5 House Bugs that Bite at Night - And How to Stop Them

As much as you may not want to think about it, bugs and all number of tiny living organisms live around us, day in and day out.

Even if your home is spotless, there are a few key areas which create the ideal environment for tiny critters to set up shop. This includes damp corners, carpets, mattresses, and more.

While most bug bites aren’t all-too-harmful, they can cause discomfort, itching, and inflammation. In some cases, they may even cause an allergic reaction.

If you’re waking up with unusual bite marks each morning, here are 5 common bugs that bite at night and how to get rid of them.

5 Common Bugs That Bite at Night

While the thought of being ”lived on” is completely repulsive, parasitosis is the condition used to describe being lived on or bitten by another organism.

But it’s not always easy to determine exactly what bit you, especially if you were asleep at the time! If you suspect an infestation of some kind in your home, commercial pest control is your best bet at solving the issue.

But as the saying goes: ‘’knowledge is power’’ so here’s what to look for before calling in the experts…

1. Scabies Mites

A close relative to the dust mite, the scabies mite is a microscopic critter that lives and feeds on human skin. They are usually transmitted via physical contact with pets or other humans.

Due to their tiny size, they can live on the skin undetected and transfer from your mattress onto the skin of your partner or children. Look for small, itchy red marks usually in close proximity to each other.

Unfortunately, they are not treatable with pesticides applied to the home or your bed, so this is where expert help may be needed.

2. Fleas

If you have pets, fleas are a given. Most fleas range in size from 2-6mm in length and feed on blood to survive. Fleas in the U.S. require a non-human host (such as a pet) on which to breed.

If you allow your pets inside your home and onto your bed, the fleas could migrate onto furniture and into your mattress, duvet covers etc. Look for small red, slightly raised bites on the lower legs.

Fleas can be eliminated by keeping pets clean and regularly dipped for fleas and ticks.

3. Chiggers

Chiggers are also microscopic mites that tend to live outdoors in grass, soil and weedy areas. However, they can be easily transferred to the skin if you enjoy camping, gardening or while you play with children outside.

The larval form of the chigger lives as a parasite on the skin and can easily be brought indoors and transferred to your bed and other living areas.

You’ll generally experience very itchy, small red bites concentrated around areas of tight clothing i.e. socks, waistbands etc.

Make sure to remove and wash all clothing thoroughly after spending time outdoors to avoid bringing this parasite indoors

4. Bed Bugs

These small critters are fairly uncommon in many single-family households, yet they are still a reality.

These oval-shaped insects tend to hide out during the day and specifically feed at night. They typically feed on warm-blooded animals. They are easily transferred from one bed to another where an infestation can erupt over time.

Bed bug bites are painless but are accompanied by itching and inflammation around the bite marks. The bites may also cause red blotches on the skin.

Avoid a bed bug infestation by regularly washing your sheets, bed covers, and flipping and vacuuming your mattresses.

5. Conenose Bugs

Possibly the largest of all insects to bite at night, these “kissing bugs” grow 10-30mm in size and tend to emerge at night. They feed off vertebrate blood and can make their way into homes regularly.

Look for bites on the hands, arms, feet and other exposed areas during sleep. Avoid these bites by using an insect screen over windows and doors if you sleep with windows open at night.