Can anyone identify these bites before I burn my house down!

[PottyPotterer]

Freaking out. Ds has had 3 sets of 2 bites like in the photo over the last few weeks. (Sorry crap photo). First 2 on his arm, then on his leg and now another 2 on his arm. The marks from the original bites weeks ago are still faintly visible.

Worst fear is bed bugs but there's no signs. I've removed all soft furnishings, soft toys etc and just spent 2 hours inspecting the bed and surrounding areas with a torch and magnifying glass. No bugs, blood spots etc to be seen. Wtf do I do? Don't want to spend hundreds on new beds/exterminator etc if I don't have them. Currently surrounded by dozens of black bags and his room in bits and I'm ready to cry.

Hard to see from the picture, how big is the red area? At first glance it doesn look like bed bug bites. Do you have any pets? Looks more like flea bites to me, has he been anywhere that has pets if you dont?

The red area is about the size of a 5p. We do have a cat but she's definitely flea free (am a vet nurse). I could have brought one home with me but again no signs. I'd be much happier with fleas though, at least I can treat the house myself if that's the case.

Should have said the bite areas have all swollen up a bit like a raised bump at some point.

They look like bites from a flying insect such as a mosquito or assassin bug.

I thought they looked liked mosquito bites (off to Google assassin bug). We're in scotland though and it's minus 5 here atm

My DS has a rash that looks mosquito bites. Has done since Saturday. GP is baffled but has said 3 days of Piriton to see if it improves.

Is definitely worse in the mornings and I was worried about bedbugs but like you have stripped bed and searched and no sign of anything.

His looks like hives as well so he might be allergic to something but nothing has been newly introduced that could cause it.

So I'm in a similar boat!

Well I've spent 6 hours going round the room and bed with a torch and magnifying glass and found nothing. Have cleaned the place top to bottom. Decided to get a new mattress, duvet, pillows and cushions anyway well I sent my dad to ikea.
Still have all soft toys etc in bags in the garden and will wash them all. Ds came home from school and said oh I think i know where I'm getting bitten, we go in a bush that's our den at school .

I actually hope that's where he's being bitten, still don't know what type of bugs can survive these temperatures, it's literally freezing here.

Just get a few flea/insect bombs for the house. That will sort out whatever you've got. But it doesn't look like bed bugs.

I got bitten by a bedbug once in a Canadian hotel. I think there was one that had hitched a ride into the room with the last occupant, rather than an infestation, as no one else was bitten, and we couldn't find any signs of others, but we still had to treat all the luggage and clothing we'd taken into the room.

Anyway, the bloody thing left a trail of bites in close succession across my forehead. Not a good look

I don't think it's likely it's bedbugs if the bites are separate.

Could be any sort of insect in that bush. Tell him not to go in there and see if he gets any more bites. Shame about all that money spent on new bedding though.