Bed bugs and ants are very notorious pests. They are both known for their painful bites. Since ants and bed bug bites look alike, there are many other factors that you need to be aware of.
Bed Bug Bites vs Ant Bites: what is the difference between them?
Both bed bugs and ants bite to suck blood from the skin of their hosts. They both bite on exposed skin, mostly on the legs. However, ant bites cause more pain than bed bug bites. Plus it felt like your skin was burning which could last for a day or two. Bed bug bites may feel itchy but after a moment it goes away with time.
Since bed bugs and ant bites look almost alike, it is important to know which is most harmful. So that you can take appropriate action at the right time.
Bed Bug Bites vs Ant Bites {In Tabular Form}
BED BUGS | ANTS | |
PAIN | Less painful but more irritating. | Intense level of pain. |
SYMPTOMS | Itchiness, redness, and a very small bump on the affected area. | Itchiness, swelling, too many bumps and redness like you have skin allergy |
DURATION | A minute to an hour. | An hour to one or two days. |
POSITION | Mostly on the neck, forearms, and legs. | Mostly on feet and hands |
TEETH | No teeth, Stylets inside their mouths help them to suck blood from the skin. | Do have teeth that can bite the sturdiest of leaves without suffering any damage |
PATTERN | Line or in clusters | No patter as they bite to save their nest or to feed on people. Multiple strings are done by nats. |
NEED TO SEE DOCTOR | No need to see a doctor, as they do not carry any diseases. But if you have skin allergies then you must consult your doctor. | Yes as it is very painful and in some cases the affected is gets swelling which is dangerous to children and pets. |
Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like Ant Bites?

In general, ant and bed bug bites look alike. Both of these make red spots on the skin. And also, If you scratch the affected area it will turn out to be an ugly scar. But a bed bug bite doesn’t form a lump unless you scratch it heavily.
On the other hand, if you have been bitten by an ant, then you will see that the affected area is turning red and swelling starts coming in it. According to a millerthekiller study, they poke your skin between your jaws and then release a small stream of their acidic venom under your skin.
Difference Between Bed Bug Bites And Ant Bites?
There are many things that can help you identify the bites.
- The bed bug releases a small amount of anesthetic from its jaw before feeding. Whereas ants release a toxic substance called piperidine which gives a person intense pain and can last for a few hours or in some cases for two or three days.
- In addition, bed bugs bite in a row or cluster pattern on exposed areas of your body. At the same time, ants bite many times at the same place.
- Both pests are not harmful in many cases. But if you have skin allergies then these pests can give you trouble. Because the bites of bed bugs can cause cellulitis which is a skin disease of the skin but this is very rare. Common symptoms of bed bug bites are very dull redness and itching.
- However, fire ant bites can cause severe pain, and sometimes feel like your skin has been burned. If you are allergic to fire ants, it can give you severe pain. If your leg is bitten by an ant, you will notice swelling in the area around the leg.
Bed Bug Bites vs Ant Bites: Where Do They Bite
Both ants and bed bugs cannot pierce the fiber, so they always bite the exposed skin. Both of them eat people’s blood as their nourishment.
The most common places where you can find bite-affected areas are on the legs (most common), forearms, and back (since they can get inside your clothing to bite you).
Bed bugs mostly bite at night as they are nocturnal. They seek out their host with the help of carbon dioxide which is released during the respiration of the host.
In addition, they are attracted to the smell of the host, which is why bed bugs are attracted to wardrobes and clothing. Bed bugs only bite when they are hungry they are not attracted if you get close to them or their nest.
If you have small fire ants in your home, the first thing you’ll notice is that they travel in a line. They eat leftover food, dead insects, and human blood. They bite a host when they either hunt them or defend their nest.
Bed Bug Bites vs Ant Bites: Treatment
The bites of ants and bed bugs do not cause any harm to humans. But sometimes people get bothered by itching and redness. But luckily with some home remedies, you can easily treat these bites.
- Ice Pack:- Apply some ice to the area where you got a bite. This will give you some relief as the sting area is burning and feeling itchy.
- Olive Oil:- Believe it or not but olive oil is one of the best and easiest home remedies that you can find in your kitchen. Olive oil has oleocanthal content, a chemical that inhibits the action of certain inflammatory enzymes. Simply rub a bit of olive oil onto an ant bite to see the results.
- Aloe Vera Gel:- Applying aloe vera gel is the most old-school yet affected way to repeal ants and bed bugs bite.
- Tea Tree Oil:- The oil act as anesthesia which is good for insects bite because it reduces the swelling of the affected area.
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Hey, I am Chetan Kumar and I have a deep knowledge of bed bugs, flies, rats, roaches, and other notorious pests. So I thought let me help all of you so I created this amazing website called pestpedia.org. If you like this website, let me know with your comments. Till then enjoy…
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