If you're getting bitten at home in Lynnwood and can't see what's doing it, the most useful thing you can do is look at where and when the bites happen. In this suburb the cause is nearly always one of four things: fleas, bed bugs, bird mites or mosquitoes. Each needs a completely different treatment, so working out which one it is comes before anything else. We do that with you, then treat the source.
Four likely culprits in Lynnwood homes
Fleas: bites around the ankles
Small, very itchy red bites, usually on the feet, ankles and lower legs, often in groups. You may notice them after walking across a carpet or sitting on the patio. Lynnwood's big gardens, family dogs and shaded spots under hedges and decks are ideal for fleas. It also happens in houses where previous owners had pets. See our Lynnwood flea treatments for how we deal with them.
Bed bugs: bites in lines, after sleeping
Bites on arms, shoulders, neck and legs, often in rows of three or four, that appear overnight. Look for small dark spots and shed skins along the seams of the mattress and bed base. They're usually brought home in luggage or second-hand furniture, so travellers and households with frequent guests see them more.
Bird mites: bites plus tiny moving specks
Itchy bites, often at night, with almost invisible specks crawling on the walls, ceiling or bedding, usually in one room. This points to a bird nest in the roof or gutter above. With so many old trees and birds in Lynnwood, it's more common here than many people would expect. Our page on bird mites in Lynnwood roofs explains it fully.
Mosquitoes: bites on exposed skin, evening and night
Raised, itchy bumps on face, arms and any skin uncovered at night, with that familiar whine near your ear. Usually worst in summer, and linked to standing water in gutters, pot saucers, ponds and pool covers.
A quick way to narrow it down
- Bites mostly below the knee? Think fleas.
- Bites in rows, after a night in bed, on parts of the body under the covers? Think bed bugs.
- Specks moving near the ceiling or a light fitting, and birds in the roof? Think bird mites.
- Bites only on uncovered skin, and buzzing at night? Think mosquitoes.
Not every itchy rash comes from an insect, either. Allergies, new washing powder and skin conditions can all look like bites. If nothing we find explains it, we'll tell you, and a doctor is the next step.
How we work it out and treat it
We start by asking about the bites: when, where on the body, which rooms, any pets, recent travel, any birds nesting nearby. Then we inspect: mattresses and bed frames, carpets and pet beds, the roof space above the affected room, and the garden for breeding water. Once we know which pest it is, we treat it properly. That might mean treating carpets, pet areas and shaded garden spots for fleas; treating every hiding place around beds plus a follow-up for bed bugs; treating and removing a nest and the affected rooms for bird mites; or clearing breeding water and treating resting areas for mosquitoes. You can stay home during normal treatments; keep kids and pets off treated surfaces until dry.
The mistake that wastes the most money
Guessing. People buy a bed bug spray for flea bites, or flea powder for bird mites, and nothing changes because the actual source hasn't been touched. Worse, some sprays scatter bed bugs into more rooms. Get the cause identified first. A clear photo of the bites, and of anything you've found, helps a lot.
What does it cost?
That depends entirely on which pest it turns out to be and how widespread it is. A flea treatment in a small home, or removing one bird nest and treating one room, is usually fairly straightforward. Bed bugs through several bedrooms take more work and always include a follow-up. Once we know what we're dealing with, we'll give you a clear price.
For our citywide service, see biting insect control in Pretoria, or for the student flats and older homes next door, biting insects in Brooklyn. The full list of what we treat locally is on the pest control page for Lynnwood.
We're SAPCA registered with 25 years of experience. If the biting pest we treated returns within three months, we'll be back. Call 012 012 5526, or WhatsApp us a photo of the bites and we'll help you work out what's behind them.
Questions we get asked
Can you tell what's biting me from a photo of the bites?
Sometimes. The pattern and position of bites gives strong clues, but we usually confirm by finding the insect or its signs during an inspection.
Only one person in the house is getting bitten. Why?
People react very differently to bites. Others may be bitten too but show little or no reaction.
Could the bites be from spiders?
Occasionally, but spiders rarely bite repeatedly. Ongoing bites night after night are much more likely to be fleas, bed bugs, bird mites or mosquitoes.
Do I need to see a doctor?
If bites become infected, swell a lot, or you have a strong reaction, yes. And if we find no pest at all, a doctor can check for other causes.
Will treating one room be enough?
It depends on the pest. Bird mites are often limited to one room, while fleas and bed bugs can spread, so we check the whole house.