nymph bites vs. adult BB bite. Any difference? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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nymph bites vs. adult BB bite. Any difference?

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blackavar

newbite
Joined: Feb '10
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Feb 18 2010 0:28:27
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If there are any experts around, here's a question. Would there be any difference between bites by "baby" BBs and ones by adults? Would the bites by the nymphs be less red, less inflamed or less noticeable?

No longer getting any of the intensely itchy, obvious bites, but have some red, not so itchy spots that don't really rise into bumps. I know now how my skin reacts to BB bites but can't discount the possibility that bed bugs in different stages of growth give different looking bites.
eyehatebug

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Joined: Sep '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Feb 18 2010 0:50:56
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I get blotchy spots too that fade (and itch for a bit). I don't know if I am just getting "used to" bites or if these are different stage bugs or not BB at all...?
bed-bugscouk

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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Feb 18 2010 8:00:15
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Hi,

I cant recall who did the study but I am pretty sure that there is no significant difference betweent he response of an adult versus nymph bite. There are however variations in bite response due to many other factors including where on the body you are bite.

I compiled a primer on this here:

http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bite-primer-information-on-bites-and-reactions

Hope it helps.

David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited
buggyinsocal

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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Feb 18 2010 14:43:34
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I can't remember where it was posted either, but I distinctly remember a video showing a person going in for a bite test. (Since not everyone reacts to bb bites, if you're not sure where your bites are coming from and there's an entomologist in the area who performs said tests, some people go in and allow an adult and a nymph to feed on their arm to see if they react. Hence the term "bite test.")

The person in the video developed reactions of the same size to both the adult and the nymph that fed on her arm.

I wondered exactly the same thing after treatment because I kept getting red, itchy spots that were smaller than the bites during my infestation. The red, itchy things were clustered around the backs of my knees, right where they came into contact with the upholstered seat of my desk chair when I was wearing shorts. Being hyper vigilant after treatment, I was terrified it was nymph bites.

Eventually, after carefully tracking when the itchy, red spots occurred, I realized that it was just my skin reacting to hair growing in stubbly after shaving (the itchy, red spots appeared a predictable number of days after having shaved.)

Several months after treatment (while my place was still under warranty), I got bites that I was sure were bed bug bites. Same size as previous ones, same intense itch for multiple days. I've never reacted quite the same way to any other pest. I had the PMP out to inspect, and he found nothing. My best guess--having gone to a new movie theater, I got bitten there. Ironically, that bout of what I suspect were bed bug bites? Convinced me that I did have a handle on what bed bug bites felt like when they happened to me.

It's very common during or after an infestation to be hyper vigilant--worrying about every, single itch. And there is a lot that we don't know for sure about bed bugs. Add in that everybody's skin response is different, and you have a perfect recipe for bed bug sufferers to be worried about any new itches.

However, if you asked me for a bottom line analysis of whether the new different reactions are bed bugs bites, I would tell you that my best guess was no. Obviously, I can't see your skin, but my own experiences and what I've read here tell me that reactions to bed bug bites remain pretty consistent over short periods of time.

Also keep in mind that anecdotal evidence suggests that exposure to bed bug bites tends to make skin more reactive to other irritants. Whatever is going on may be a result of that.
blackavar

newbite
Joined: Feb '10
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Feb 18 2010 23:29:40
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Thanks for all the info, guys. I feel that my skin IS becoming super sensitive to every irritant. A reddish area on my shin I suspected to be a BB bite is probably a bruise! LOL. Because when I press it, it hurts to the bone.

When I first treated, didn't get any bites for 3 nights, got just one on the fourth night (it was probably time for a meal) and since then, 2 nights counting, none. When that lone bite appeared, I began a second round of treatment (vacuuming, redusting, carpet tape, and Sprayway Good night around the bed) Since this started I have just found one bug (monstrously big) I don't know where they are, haven't seen any other signs. I wish I could catch one live one to experiment with what could kill it. Anyway, I'm not so freaked out as I was, my guess is that I had an early infestation and from now, it'll be easier to eliminate.

I also noticed that when I don't get a bite, all the old bites seem to dry out or recess. But when I get a new one, they all start becoming red, raised and itchy all over again. Anyone notice this too?
deep

newbite
Joined: Aug '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Tue Sep 6 2011 8:57:36
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Hi,

I think there might be a difference between these bites. When an adult bed bug bit me, that spot was very itchy and the longer I scratched on the spot the welt became bigger and bigger. If I stopped scratching the size of the welt would slowly decrease. But whereas when a nymph bit me the spot is less itchy and how much ever I scratch on it I get just like a small pimple/boil and it doesn't increase in size. I am not a 100% sure if the second type of bite i described is from a nymph....It mayb from any other bug in the house(but I don't remember seeing any, so I am guessing it might be a nymph)