Difference Between Mosquito and Bed Bug Bites

Mosquito vs Bed Bug Bites

Mosquitoes and bed bugs are common insects that are not only annoying but can also bite and cause infections and diseases.

Mosquitoes thrive in standing water like a puddle, marsh, or any stagnant water container. Male mosquitoes feed on nectar and plant juices but female mosquitoes need the nutrients they get from blood before they can produce eggs although they also feed on nectar like the male mosquitoes.

Bed bugs are usually found in beds or other areas where people sleep. They are not strictly nocturnal but are very active at night when they feed on their hosts. They feed exclusively on all warm-bloodied animals, including humans.

Both insects are health risks and ways have been tried and proven ineffective in totally eradicating them. Bed bugs were successfully eradicated in developed countries in the 1940s but due to foreign travel and the use of second hand furnishings, it came back after a few years.

While getting mosquitoes out of the ecosystem will not have any negative effects on it, efforts at eradicating them has been unsuccessful. They continue to feed on humans and infect people with diseases.

They locate their victims through the carbon dioxide and organic substances that they can detect even from a distance. They inject saliva into their hosts to coagulate the blood first before they suck it into their systems.

They usually rest in a cool place during the day and wait for dusk to feed until dawn. Their bites would appear in areas not covered with clothing and itch and swell immediately. The itching and swelling will disappear after a few days.

Bed bug bites on the other hand can be found on the stomach or the back because they usually bite when you are lying down. The bites will take time to show until you will feel the itching and notice the swelling which worsens every day.

Bed bug bites are often large and may look like welts or hives but some are as small as mosquito bites. Some may have red dots in the center and feel very itchy. The swelling is also worse in bed bug bites than in mosquito bites.

Bed bug bites do not usually require treatment but may lead to secondary infections that will need an antiseptic lotion or antibiotic cream or ointment with corticosteroids. If there is incidence of allergic reactions, oral antihistamines can be taken.

Mosquito bites are often treated with calamine lotion and vinegar. For severe cases, antihistamines and corticosteroids may be needed.

Summary

1. Mosquito bites are small, while bed bug bites are larger.
2. Mosquito bites itch and swell immediately, while bed bug bites itch and swell after a few hours.
3. Mosquito bites are usually found on exposed skin, on parts which are not covered with clothes, while bed bug bites are found on the stomach or back.
4. Both are active during the night, but while all bed bugs are blood suckers, only female mosquitoes feed on blood.
5. Bed bug bites itch and swell more than mosquito bites, but both are health risks.

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