What's biting us?

[Cakeandcardio]

Any suggestions welcome. We are being bitten by some sort of mite (too small to see) in our home. We think possibly kitchen. The bites seem to be random. Can be a few in one day or none for a week or so. Mostly on legs but have been on hand etc. They are not a trail of bites but singular and random (although could be 2 at the same time but on different parts of body).

We don't think bedbugs as we can't see anything on bed. Bites seem to appear later in day so not upon waking. We do not have any pets and never have animals in the house.

Any help appreciated!! We are at our wits end!

Fleas
it will get worse if you leave

But where would they be? Could they come without animals being about? I hate dogs so never touch anyone's dog etc but could we still have them in our house?
Thanks for the reply

An allergy?

Are they very itchy?

Are they affecting everyone in the house?

Yes. Very very itchy.

I looked into flea bites and they seem to come in clusters but these have been singular bites except for one time. This has been going on since about October but seems to be ramping up with the weather getting (slightly) warmer.

Yes. Mostly the adults but kids have had a couple. Me and husband have had a lot over the past couple of months

Is it definitely in the house? I had a neighbour who had a dustbin full of water close to the garden wall, as well as lots of other rubbish. People living in my house were covered in bites, but it was mosquitoes living in the neighbour’s wet rubbish who were biting anyone coming to my front door.

If it's affecting the whole family it could be scabies

I didn’t want to say but yes

From what I have seen on the NHS page it doesn't seem like this. Scabies seems to be a lot of bites all over. This is more like a singular bite then nothing for maybe 4-5 days minimum - could be longer. Kids have only had 2 bites each over a period of about 2-3 months. Husband and I have had one every 5 days - 2 weeks for about 6 months now.

We think so. We think kitchen as we are in there more than living room. Have steam mopped the floor etc and doesn't seem to work but suppose I might just not have got them all. They must be so so small because we have never seen a single thing on either of us

If it was bed bugs, the bites would be a lot more frequent after 6 months I would think so that's unlikely.

We do get the odd flea bite in this house (knew it was that as one landed on my hand as I was watching TV on the sofa one day!). We do not have pets, they come in from the garden or on laundry I think. If you don't have pets you won't get an infestation, just the odd bites. It also aligns with them being in the evening I think they are more active at dusk.

It could also be bird mites? They are teeny, I have spotted them on our kitchen table before (which is by the double doors to the garden).

Could also be carpet beetle larvae but it tends to be more rashy than singular bites. Hope you get to the bottom of it!

Do you have a garden? Have had the windows open more often lately?

In Spain there is a product called Zum - un año sin insectos which means a year without insects. It’s really effective if you can get hold of it. Can’t see a British product but you might be able to buy Zum online.

It's strange that you're all affected.

I suggested scabies because the itching comes in cycles ( as the eggs are laid etc). You could just have a mild case..I would go to GP and ask to be referred to dermatologist.

I hope I'm wrong and don't want to worry you!

Thank you! I appreciate any suggestions because we are pretty sick of it! It feels disgusting!

Wear white socks and walk around. If it's fleas they will be seen on socks aa they jump on you.

@Hivemindz4Thank you! Possibly odd fleas coming in as we have had the back french doors open a lot with kids in garden etc
Thank you for your ideas! I did see about bird mites online so was also considering that.

Thank you! That is a brilliant tip. We have never seen anything at all so it's even more annoying!

Where are you, it sounds like midges (similarity to mozzies).although not seen as.much in winter months.

Fleas. I had this recently and I think that my cat brought one in and I got bitten up for days.
Got one each for each room that the cat likes to sleep in and the problem was gone the next day:

Zero In Natural Insect Killer Flea Bomb 150ml Twin Pack

7pounds on Amazon

Scotland but it seems different. Midges don't usually bother me like this

@Cakeandcardio could the previous owners/tenant of your house have had pets? Fleas have a long life cycle. So even though they may not be visible could still be in the carpets. Can you take a picture of the bites?? You can get a insect smoke bomb, they are very good for fleas and other unwelcome visitors

@shellyleppardyes the previous owners had a cat. We have lived here for 15 years and changed carpets etc a couple of times since we moved in. Not beyond the realms of possibility I think but the reason we don't suspect fleas is because of the single / one off nature of the bites and also because we have never seen them at all. Thank you though!

Probably a bit yucky. Sorry! This is a bite from last night. About just over the size of a 1p. Singular bite on my thigh.

Definitely not bed bugs as they tend toward cluster or in line bites. Fleas tend to live in carpets and bites tend toward lower legs. I wonder if it's mosquito/gnat bites.

If you buy a general insecticide , close the doors and thoroughly spray each room. See if that helps.

Otherwise wash your bedding incl duvet and pillows in 60 degree washing for at least 60 minutes - the eco programme tends to be a long one and that kills most things.