Are Bed Bugs Red?
WouterIf you find bedbugs on your bed, you might be wondering if they are red. Bedbugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that live on human blood. Their mouthparts are sharp and they can easily penetrate your skin. Once you have bitten a bedbug, it will leave a red, itchy bump. Bedbugs normally feed late at night.
Luckily, bedbug bites don’t usually cause any pain when they first happen, and it can take up to 14 days for your body to react. While you may not notice the bite right away, you may notice some blood on your sheets, and in some cases, you may even notice the bedbugs themselves. A large cluster of bedbug bites may bleed like chickenpox and look like large, confluent bumps. If your bites are chronic, they may even lead to anemia and fatigue. Some people even develop blisters.
In addition to the bites themselves, you may notice reddish blood stains on your sheets and clothing. This is caused by the bedbugs’ saliva containing an anticoagulant that prevents blood clotting while they feed. The bites may also continue to bleed a short time after the meal.
Bed bugs hide in many places, including around the bed. They can hide in cracks and seams, as well as in the headboard. They can also spread from room to room through contact with frequently used items.
