Who else bites besides bed bugs? - briefly
Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, sand flies, biting midges, horseflies, and body lice are the primary insects and arthropods that bite humans besides bed bugs. Certain spiders and mite species also inflict bites, though they occur less often.
Who else bites besides bed bugs? - in detail
Biting organisms other than bed bugs include insects, arachnids, and some mammals. Each group possesses distinct feeding habits, geographic distribution, and health implications.
Mosquitoes are the most common hematophagous insects. Females require blood for egg development. Species such as Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus transmit viruses (dengue, Zika, malaria, West Nile) and cause localized swelling, itching, and sometimes allergic reactions.
Fleas, particularly the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and human flea (Pulex irritans), feed on mammals and birds. Their bites produce clusters of pruritic papules, often on the ankles or lower legs. Fleas can vector Yersinia pestis, Bartonella spp., and Rickettsia typhi.
Ticks belong to the order Ixodida and attach for days while ingesting blood. Species such as the black‑legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) transmit Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease), Ehrlichia, and alpha‑gal syndrome, a delayed meat allergy. Bite sites may exhibit a bull’s‑eye rash or regional lymphadenopathy.
Mites include the scabies mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) and chigger larvae (Trombiculidae). Scabies burrows into the epidermis, causing intense nocturnal itching and linear lesions. Chiggers attach to skin, inject digestive enzymes, and produce erythematous papules that persist for several days.
Sandflies (Phlebotomus spp.) transmit Leishmania parasites. Bites appear as small, painless punctures that develop into ulcerative lesions in cutaneous leishmaniasis or visceral disease in endemic regions.
Black flies (Simuliidae) bite exposed skin, especially near flowing water. Their saliva can trigger papular or nodular reactions and transmit Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of river blindness.
Horseflies and deerflies (family Tabanidae) deliver painful bites while seeking blood meals. Their saliva contains anticoagulants, leading to prolonged bleeding and occasional allergic responses. They can mechanically transmit blood‑borne pathogens among livestock.
Nocturnal biting moths, such as the tropical Ceratophora species, cause superficial skin irritations after contact with contaminated clothing or bedding.
Each of these organisms produces a characteristic bite pattern, varies in seasonal activity, and may serve as vectors for specific pathogens. Identification of bite morphology, exposure history, and geographic location assists in differential diagnosis and appropriate treatment.