth inflict puncture wounds that bleed.
To reduce the risk of these nocturnal bites, maintain a clean sleeping area, wash bedding at high temperatures weekly, seal cracks in the mattress and bed frame, keep pets treated for parasites, and use window screens to block flying insects. If a bite occurs, clean the area with mild soap, apply a cold compress, and monitor for signs of infection or allergic reaction. Persistent or worsening symptoms warrant medical evaluation.