Discovering a bug that leaves a red, blood-like stain can be unsettling. Understanding the creature responsible is the first step toward addressing the situation.
Common Culprits
Two primary arthropods often leave a red stain when crushed: bed bugs and ticks. Both feed on blood, which can be expelled upon their demise.
Bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects, about the size of an apple seed when unfed. They are reddish-brown, becoming swollen and red after a blood meal. These nocturnal pests hide in cracks and crevices near sleeping areas, like mattress seams and bed frames, emerging at night to feed. They are attracted to the carbon dioxide and warmth from sleeping individuals.
Ticks are arachnids, varying in size from a small seed to a pea, and become larger when engorged with blood. Unfed ticks are generally flat and teardrop-shaped. Found outdoors in wooded or grassy areas, ticks can hitch a ride indoors on people or pets. Once inside, they may drop off their host and hide in carpets, furniture, or pet bedding.
Understanding the Red Substance
The red substance is not the arthropod’s internal fluid. Insects and arachnids have hemolymph, a circulatory fluid that is usually clear or yellowish-green, not red. Hemolymph transports nutrients, hormones, and waste but does not carry oxygen, unlike vertebrate blood, which is red due to hemoglobin.
The red stain originates from the blood meal the bed bug or tick recently consumed. These creatures are hematophagous, meaning they feed on blood. They ingest a significant amount, which is then digested in their midgut. If an engorged bug is crushed, undigested blood from its last feeding can be released, creating a red mark. This is a direct consequence of their feeding habits, as they store the blood meal in their digestive system.
Actionable Steps
If you discover a bug leaving a red stain, especially if you suspect it’s a bed bug or tick, inspect the area thoroughly. For bed bugs, check mattresses, bed frames, furniture, and nearby cracks or crevices. For ticks, check pets, clothing, and pet resting areas. Look for additional bugs, dark fecal spots (dried blood), shed skins, or tiny white eggs.
Cleaning affected textiles is important. Wash all bedding, clothing, and other fabrics in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes to kill pests and their eggs. Vacuum carpets, floors, and upholstered furniture thoroughly, focusing on hidden spots. Dispose of vacuum bag contents in a sealed bag outside your home to prevent re-infestation. Steam cleaning can also effectively kill these pests on contact due to high temperatures.
Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause itchy welts, allergic reactions, and secondary skin infections from scratching. Ticks, however, can transmit various diseases, including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If bitten by a tick, carefully remove it with fine-tipped tweezers by grasping it close to the skin and pulling upward with steady pressure. Clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Consider consulting a professional pest control service, especially for bed bug infestations, as they are challenging to eradicate with DIY methods. For ticks, if you find multiple ticks indoors or are concerned about disease transmission, a professional exterminator can assess and treat the issue. If a tick bite leads to symptoms like fever, aches, or a rash, consult a healthcare provider. Saving the tick for identification can be helpful.