Is It A Bed Bug or Is It Scabies?

Need to get rid of bed bugs? Read on to learn the answers to all your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

How Big Are Bed Bugs? Can You See Them with The Naked Eye?

You probably have heard of bed bugs: small parasitic bugs that live in and around where people rest and feed off them while they sleep. You may have heard of scabies—but do you know what they are? Can you confuse one for the other? Can you have an outbreak of bed bugs and scabies at the same time? 

What Is Scabies?

Scabies isn’t actually the name of an insect, rather, it is the name of the infestation of the human itch mite, or scabies mite. This infestation is contagious and presents as severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash. Sometimes, you might even be able to see the tiny burrows of the scabies mite on the skin. If it is a person’s first infection, symptoms typically develop within 2 to 6 weeks of being infected. In the case of a second infection, symptoms can appear in as little as 24 hours.

How Are Bed Bugs and Scabies Similar?

Both bed bugs and scabies rely on human hosts to live, and their infestations are spread similarly—through direct contact with someone (in the case of scabies) or somewhere (in the case of bed bugs) who already has an infestation. 

Differences Between Bed Bugs and Scabies

The scabies mite is tiny and typically can’t be seen with the naked eye, though sometimes adult male scabies mites can be large enough to appear as tiny white dots. Adult bed bugs are the size of an apple seed or Lincoln’s head on the face of a penny. Bed bugs are brown in color and are flat before they’ve had a blood meal. 

Scabies mites burrow under the skin, leaving a rash that looks like raised welts. These are most often found in the folds of the skin. If the infestation is left alone for long enough these rashes can become scale-like. Bed bugs, on the other hand, do not live in the skin and typically bite anywhere on skin that is exposed while the host is sleeping, like the neck, arms, face and back.

What Should I Do If I Have A Strange Rash on My Skin?

If you are dealing with itchy red rashes that resemble mosquito bites, you might have a problem with bed bugs or scabies. The best way to figure out what bugs might be causing your issues is to call a pest care specialist who will inspect your home to figure out what your exact pest issue is and how best to approach eliminating it. Contact Pest Control Experts today to find the best pest care specialists for you.