Blood Sucking Bug. Assassin? Bed Bug?
January 19, 2010
I have been trying to find out everything I could about bloodsucking bugs ever since I found one on top of my sheets last night. I had received multiple bug bites on my stomach and wrists (see photo for stomach bites) the night before last but couldn’t figure out what was going on. I found the culprit: a bug was feeding on me. It is no more than a 1/4″ long and was walking slowly across the sheet. It definitely was not a flea as I could pick it up easily. I smooshed its back, trying to kill it. and a lot of blood (my blood) came out in the process.

Flea

It’s antennae was moving for several minutes before I decided to flush it down the toilet. I’m scared. I am not sure if my dog brought it into the house with him (he does not sleep on the bed though). Or if this is a sign of an infestation to come. I went through a cleaning frenzy today but could not find any more of them. Am I safe? What’s this bug?
Scared this might be a bed bug?
Seattle, WA

Flea

Dear Scared,
This does appear to be a Bed Bug.  While we do not give extermination advice, we strongly counsel you to seek professional help.

Flea Bites

Thank you for answering my question. I am still hopeful that it ISN’T a bedbug though. From all the other photos I’ve seen of them, they have more of a flat, rounded body shape than my bug–which had more of a diamond-like body before I squished it. Anyway, I haven’t been able to find any more of them, or the tell-tale signs of bedbugs on the sheets or elsewhere. I know that they’re never alone so I will keep looking.
Thanks for having such an informative website.
Not Scared Anymore

Correction thanks to Eric Eaton
Daniel:
The “bed bug” is actually a FLEA!  Probably a cat flea, the most overwhelmingly common species to afflict both cats AND dogs…..
Eric

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