Most people believe that pests go away during winter. This isn’t actually true. In fact, you may even see an increase in some pests during the colder months. This is usually because pests seek the warmth and shelter of our homes. What this means is that you can still be bitten by pests in winter. If you’re wondering what’s biting you, here’s a guide to identifying bites in winter.
Bites in winter: what’s bugging you?
There are several insects that persist in winter that could be nibbling at you. These include things like the following:
Bed bugs
Bed bugs can easily survive winter inside of our homes and go on breeding. Their bites in winter appear as raised red bumps and are commonly found in a zigzag pattern or clusters. These bites are also found on areas of your body that are exposed while sleeping.
Bitten areas of the body by bed bugs can include your arms, legs, midriff, face and neck. These insects are very hard to get rid of, and can really affect your peace of mind. eliminating them ss soon as possible will be the best policy.
Ticks
Ticks tend to become inactive during winter. The problem is that they could be carried into your home by pets. If that happens, the tick may become activate again. Tick bites are particularly serious because they can spread Lyme disease. Tick bites cause a raised bump on your skin. This will have a red dot in the centre (this is where the tick bit you). You’ll also have a large rash surrounding this bite.
Fleas
Flea bites also appear as raised red bumps, but are smaller than bed bug bites. They also appear in in a straight line or cluster. The most obvious sign of flea bites is that they mostly appear on your lower body, usually the ankles.
You can get flea infestations all year round, even without pets in the home. They can be brought in on the hem of trousers from gassy walks. Professional fumigation treatments are a good option for fea infestations if over the counter products don’t get rid of them.
Spiders
Spider bites in the UK are rare. Despite this they can still happen. Spider bites are generally larger than bites from insects. Blisters and pockets of puss may also form. The bite will also itch a lot more than an insect bite. The most commonly known UK biting spider is the False Widow. While these are not poisonous, they can give a nasty nip. If you spot these arachnids, call a London pest control service immediately.
