Do Bed Bugs Burrow in Your Skin? Answered (2023)

Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Alene Schill

Living with bed bugs alone is already a huge challenge, but the thought of them burrowing under your skin makes it even more frightening. But do bed bugs burrow in your skin?

Our team researched and compiled essential information to help you figure out if bed bugs can burrow under the skin, and if so, can they survive?

Can Bed Bugs Burrow in Your Skin?

No scientific evidence suggests that bed bugs can burrow into human skin. However, bed bugs have been known to bite humans, which can cause itching and irritation. 

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. The bites of these nasty pests can cause itchiness, redness, and swelling. 

Although bed bugs are not known to spread disease, their bites can cause an allergic reaction in some people. 

Where Do They Usually Hide?

Bed bugs typically hide in the dark, secluded areas such as the cracks and crevices of beds, couches, and chairs. They commonly hide in luggage, clothing, and other personal belongings. 

These pests can also be found in bedding, including mattresses, box springs, and headboards. They hide in cracks and crevices during the day and come out at night to feed on blood.

Read: Can A Bed Bug Bite Through Your Clothes?

Can Bed Bugs Lay Eggs Under Your Skin?

No, bed bugs cannot lay eggs under your skin. Bed bugs lay their eggs in cracks and crevices in dark and warm places. 

They cannot burrow into the skin and lay eggs, but they can sometimes be found on the skin’s surface, where they feed at night and leave tiny red marks on your skin that may cause you discomfort. But will bed bugs get inside your ears?

Bugs That Can Burrow Under Your Skin

Ticks

Unlike other insects, ticks do not bite the skin multiple times. They simply bite the skin once and burrow their heads under the skin while feeding. Ticks are so tiny and almost unseen unless they have eaten, and their size has doubled already. [1]

Human Itch Mite

These are tiny mites, also called Sarcoptes Scabiei, that burrow under the skin. The area where it burrows often produces intense itchiness and leaves some tiny burrow tracks. Sometimes, these bites get so itchy that you won’t be able to resist scratching them. [2]

Chigoe Fleas

Chigoe Fleas or female sand fleas are insects that burrow under the skin and suck blood from the host’s body. It causes lesions as female fleas lay eggs under the skin, usually in the foot and heel area.

Screwworm

Screwworms, also known as maggots, are insects that also burrow under the skin. Specifically, it enters the open wounds and body orifices and infects warm-blooded animals and humans. If it remains untreated, it may cause severe problems and fatal infections. [3]

FAQs

Do bed bugs stay on your body during the day?

No, bed bugs can’t stay in your body during the day. All they can do is bite you if you’re in bed or infested places. Bedbugs are also nocturnal and often feed during the night in exposed areas of your skin while you are sleeping. But can bed bugs get in your private parts?

How long do they stay on human skin?

Bed bugs can stay on the human skin for about 3 – 10 minutes, depending on how long it would take them to finish feeding. Once these nasty pests are done feeding, that’s the only time they’ll start crawling away from you.

Conclusion

You can lessen your worries about having bed bugs under your skin since these pests do not burrow in the skin. They only crawl on the host’s skin to feed and go away once they are already satisfied. 

Do watch out for their bites, as they will leave red spots or marks like rashes or allergies on your skin.

 References:

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7234-tick-bites
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/scabies/symptoms-causes/syc-2037737
3. https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/pdfs/Screwworm_Fact_Sheet.pdf