The chances of you feeling a bed bug crawling on your skin will depend on a couple of factors. These factors are whether you are awake or asleep, the sensitivity of your skin, and the part of your body the bug is crawling on.
Bed bugs are so small and light that it is almost impossible for you to notice them crawling on you when you are asleep. If you are awake, the sensation may be similar to an ant crawling on your skin.
Some people also have more sensitive skin compared to others. Just like older people being less susceptible to touch than younger people.
Bed bugs crawling on areas like the palm of your hand or the soles of your feet are generally more noticeable, as well as areas with hair that the bugs will have to go through.
If you are curious to learn more about the sensation of bed bugs crawling on your skin, then keep on reading.
Are bed bugs visible with the naked eye?
Bed bugs are roughly around the size of an apple seed, so they can definitely be seen with the naked eye. You might think that you can just see these bugs on your bed when you wake up in the morning, but they are a lot harder to spot than that. Especially if the infestation is only in its early stages.
Bed bugs are more active at night and prefer to hide out from the light during the day. They also like to feed on people and animals that are asleep.
In later stages of the infestation, it is easier to spot all life stages of the bed bug, such as adult bed bugs, nymphs, and eggs.
Adult bed bugs are the easiest to spot because they are darker in color and stand out against white sheets. Nymphs are a little trickier to spot because they are lighter in color and are pale and translucent. Eggs are the hardest to find because they are white or clear in color and are literally as small as a grain of sand. They are often laid in the most secluded parts of your furniture and bed.
Can you feel bed bugs crawling on your skin?
It is extremely unlikely that you feel a bed bug crawling on your skin because bed bugs are very small and light. Bed bugs prefer leaving their safe spaces to feed during the night when it is dark and when people are asleep.
If you have sensitive skin, you may be able to tell when a bed bug is crawling on you, so that factor is completely subjective and dependent on each person.
A crawling bed bug can also be more noticeable when they walk on your palms or the soles of your feet, as well as the hairier parts of your body.
Do bed bugs crawl on you during the day?
It is true that bed bugs are more active at night and that most people are bitten while they are sleeping, but this is not because bed bugs are afraid of the sunlight. Bed bugs have evolved to know that their prey such as people and animals are asleep at night and they can then feed much easier.
This is not to say that bed bugs will not feed during the day, because if a bed bug if hungry they will not hesitate to feed no matter the time of day.
Bed bugs can also adapt depending on where you spend the most time in your house. For example, if you work from home, bed bugs will start to bite you while you are sitting at your desk because you spend most of the day there. If you are a couch potato and spend hours laying on the sofa, a bed bug will know to wait for you to lay down and feed on you.
What are the signs of a bed bug infestation?
1. Bite marks and itchy welts
People often do not consider bed bugs until they see flat, red welts in zigzag lines or clusters on their bodies. If the bites are concentrated on parts of your body that are exposed when you sleep, like your arms, shoulders, back, or ankles, consider bed bugs. Fortunately, bed bugs are not known to harbor any communicable diseases but these bites can be very itchy and annoying and can even become infected if scratched too much.
2. Trouble sleeping
Bed bugs have their name for a reason. They like to stay on beds because that is the place in the house where their source of food is stationary and they are able to feed in peace. If you notice the welts and feel as though you have not been sleeping well for the past couple of days or weeks, it is likely that bed bugs are the culprit.
3. Bugs on your bed
One of the most obvious signs of a bed bug problem is the presence of small, rust-colored spots on the corners and edges of the bed. You can also find their shed skin or oval brown exoskeletons.
4. A distinct smell
The presence of bed bugs produces a musty, unpleasant odor that smells a lot like a wet towel. They can release pheromones and in large numbers, their cumulative stench can be quite strong. So if you enter a room and the smell that greets your nose is akin to a locker room, start inspecting for bed bugs.
5. Check on the bed
Take all the sheets off the mattress and box spring and look at the corners and seams. If you have a magnifying glass and flashlight, search for reddish-brown blood stains and small, brown ovals.
Conclusion
Yes , you can feel a bed bug crawling on your skin but it will depend on a few factors. You are less likely to feel the bug on your skin when you are asleep, but you may be able to notice if you are awake. Each person has different skin sensitivities and some may notice the crawling bug while some will not. The other factor is what area on your body the bug is crawling on. Your palms, soles of your feet, and hairy areas are much more sensitive to movement than other parts of the body.
Image: istockphoto.com / smuay