What is the difference between fleas and bedbugs?

Fleas are about 0.5 to 3 mm, roughly the size of a pinhead and visible to the eye. They are usually black dots that turn deep red after feeding, have hard shells, jump strongly, like to cling to long-haired animals, and lay eggs in fabric, carpets, and grass. Flea bites leave small wounds but itch severely and can cause large red swellings.

Bedbugs, also called chinches, are 4 to 5 mm long, much larger than fleas; the young are yellow-brown and darken with age. They secrete a distinctive odor, live in groups, and lay many eggs in mattresses and cracks. Bedbugs drink more blood than fleas and their bites are larger, but they feed stealthily and are hard to notice.