It is important to specify which parasite .is infesting your home since bed bugs and fleas are similar, they are a little hard to tell apart. These are some features you can look out for to be certain and to apply the appropriate treatments.
Hosts
Fleas feed on the blood of animals and will only jump on humans when there are no animals around. However, fleas prefer animals because they are incredibly furry, human do not have that feature so they cannot stay as permanent parasites on humans.
Bed bugs prefer to feed on human blood, but they do not live on humans rather they burrow into mattresses. Bed bugs survive on one bite every ten days.
Movement
Fleas do not have wings; they have sturdy hind legs adapted for jumping on hosts or long distances.
Bed bugs can crawl and burrow slowly.
Appearance
Fleas are reddish brown, sometimes black. They have narrow bodies but if viewed from the top, fleas appear flat and long
Bed bugs are reddish brown also, but they are oval-shaped and flat. They are a little larger than fleas.
Remedy for fleas and Bed bugs
The first thing you do if you notice an infestation is to clean your house thoroughly. Machine wash the pet bedding and your bed clothes then consult professionals to assist you in the identification of parasites and the best way to remove them.