Question: Several months ago we found rat droppings in one of our crawl spaces. We had pest guys come out and they closed up a few possible entry points in our roof. I don't know how long the droppings were there, and when the rats came through. In the summer we occasionally get lots of bites on us and then it seems to stop during the colder months. This year we are getting lots of bites on us. We have found and identified rat fleas in our house (mostly catching them in our bed). Which could definitely be the source of our bites.

However, I'm wondering if we could also have rat mites? If so do they tend to die and not be a problem with the rats not here or will we need to have the house treated to kill them? Also how do we tell if we have rat mites?

ANSWER: You may have bed bugs--and not rat mites. In some regions of the country the frequency of bed bugs has been increasing. While they are a nuisance and deliver some painful bites, bed bugs can be controlled with some careful cleaning and a little insecticide.

These small, reddish-brown insects hide during the day, and emerge at night to take a blood meal from people sleeping. They will also bite other mammals. The bed bug takes 3 to 15 minutes to feed, and then it may not feed again for 2-3 days. The bite produces a hard swelling, and is whitish in color; it usually is irritated and continues to bleed. It may turn into an itchy rash in a day or so. Once the frame is clean, do the same for the box spring: clean the cracks and crevices; then clean and maybe vacuum the seams of the mattress. With what is left in the aerosol you can spray the baseboards of the room. Start with the area near the bed, and try to get the spray under or behind the baseboard (where bedbugs may also be hiding). These insects can travel far to find a blood meal, so don't fail to clean and treat the room. They can live long without food, so even old beds (not used in while) can have them.

Check to see that there are no new or recently abandoned bird nests close to the room (check the attic). There are 'cousins' to bed bugs that live in these nests (or are associated with bats) and can move from there to feeding on people.

^{picture of bed bug}

Here is more information on getting rid of bed bugs.

Related Questions:
The Orkin Man used the information above to also answer the following questions submitted by Orkin.com users.

• Question: What are rat mites? Do they bite? I have 10 bites on my body after sleeping on the couch.

  ANSWER: You may have bed bugs. In some regions of the country the frequency of bed bugs has been increasing. While they are a nuisance and deliver some painful bites, bed bugs can be controlled with some careful cleaning and a little insecticide. Check to see that there are no new or recently abandoned bird nests close to the room (check the attic). There are 'cousins' to bed bugs that live in these nests (or are associated with bats) and can move from there to feeding on people.

• Question:I have no signs of bedbugs but have heard of rat mites. What are rat mites?

ANSWER: Rats can carry mites, but they don't leave the rat and they typically don't bite humans.