If not bedbugs then what is it?

[Sallywallywoowoo]

DC has LOTS of bites. A bunch of maybe 10 or so in one area of his back and a few on his knees, ankles. This is the 3rd or 4th time this has happened. Back in March I was so convinced it must be bedbugs that I called pest control. They searched high and low, found nothing. Even gave me some traps for monitoring. Nothing has ever shown up. Since it's happened again - we noticed at the weekend - I've had the beds out, looked at the mattress seams, the slats. Nothing. I really think it can't be bedbugs. But I have no idea what else could be biting him. They're red and he says they don't itch (but I think they must do a bit because I've caught home scratching a couple of times)
I have a cat and she does sometimes go on his bed but I'm pretty sure it's not fleas as we're up to date with her meds and I've not seen her scratching, not can I find any on her. Mosquitos? I haven't seen any. Or midges. We did have carpet beetles a few years back but haven't seen any in ages and I don't think they bite do they? Help! I'm phobic about insects and the thought that something is eating DC is absolutely freaking me out. He actually seems pretty unfazed by the whole thing though!

Sounds like fleas with eggs in the carpet. Use indorex spray on carpets and sofas

If there's no red dots on bed sheets (blood spots) then it wont be bedbugs

sounds like me OP, I am paranoid about BBs too! DS been being "bitten" but no sign of anything. I then stumbled upon a thread about carpet beetles. Apparently kids can be allergic to their larvae's hairs or something and the marks can look very like BB bites. And we seem to get a few every summer especially hanging out in our bathroom (odd place I know). Maybe the warm weather. I have assigned myself to believing it's carpet beetles that I can't locate, unless I find evidence to the contrary. I will keep monitoring but am trying not to drive myself potty worrying any more. There's a good subreddit, reddit.com/r/bedbugs with lots of threads from people asking why they can't find any evidence of BBs but have bites. That's where I found the info about carpet beetle allergies etc. You may find some useful info on that subreddit if you dig deep. I've searched everything and that is my only conclusion. Hope this is helpful!

Well it could be anything. Has he been outside, led on the grass, plenty of different insects bite

Hmm the carpet beetle allergy is a possibility I guess since we have had them before. I'm going to order some carpet beetle spray and go to town in his room with it this weekend. Maybe that will do it.
It's weird that it's mainly in one area. I even wondered if it could be shingles but he's never had chicken pox - he had the vaccine. Anyway I'm pretty sure it is bites. It's just because of where the majority are that I wondered. I think DH thinks I'm insane. I spend so much time and energy searching for bugs at the moment. I literally can't get the thought of bedbugs out of my head (although rationally I'm pretty sure it can't be)

I read once that bed bugs usually have a pattern (Breakfast, dinner and tea) in a line or zig zag of bites. He could have got them while out and not noticed until they had red.