Dont know what it is, but itches, and I am the only one affected

by Julie Hetrick
(Oksaloosa, Iowa, USA)

It starts out as bites in the fore arms, which in turn itches, to the point that I am afraid that I will draw blood. Then it moves to the knee area, and the lower legs, not all at the same time.

The itching starts every night, for the last few nights. I thought maybe the itch was caused by spider bites. The weather out side is warming up but the bites are only at night and not just the lower ankle area.

I looked all over the bed and found no bed bugs, and have had the mattress for many years, and no problem, with bed bugs. wWen moving
y bed today, I found a small bug that can seen with the naked eye. It was dead, but still one little bug was causing me to go crazy. So I am hoping someone can assist me in figuring out what this little bug is, or the cause of the bites.

Editor Suggestion For Itching and Insects

Hi Julie,

Sorry to hear about your nightly itch problem.

It's difficult to determine the exact cause of the bites without a proper home inspection or identification of the bug you found. However, based on your description, it could potentially be bed bugs, fleas, or another type of biting insect.

Bed bugs are known to bite in a pattern similar to what you described, with bites typically appearing on the forearms and lower legs. Flea bites also tend to appear in clusters on the legs and ankles. However, there are many other types of biting insects that could be the culprit as well.

If you found a small bug while moving your bed, it's possible that it could be a bed bug. Bed bugs are small and can be difficult to see, so it's important to have a professional inspection to confirm the presence of bed bugs and determine the best course of action for treatment.

It's also possible that the "bites" are not bites at all and could be caused by an allergic reaction to something else, such as detergent or fabric softener. If you haven't changed your laundry routine recently, then it's less likely to be the cause, but it's still worth considering.

In any case, if you are experiencing bites that are causing significant discomfort, it's best to seek medical attention and have a professional pest control inspection to determine the root cause and take necessary steps to eliminate the problem.

Best of luck and let us know when you solve the itch riddle,

Jeff
Editor
Bed Bugs Handbook