And a special shout out to mangycur whose bed bugs unfortunately popped out on the 53rd day after they were last sighted, reminding us of the “55-day rule.” (If you remember, 55 days is the period of time Rich Cooper suggests you need to be free of bites and bug sightings in order to consider yourself bed bug-free; the relevant article is no longer online, but we quoted it here).

mangycur wrote om the forums:

I have had 53 days with no signs of bugs, no bites, no nothing. I am very allergic to their bites so I felt confident that if there were any around, I would know. Last night at a party, I actually told my best friend, “They’re gone. It’s over. If there were any left I would know.”

I started leaving my purse and shoes out, and tossing my coat on a table. I was ready to move on.

Last night a full grown, unfed bed bug crawled out of my couch. Merry F*cking Christmas! LOL

It actually suggests 55 days may not suffice–I note with some horror that mangycur does react to bites. Or did in the past, anyway. What if it took three or ten or twenty days more to see that bed bug?

mangycur’s story comes only the next day after a reader asked how a non-allergic person can be sure bed bugs are gone.

mangycur, May your New Year be better than this one.

Although we celebrate Thanksgiving in November here in the US, I feel every holiday is a time to give thanks. And I’m truly thankful for all of you.

• Let’s get into that holiday spirit
• Tales of bed bug woe: Allergicgirl’s questions
• Ventura County motel closure makes many families homeless at Christmas
• Bed Bugs and Christmas

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