Skip to content

Do bed bugs bite?

Yes, bed bugs bite and depend on biting their hosts in order to survive. Bed bugs feed at night when their victim is at rest. The victim does not feel the bite when it occurs, but they may experience red, itchy marks in the following days.

Bed bug close up on skin with hair

Here is what you need to know about bed bug bites:

  • Bed bugs will bite on areas of the skin that are exposed overnight, such as your arms and legs.
  • Bites are commonly arranged in lines or zigzag patterns, representing their feeding pattern.
  • Not everyone reacts to bed bug bites the same. Some people have no symptoms while others can get welts and more serious rashes.

When do bed bugs bite their victims?

Bed bugs are active at night when you are sleeping, but can be active during the day, too. Their bites are typically painless and won’t wake you up. The bed bug will usually feed for anywhere up to 10 minutes. Once they become engorged with blood, they will crawl away.

Bed bugs peak in activity between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. However, they can adjust their schedule and will emerge to feed whenever you are at rest.

Where do bed bug bites show up?

Bed bugs will bite any part of the body where skin is exposed overnight. This includes your arms, legs, hands, feet, and even your neck. Their bites occur in lines or zigzag patterns. But will bed bugs bite your face? Unfortunately, there are instances in which bed bugs have been able to bite faces.

While bites on the face may occur, you don’t need to worry about bed bugs crawling in your nose, mouth, or ears, which has always been a common myth about these insects. Bed bugs cannot stand the heat of a person’s body, which is why they will feed on the surface of your body and then retreat.

How dangerous are bed bug bites?

Some people that are bitten by bed bugs will not experience the red, itchy welts days later. However, their bites most often result in marks on your skin. In serious cases, rashes or welts can form. While bed bugs do not transmit any diseases, it’s important to treat bed bug bites in order to have them heal properly.

Do bed bugs bite in Knoxville TN?

Serving East Tennessee since 1971

Knoxville | Lenoir City | Sevierville | Loudon | Chattanooga | Kingsport | Jefferson City | Morristown | Newport | Maryville | Pigeon Forge | Gatlinburg | Oak Ridge | Cleveland | Dayton | Crossville | Athens

Knox County | Blount County | Loudon County | Roane County | Anderson County | Jefferson County | Bradley County | Monroe County | Hamilton County | Campbell County