Millions Billions of people are freaked out by bugs. The thought that they might be crawling all over your body while you sleep is even more frightening. Add biting to this nightmare and it’s enough to make most of us squirm.
You’ve probably heard scary statistics about how many bugs people eat in their sleep (which is actually close to zero) and horror stories of roaches burrowing into ears. Rest assured this usually isn’t the case, especially if you get regular pest control treatments; the chance of being bitten by a bug while sleeping is even rarer.
That being said, you should keep an eye out for the following nocturnal insects if you suspect you’re being bitten while you sleep:
This bug is the main nighttime biting culprit. One of the most identifiable bed bug behaviors is their habit of hiding in the bed. But you’re not safe if you fall asleep on the couch because bed bugs like to hide in the furniture too.
Tiny bed bugs the size of an apple seed feed off the blood of a host (i.e. you or your pets). Typically, feeding only lasts 3-12 minutes, but there could be a number of bugs biting over the course of the night. Bed bugs are most active an hour or two before sunrise when you’re still fast asleep. Once the sun comes up they hide away under the mattress and in nearby crevices.
Bed bugs can get so bad that their biting wakes people up and affects their ability to sleep. You’ll probably also notice their bites and even dark stains on the sheets from where they’ve been feeding or excreting.
Bugs that are active and bite at night can be annoying and sometimes dangerous. Getting bitten while you sleep can be startling and irritating. Some nighttime biting bugs like mosquitoes and bed bugs can even spread diseases. Knowing what bugs are out biting at night, why they do it, and how to prevent bites can help you sleep tighter and wake up itch-free.
Why Bugs Bite at Night
Many species of bugs have evolved to be nocturnal as a survival mechanism. Being active at night provides these bugs some key advantages:
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Avoiding Predators – Many of the daytime predators of bugs like birds are sleeping at night giving nocturnal biters a safer time to move around and feed.
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Finding Food – Humans and other animals are docile and stationary at night while sleeping, making them easy targets for biting bugs like mosquitoes and bed bugs.
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Heat – Nighttime temperatures are often cooler allowing bugs to be active without overheating their small bodies.
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Humidity – Higher nighttime humidity provides a more favorable environment for many biting insects.
Common Biting Bugs Active at Night
Here are some of the most frequent offenders when it comes to bugs that use the cover of darkness to stealthily bite and feed on humans:
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are one of the most notorious night biters. They hide near sleeping areas like beds and sofas during the day, then come out at night to feed on human blood. Their bites often occur in clusters or linear patterns on exposed skin and can cause itchy welts.
Mosquitoes
Many mosquito species preferentially feed at dusk or night. The females use their needle-like mouthparts to pierce skin and draw blood. Mosquito bites result in puffy, irritated bumps and can transmit diseases like malaria and Zika.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny wingless insects that live on mammals and birds. They are adept at jumping and biting at night when hosts are less active. Flea bites often appear around the feet, ankles, and legs as small itchy spots.
Mites
Microscopic mites like chiggers attach to passing hosts and feed at night. The bite is painless but causes severe itching afterward. Mite bites look like small red bumps on the skin surface.
Kissing Bugs
These blood-feeding bugs typically bite at night and can transmit Chagas disease. Their bites are often painless but may cause allergic reactions or infection.
Lice
Head, body, and pubic lice feed on human blood and are most active at night. They cling to hair and clothing, moving to the scalp and skin to bite. Lice bites are very itchy and can develop into sores.
Spiders
Some spiders like the brown recluse forage for prey at night and may bite if accidentally disturbed. Most spider bites cause minor swelling, itching, and pain. However, bites from species like the black widow can have more toxic effects.
Ticks
Ticks are most active at night when seeking hosts like humans or pets to bite and feed on blood. Their bites often go unnoticed until a visible rash develops. Tick bites can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other illnesses.
Preventing Bites from Nighttime Bugs
Taking some simple precautions can help deter those annoying and potentially dangerous pests that regard you as an all-night buffet while you sleep:
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Use bed bug mattress covers and treat infested areas to control these night biters.
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Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil when outside at night.
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Wear long sleeves and pants in wooded or grassy areas where ticks are active at night.
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Eliminate standing water sources near your home to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.
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Treat pets regularly with flea and tick control products to keep them off your bed.
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Seal cracks, screens, doors, and windows to deny entry to night biting invaders.
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Remove clutter and thoroughly vacuum areas where bed bugs could hide.
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Wash bed linens frequently in hot water to kill bed bugs and their eggs.
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Have a professional pest control expert treat your home if you have a significant night biter infestation.
Getting bitten by bugs at night can really make it hard to sleep tight. But taking some defensive measures can help you rest easy without becoming an unwilling nighttime blood donor. Taking away their food source and habitat access will encourage these nuisance biters to dine elsewhere and leave you alone. You can reclaim peaceful slumber by using an integrated pest management approach to exclude and repel night prowling bugs.
Conenose (Kissing Bugs)
A while back, we reported on the increase of kissing bugs in Alabama. These relatively large insects are known to hide in mattresses and bedding. At night they come out to feed on unsuspecting sleepers.
They’re known as kissing bugs because they will often bite people and pets near the mouth. Usually the bite is harmless, but kissing bugs have been known to carry and transmit Chagas disease.
Many spiders are nocturnal. The good news is a bite from a Black Widow almost never happens in bed because they much prefer to hide outside rather than in your home, and Brown Recluses are, well, reclusive and will actively try to avoid you. You’re more likely to get bitten by a less (or hopefully non-) venomous spider.
Fortunately, spiders won’t bite unless they feel threatened, which is why nighttime bites are very rare. Spiders may crawl across you every now and then, but they usually don’t want to wake the sleeping giant (a.k.a. you).
Contrary to popular belief, chiggers are actually arachnids that are in a larvae stage. During this period they survive by feeding off of people. The miniscule insects attach to a person’s skin and hold tight for a few days before falling off.
You’re most likely to be bitten by chiggers when you’re camping or sleeping outdoors during the spring, summer and fall. If you are bitten by chiggers, you’ll know it. Chigger bites don’t cause pain, but they can cause skin lesions that are extremely itchy. The itchiness will be most apparent about a day or two after being bitten.
Getting scabies sounds like something from the pioneer days of yore, but it’s still a problem to this day. Scabies are mites that get into the skin and can be spread from one person to another by direct contact or sharing items like linens. That means sleeping in bed with or after an infected person makes you a prime nighttime target.
Unfortunately, you won’t know scabies have latched onto your skin for several weeks. This is when the outward signs begin to show. The first signs of scabies are skin sores and extreme itchiness.
There are also a number of less common mites that are known to bite at night. Hair follicle mites aren’t rare, but they’re so microscopic you’ll probably never know they’re living in your follicles. Rodent mites can be carried into the home by pests and eventually find their way to your bed. Bites from these mites are often mistaken for bed bug bites, but there’s a key difference to look out for. Rodent mite bites will leave behind blood-colored stains rather than dark, nearly black spots.
Bug Bite Showdown: Identifying Flea vs. Bedbug Bites
FAQ
Why am I waking up with itchy bites?
If you’re waking up to small bug bites, examine them closely, and be sure to make a check for bed bugs. The longer you allow bed bugs to feed on you while you sleep, the harder it will be to eradicate these bugs from your home.
What are the bugs biting me that I can’t see?
No-see-ums, also known as biting midges, sand flies, or punkies, are tiny blood-sucking insects that thrive in warm, humid climates like Florida, the Gulf Coast, and marshlands. Their small size (1-3mm) allows them to pass through window screens, making them difficult to detect until after they bite.
What does a bed mite rash look like?
Some people show hardly any signs they’ve been bitten, but 70% develop raised bumps (welts) that are red in lighter skin tones and purple in darker skin tones. You may see a darker spot in the center where the bed bug pierced your skin. Welts often appear in clusters of three to five and follow in a zigzag pattern.
Why am I getting random bug bites in bed?
Mosquitoes: If your windows or doors are not well sealed, mosquitoes may enter your home at night and bite you while you sleep. Mites: Dust mites or other types of mites can cause skin irritation, although they usually don’t bite. If you have allergies, this could be a factor.
What bugs bite at night?
But scientifically speaking, these two are generic names for hundreds of bug species. A few examples of midges include no-see-ums, sand flies, and moose flies. So when we think of bugs that bite at night besides bedbugs, we’re focused on biting midge species in particular.
Can bed bug bites cause hives and welts?
Yes, bed bug bites cause hives and welts. Hives are the red bumpy appearance caused due to insects or bed bugs bite. Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on blood from humans. Their bite leads to red bumps in clusters, which are itchy, painful, fluid-filled, and burning with dark spots in the center like hives or welts. Antihistamine drugs must be consumed to reduce allergic reactions. The application of steroid cream is also very beneficial.
Why do bugs bite at night?
Keep reading to learn more! There are a few reasons why bugs tend to be more active – and more likely to bite us – at night, including the fact that they are attracted to the CO2 we breathe. Some common pests that bite at night include mosquitoes, bed bugs, scabies mites, and chiggers.
Do nocturnal bugs bite at night?
From spiders that bite at night to kitchen bugs that surreptitiously gather crumbs, the nocturnal insect list includes a variety of species. Additionally, issues like spider bites in bed at night often worry residents, prompting them to seek effective prevention methods.
What bugs are active at night?
The following bugs are known to be active at night. A brown widow spider is one of them, and its bite can look similar to other spider bites, with local skin reactions usually limited to redness and swelling.
What kind of bugs bite you?
With warmer weather comes an increase in bugs that bite people and animals to partake in blood meals. We’re talking about pests like mosquitoes, bed bugs, fleas, and ticks. Below, we’ll provide you with some ways to identify what kind of pest is biting you. Mosquito Bites The U.S. and its territories are home to over 200 types of mosquitoes.