Ticks vs. Bed Bugs: How to Tell The Difference Between These Bloodsucking Pests

When it comes to pests that invade our space and destroy our peace of mind, ticks vs. bed bugs are among the top contenders. Despite their size, these tiny bloodsucking pests can wreak a lot of havoc, and identifying them is your first level of defense. By learning what type of infestation is present, you can take the necessary steps to protect your home, family, and pets. Let’s take a look at the difference between ticks and bed bugs.

What Are the Differences Between Ticks and Bed Bugs?

Ticks are often confused with bed bugs, but there are a few key differences between them. Here’s a side-by-side look at their characteristics.

Ticks vs Bed Bugs: Differences in Appearance

While they’re similar at a glance, different physical features can differentiate between ticks vs. bed bugs. Here’s how they differ in terms of size, shape, and color.

Size

Bed bugs are slightly larger than ticks. Ticks are 3 to 4 mm on average, while bed bugs are typically around 8 mm long.

Color

Ticks are generally darker in color than bed bugs. Ticks are dark brown, while bed bugs are more reddish brown.

Shape

Ticks and bed bugs have oval-shaped bodies with no wings, which can vary in size based on the species and stage of development. Ticks also have a tough outer shell—also called the cuticle—that protects their body. Like bed bugs, the tick’s body remains relatively flat when unfed, but it becomes engorged and swollen after it’s been feeding on blood. 

Number of Legs

While bed bugs and ticks are often labeled as insects, bed bugs are the only true insects. Like all insects, bed bugs have six legs that protrude in three pairs from their thorax (mid-body) section. On the other hand, ticks are arachnids, with eight legs that spread out from the sides of their bodies.

Feeding Differences

While there are several differences between ticks and bed bugs, they share one common characteristic: Their reliance on blood as a primary form of sustenance. However, their host of choice slightly differs, as well as their biting behavior. 

Hosts

Bed bugs strongly prefer human blood, while ticks typically feed on other warm-blooded animals. Still, both of these pests will adapt and seek alternate food sources where necessary: Bed bugs have been known to bite dogs, cats, and other mammals when humans are not accessible for a meal. Similarly, ticks will resort to biting humans if they can’t latch on to a warm-blooded animal such as a dog or a deer.

Bites

Bites from ticks and bed bugs are quite similar, as they’re both itchy and red, but their method of biting and feeding varies. When a tick bites, it latches on the host’s body and buries its head beneath the skin to feed on blood. Although ticks can bite anywhere on the body, they prefer warm and moist areas such as the armpits or the groin. Once attached, a tick can remain in place for several days, steadily engorging itself with blood until it’s fully satiated.

In contrast, bed bugs remain on the skin’s surface while they feed. To access the host’s blood, they use their tubelike mouthparts to penetrate the skin. Once they’ve had their fill, they do one of two things: They’ll either drop off, or more commonly, they’ll move to a different area and continue to feed. They also tend to feed in rows, so when you’re checking for bed bugs, look for bites that are in sets of threes and fours in a line.

Time of Day

While bed bugs prefer darkness and feed at night, they aren’t strictly nocturnal. In light of extenuating circumstances, they’ll feed during the day, whether it’s due to intense competition for food or a human host that sleeps during daylight hours. Likewise, they can feed at any time of the year, although they tend to prefer warmer weather.

Most ticks exhibit diurnal behavior, meaning they prefer attaching themselves to a host during the daytime. Some ticks species prefer cooler and more humid morning or evening periods, while the majority are more active during the warmer and drier afternoon hours. Generally, ticks can be active throughout the year when the temperature is above freezing, but their prevalence is highest during the warmer months, from summer to fall. 

Habitat Differences

Bed bugs like to be where people are, often in bedrooms and focused on mattresses, box springs, and furniture. They are extremely adept at hiding in small crevices, so getting rid of a bed bug infestation can be extremely challenging. 

Ticks are commonly found in outdoor environments, particularly grassy or wooded areas where they can hide and latch onto unsuspecting humans and animals. They can easily hitch a ride indoors on pets or clothing, potentially infesting a home. Ticks can also hide in cracks and crevices, making it difficult to eliminate all of them once they’ve found their way in.

Life Cycle Differences

Bed bugs and ticks have distinctly different life cycles and breeding behaviors. Ticks prefer a solitary lifestyle in an outdoor setting, so they rarely infest buildings as many of them can’t breed indoors. 

In contrast, bed bugs tend to gather in clusters, reproducing rapidly and easily infesting bedrooms, homes, or entire complexes. Their ability to multiply quickly makes them well-equipped for taking over living spaces. If you suspect an infestation, it’s best to contact a local exterminator to help you eradicate the numbers quickly

Illness & Disease Differences

As overwhelming and horrifying as a bed bug infestation can be, the insects aren’t linked to any viruses or diseases. However, they can trigger allergic reactions that may require medical attention. Along with that, scratching at the itchy red bites can cause a secondary skin infection.

On the other hand, multiple studies have shown that ticks can transmit Lyme disease, a serious illness. If not caught soon enough, this infection can spread throughout the body, causing complications such as facial paralysis, heart palpitations, nerve and joint pain, and shooting pain or tingling in the hands and feet. It can also infect dogs, potentially progressing to liver failure if left untreated. On top of that, ticks can spread a number of other diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and ehrlichiosis.

Prevention Differences

Whether you’re concerned about ticks or bed bugs, prevention is always key. Here are the best ways to prevent ticks vs. bed bugs.

Tick Prevention

Ticks rarely live in homes, so your best bet is to focus on preventing ticks in your yard, including keeping your lawn and other greenery well-trimmed to avoid hiding places, and discouraging deer, rodents, and other small animals. If necessary, build a fence and remove bird feeders that could be attracting tick-carrying wildlife.

While you’re hiking, it’s important to stay mindful of ticks, especially near tall grasses and heavily wooded areas. Always wear long pants and sleeves, tucking your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from crawling up.

Bed Bed Bug Prevention

Preventing bed bugs is extremely important, as infestations can be a literal nightmare. Be sure to inspect beds when traveling and avoid leaving your luggage on or near the bed. It’s also prudent to be cautious when purchasing second hand items such as clothing and furniture. Always check for signs of bed bugs before bringing in secondhand furniture and wash secondhand clothing immediately when you get home.

Along with that, it’s a good idea to get a mattress shield, especially if you live in a multi-unit building. Clean your linens regularly, and vacuum frequently to minimize the risk of a bed bug infestation.