It’s hard to sleep with peace of mind when a series of itchy bite marks on your skin are starting to appear and keeping you up at night. If you haven’t the slightest idea of where these tiny red welts came from, we may have a few culprits in mind. It’s about time you look closely around the premises of your home – you’re probably experiencing a pest infestation, and bug bites are the name of the game.
Thanks to Singapore’s hot and humid climate, our households are the perfect environment for various pests to thrive. The warm weather pushes these pesky insects to seek shelter in our homes where they can avoid the extreme heat, causing us to fall prey to their relentless bites.
Most insect bites look similar to one another, which is why it can be tough to accurately pinpoint the type of insect that caused those marks. Below is a list of common pests that terrorise your home and the tell-tale symptoms of their bites.
1. Tick bites
Tick bites are the easiest to identify – presenting themselves in the form of a bright red bump about the size of a 10-cent coin and occurring on warmer parts of your body such as the armpits, behind the knees or groin area. Unlike other insects, you can often catch the tick attached to your skin. This is because they tend to linger for a few days while feeding on your blood.
If you own a dog, ticks often latch on your furry friend before entering the house. Though they generally prefer to nest in your pup’s fur, ticks can also take a nip at humans. The ticks in Singapore may not carry life-threatening diseases, but their bites can cause certain reactions in your body – such as fever, headache, and chills – once you are bitten.
2. Bed bug bites
Bed bugs are one of the worst pest infestations you can have in your household. They spread like wildfire and are a chore to get rid of. Bed bug bites appear in a cluster of small, itchy red bumps on exposed skin, such as your arms, hands, and legs. The bites also tend to form a line along the trajectory where your body meets the mattress.
Upon close examination of your room, you will find them hiding in the corner of your mattresses and curtains. Additionally, they’re nocturnal creatures and target you while you’re asleep. The bites are usually painless, and you don’t notice them until you develop an allergic reaction to the bed bug’s saliva. This results in inflamed red welts that are extremely itchy.
3. Bee stings
Bees may not bite, but they do have a nasty sting. Should a stray bee wander into your home, do not attempt to swat it away. By doing so, it will agitate them and cause them to sting you. The bitten site will be hot to the touch upon being stung, and a red welt with a white middle can start to form. In the case of a honeybee sting, the barbed stinger will remain attached to your skin – and will continue to pump venom into your blood until you remove it.
All bee stings also lead to swelling, itching, and pain in the affected area. They can even cause serious allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis. Some symptoms include severe swelling beyond the bitten site, tightness in the chest, and difficulty in breathing. In this case, seek a medical professional immediately.
4. Flea bites
Fleas are some of the most exasperating pests to get rid of. These unnoticeable bugs can swiftly leap long distances and travel from animal to human, dropping their eggs in the process and resulting in a houseful of fleas. Yes, you can even carry fleas just from petting the cat under your void deck!
Flea bites manifest themselves in clusters of tiny red dots around your ankles, armpits, and waist. These bites have reddish halos and white centres – almost akin to a mosquito bite. Though the bites are painless, the skin around them can get increasingly irritated over time and cause the surrounding area to be sore. In some cases, bleeding may even occur and lead to infection.
Conclusion
While these pesky bugs do not transmit life-threatening diseases, the presence of such insects is still a cause of concern and can result in deadly allergic reactions. To ward off potential pest infestations, it is important you adopt a consistent housekeeping regime, be mindful of the symptoms and know what to do in case of an infestation.
If you suspect that your household is potentially infested with pests, do not hesitate to seek the assistance of pest control companies like PestClinic! We have a reliable team of experts that are experienced and well-equipped to deal with a host of pest control issues like bed bug control, termite control and more – give us a call and let us help you safeguard your home and health from these irritating pests today!