People often comment that everyone has Bed Bugs, but this is not the case. We find that many people confuse Bed Bugs with Dust Mites.
Dust mites are not visable to the naked eye
Dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, feed off dead skin and live on bed sheets, your mattress, carpets, curtains and generally all upholstery within your home or establishment. A dust mite is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen under a microscope. Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius, feed off blood. They prefer human blood but will feed off of animal blood if they can’t find a human food source.
Bed bugs can be seen by the naked eye as they are usually the size of an apple pip however they do not like to be seen and will hide in cracks and crevices around your home. Bed bugs live on the head board and the base of the bed but they can be found in other areas such as skirting boards and sofas. They are rarely found in bathrooms and kitchen because you do not rest or relax or sleep in these areas. Both are generally harmless creatures but can affect people with allergies. Dust mites can cause an allergic reaction as they have a protein within their bodies and faeces that certain people react badly to. Bed bugs inject an anti-coagulant when they feed that the body can react to.
Bed bugs are classed as an insect they have six legs. Dust mites also have six legs but grow two more when they mature into adults. Dust mites are classed as arachnids which is the same classification as spiders.