Bed bugs vs fleas: how to tell them apart

Bed bugs bite people, causing itching and skin irritation but do not spread disease.

Source: CDC, Wikipedia

It can bite people and spread diseases such as plague and flea-bite dermatitis.

Source: Wikipedia, CDC, Penn State Extension

The eggs are tiny (under 1 mm), yellowish-white and vase-shaped. Adults are reddish-brown, wingless and range from about 1 mm to 7 mm in length.

Source: Wikipedia, CDC

Adults are reddish-brown and gravid females look banded with cream and dark brown. They have a longer head than the dog flea and many spines and hairs on the body.

Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension

Adults measure roughly the size of a Lincoln cent’s head, about 1 to 7 mm long.

Source: CDC

Adults measure 1 to 2 mm in length.

Source: Wikipedia

Bites appear as small, red, swollen spots that may itch or develop into blisters. They bite people and animals while they sleep, feeding on blood.

Source: Wikipedia, CDC

Flea bites cause discomfort, itchiness, and irritation, especially on ankles and lower legs. Bites can lead to flea-bite dermatitis and may transmit diseases such as plague and typhus.

Source: CDC, Penn State Extension, Wikipedia

Bed bugs are a major nuisance pest in homes and many public places. They do not transmit diseases, but their bites cause irritation, itching and loss of sleep.

Source: Wikipedia, CDC

They can transmit diseases to humans, including bubonic plague.

Source: Wikipedia, Penn State Extension

They most often hitch rides in luggage, but can also spread via furniture, belongings, or to neighboring units.

Source: Wikipedia

Cat fleas affect both cats and dogs worldwide.

Source: Wikipedia