While not necessarily dangerous, these animals can wreak havoc on our health and mental well-being. One species are horrific bloodsuckers. The other maintains a diet of dead skin. Nocturnal by nature, they bite and suck on their diet from humans and animals, especially as we rest. The insects don’t spread diseases but can cause rashes that increase the chance of secondary skin infections. Symptoms of the bites include red areas and slight swelling. The thing is, how a victim reacts to the bites can differ. Some do not react at all. Signs of a bed bug or dust mite infestation can be egg cases, fecal stains, and shed skin in the cracks and crevices in or around the bed. The general public often mixes up these creatures, but the duo has quite a few differences. Read on to learn more about the dust mite and the bed bug in-depth, including facts about identification, treatment, prevention, and detecting signs of their presence.
Comparing Bed Bugs vs Dust Mites
One of the most noticeable differences between the dust mite and the bed bug is size.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs come in at less than 0.28 inches. Some can be as small as 0.19 inches. That makes these pests about the size of a pinky fingernail or an apple seed in appearance. Young bed bugs (nymphs) are originally translucent yellow but turn red once they begin feeding on blood. They grow to be a brownish color with oval, flat frames. But, again, they turn a deep red color and elongate after a good feed.
Dust Mites
The dust mite is only one-tenth the size of the bed bug. Dust mites are not visible to the human eye. Their appearance is only visible under a microscope. These nasties only grow between .004 and 0.157 inches. Dust mites are a translucent white color and are globular in shape.
The Biggest Difference of Them All!
Believe it or not, the dust mite is not an insect. They have eight legs and no antennae. The features make them a member of the arachnid class, a cousin of the spider. Bed bugs belong to the insect class. So, as is normal in this group, they have six legs and antennae. For a closer look at the differences between the pests, check out the following table.
Dust Mite Bites vs Bed Bugs Bites
When it comes to sleeping in a hotel, someone else’s home, or on any older mattress, there’s a fear that can arise among many folks. Could I be bitten by bed bugs or dust mites? When comparing dust mite bites vs bed bugs, there’s actually a big difference. Dust mites are incapable of biting humans, as in, inflicting a bite that breaks the skin. Dust mites can crawl on a human’s skin, feed on dead skin cells, irritate the skin, and even bring about an allergic reaction in an individual which may result in a rash. However, with bed bugs it’s quite the contrary. A bed bug can physically bite a person, leaving a mark that can be compared to a mosquito or flea bite. Bed bugs feed on blood, so it’s possible the bites may leave scabs as well. The bite marks may be random or run in a line across the skin. These marks may not affect a person much, but in some cases can cause allergic reactions leading to inflamed bites, itching, swelling, and more. What’s unnerving as well is that bed bugs inject a victim with an anesthetic and an anticoagulant, preventing said victim from feeling the bite. In essence, you could be bitten all night without realizing a thing is wrong. Below are some more detailed facts comparing dust mite bites vs bed bugs, as well as other information.
6 Key Differences Between Bed Bugs and Dust Mites
Here are six facts about behavior and treatment that separate these pests.
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Dust mites are too small in appearance for the human eye. Signs of dust mites will suffer symptoms like eczema, nasal issues, watery eyes, or bug bites. Signs of bed bugs include unexplained streaks of blood. You may be smashing bugs in your sleep. What are the similarities between dust mites and bed bugs? Despite what seems like similarities, they are different species. Dust mites belong to the arachnid class. Bed bugs are insects. Are dust mites worse than bed bugs? Some argue mites are less annoying than bed bugs. You can stop a dust mite infestation simply by keeping surfaces (sheets and blankets) clean. They eat dead skin. Bed bugs are harder to get rid of and diet on blood. Do bed bugs come from dust mites? No, they are completely separate species. Can you feel dust mites crawling? No, they do not create that creepy-crawly sensation most insects do. What kills dust mites and bed bugs? There’s easy prevention for dust mite infestation. Wash your beddings in temps of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. To get rid of bed bugs, steam slowly along the tufts, folds, edges, and corners of mattresses, sofa seams, bed frames, and other places where the nuisances hide.
