Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums: Recent Posts

cstone20 on "Is it possible to have only one bed bug?"

cstone20 — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:24:15 +0000

Okay, so a few days ago I found one live bed bug crawling on my blanket. I know for a fact it was a bed bug. Immediately after I killed it, my mom and I took all my blankets off my bed, including the pillow cases, put them in the dryer, and searched the entire mattress/box spring. We found absolutely nothing, no poop, no bed bugs (dead or alive), no blood stains, absolutely nothing. We crawled under the bed and looked along the wall with a flashlight, and once again, we found absolutely nothing. No sign that any bug dead or alive has been anywhere in my room. Just to be safe, we bought bed bug spray from the local hardware store and sprayed it along the creases of the mattress, on the box spring, and along the wall. It's been 3 days since this happened, and I'm still checking once or twice a day, and yet, I still see absolutely nothing that could even be remotely involved with bed bugs. However, very recently, two bumps have shown up on my legs, they're small, and about the size of a pea. They itch a little bit, but I have been outside quite a bit lately. Also, very recently, several bed bugs have been seen at my work. I work at a telemarketing firm, and to attempt to prevent the spread of bed bugs, all workers are required to keep their things in garbage bags while at work. However, the day I found the bug, my bag was on the floor with my purse in it, and there was a hole in the bag. I have never put my bag on the floor before. Is it possible that maybe one just hitched a ride home with me, and that was it? Mom says that that's probably what happened, but my paranoia is so intense that it's actually causing me to lose sleep at night. I would really just like some peace of mind that I'm not actually being eaten alive while I sleep. It's driving me absolutely crazy. And I'm the only one who seems to be freaking out about it. We've never had bed bugs before, and my mattress is about 4 1/2 years old. And if there are more, please, what can I do?

loubugs on "True horror story: Bed bug lodged in my ear canal"

loubugs — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:48:56 +0000

<blockquote>I went to the DR and Winston was spot on - it took the DR about an hour to shoot saline into my ear and vacuum out the white and yellow silicon type of stuff that they left behind</blockquote> I see this is an old post that had been revitalized. Just a few points: The bugs didn't produce any white and yellow material. This was never pointed out years ago. ENT dr usually uses a vacuum system to remove wax buildup. <blockquote>And when he did, there it was, an appleseed size dead bed bug floating in saline solution, the same one that was lodged in my ear for about 8 hours. </blockquote> Appleseed size bed bugs -- please look at these images; the association of bed bugs and apple seeds can be misleading. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lou_bugs_pix/6710289181/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/lou_bugs_pix/6710289181/</a> I answered Ricky1963 on the thread nobugsonme pointed out in the posting above.

loubugs on "Using a tent for sleeping if you have Bed Bugs"

loubugs — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:47:55 +0000

<blockquote>bed bug eggs I dont know what to do for a year I been going crazy I been 2 hospitals and 1 ear doctor I have a hole in my eardrum the eggs hatch they come out my ear and a little tickle in my ears ever night I have little bites on my body the doctor says bed bugs dont stay in your ears well they do someone please help me I can feel them on my face and they get in my eyes my eyes gets red sometime but I do have a hole in my eardrum I feel them in both ears when i am breathe in and out so if anyone got bed bugs put cotton balls in your ears I got to find a doctor to do test on my ears</blockquote> Sorry, you are really describing a bed bug problem. Formication, the definition dealing with the sensation of crawling of insects on and under the skin can occur but it doesn't mean that any creature is really there and crawling about. You should see a doctor to rule out many things; sometimes the sensation is a result of taking certain medications.

TheP on "Passive Monitors on furniture other than beds"

TheP — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:40:25 +0000

Thank you so much for the reply, Mr. Cain. I appreciate both the practical information regarding the monitor placement and your advice on the psychological/emotional side of the issue. I have 2 further questions about the placement of the monitor on the computer desk chair. 1) The chair seems to match the one that is on a base with 5 casters that you picture on your website (<a href="http://bed-bugs.co.uk/bedbugpassivemonitors" rel="nofollow">http://bed-bugs.co.uk/bedbugpassivemonitors</a>.) under "Where should they be installed? - seats and chairs”. However, it says that the monitor should be placed "near the back of the legs" and on my chair that would be impractical because on the underside of the seat in the back center is a metal piece which connects the back cushion to the seat. Can it be placed on the underside of the seat near the front? 2) Since this is a computer chair on casters that can be (and sometimes is) tilted backwards and can also be moved slightly side to side, my husband wondered if this would make the monitor an unattractive harborage or cause bugs to come out of the monitor. Thanks!

InFishington on "First BB in 14 months. How freaked out should I be?"

InFishington — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:05:38 +0000

OK, so the quick story: I had BB's first in October 2011. Second, in February 2012. After that time I went hardcore. I had a professional do several sprayings, one with a spray that killed and one with a spray that sterilized so any remaining ones couldn't reproduce. I also treated my place with DE regularly. Haven't seen one since. Last weekend (May 2013) I moved and as I was setting my stuff up in my new home I noticed one crawling on the back of my bookshelf. I killed it, immediately threw the bookshelf on the street, freaked out my gf and tried to search through everything. I found nothing else. Is it possible I just caught a single stowaway emerging? Her skin reacts to them strongly and although she's spent the last year sleeping over my house, at least several times a week, she's never had a bite in all that time. Could that bookshelf have just been harboring a straggler or two trying to dodge the poisons?

AbsolutelyFreaking on "Something's biting me and driving me mad..."

AbsolutelyFreaking — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:58:38 +0000

Hi sausages, In my opinion only . . . you might want to rule out fleas first and go from there. Please read the FAQ regarding flea detection. There are instructions on how to make a DIY flea trap and lots of useful information. I personally have bought several of the "Ultimate Flea Traps" and use them all around the house . . . they catch all kinds of bugs that are attracted to the light. Good luck and keep us posted! <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2012/11/09/faq-do-i-have-fleas-or-bed-bugs/" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/2012/11/09/faq-do-i-have-fleas-or-bed-bugs/</a>

bed-bugscouk on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

bed-bugscouk — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:34:05 +0000

Hi, Sorry long day yesterday no spring = box spring. David

bugsonme on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

bugsonme — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:05:23 +0000

Thank you, David! So, you're thinking the blood stain is NOT from a crushed bed bug? I guess I better get my cat to the vet! Thank you... And, tucked up in bed. AHH. Soon I will feel comfy tucked up in bed thanks to the monitors :) Don't know what you mean by no spring? My box spring has a spring ... I'm very nervous about where to place them because I feel like if there are bb's here, they are already hiding VERY well! A month and still no signs .... Much appreciated.

sausages on "Something's biting me and driving me mad..."

sausages — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:13:46 +0000

Hi, so I think I might have bedbugs or fleas, but I'm not entirely sure... Several months ago we found a litter of stray kittens in our garden, which we took in and eventually re-homed. The kittens were quite clearly flea infested, which we had treated by a vet. I found some very itchy bites on my body after waking up one morning and freaked out, but my flatmate assured me (whether rightly or wrongly) that he had had cats before that had got fleas, and although they bit him a few times, they couldn't survive on human blood and so eventually died out without much hassle. I was skeptical, but sure enough the bites got less and less until it seemed like the problem had completely disappeared. I stopped getting bites, and there were even a few occasions where I'd go visit my folks or another friend for a few weeks (and would remain bite-free the whole time), and so I figured any fleas present in my bed would have just died in my absence. I thought nothing of it until about a month and a half ago, when I began to find bites again. This time, the bites came in threes and were in perfectly symmetrical lines, leading me to believe I had bedbugs. I wasted no time in contacting my local pest control service, who understandably said that they would require a sample (live or dead) of one of the bugs so that they could be certain they were using the correct treatment. I immediately washed my bedsheets and searched my room and bed for any traces of bedbugs, but found absolutely nothing. I've tried trapping one through the following methods, but to no avail (during each of these I was sleeping in a sleeping bag on top of my unmade bed, just to be sure my duvet didn't sag down in the night and allow any bugs to climb up); - I pulled the bed away from the wall, and placed a sheet of cardboard underneath each leg, which I then sprayed with insecticide. I didn't get bitten on the nights I tried this, but I also didn't wake up to find any dead bugs on the card, which is what I was hoping. - I then covered the legs of my bed in double-sided sticky tape (in addition to the sides, the wood at the bottom of the bed and the headrest) in the hopes that a bug would get stuck on there, but again, this has yielded no results. I still received bites whilst trying this. - I left several bowls of hot water in my room around and near the bed, hoping that the bugs would be attracted to the heat and climb in, but, again, nothing... Recently I've been losing a LOT of sleep lying awake at night worrying about just what could be biting me. Last night I could feel myself being bitten several times, each time I'd pull back the sheets and turn on the lights, to reveal a fresh bite on my body but absolutely no sign of any insect of any kind. Each time this happened I would search the sheets, lift up the mattress and scour around and underneath, but I haven't seen any sign of anything. :( I've started to think it may be fleas again, partly due to the fact that I've seen absolutely no sign of bedbugs (no droppings, no splats of blood etc.), and also because I guess a flea could have bitten me and then quickly jumped away when I turned on the light and tried to find the culprit. The thing that seems strange to me though, is that the fleas would have survived this long (especially if they managed to survive without feasting during the time I was away from the house), I thought they would have died out naturally by now? So my question to you is, based on what I've said, would you be more inclined to think this was a case of fleas or bugs? And if it is fleas, what kind of steps could I take towards eradicating them? Please help, if I don't get a good night's sleep sometime soon I think I'm going to go insane.

Nobugsonme on "Its Been Almost 60 Days........Im Scared To Say It"

Nobugsonme — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:44:08 +0000

Congratulations! Thank you for the update! And thanks again for posting a success story.

Nobugsonme on "True horror story: Bed bug lodged in my ear canal"

Nobugsonme — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:39:13 +0000

Ricky, Please don't keep reposting similar messages in old threads. There are other responses to your previous post <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/using-a-tent-for-sleeping-if-you-have-bed-bugs#post-170141">here</a>: <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/using-a-tent-for-sleeping-if-you-have-bed-bugs#post-170141" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/using-a-tent-for-sleeping-if-you-have-bed-bugs#post-170141</a> In future, starting one single topic about your situation is preferred to posting on old threads which haven't been updated for years, the <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/how-to-use-the-forums">How to Use the Forums FAQ explains how</a>.

Nobugsonme on "Prevention contracts"

Nobugsonme — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:29:04 +0000

[note: I will retract my comment -- see above -- since a PMP has challenged my opinion off the forums and of course, I don't claim expertise.]

jeffklein on "Need help on stain on bedding (photo included)"

jeffklein — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:51:17 +0000

Bedbug stains look more like someone took a black felt marker and touched the tip to a sheet. A lot of times you can find those little black markings in the cracks and crevices along the surfaces of rough areas where they are laying eggs. Usually we see bright red stains from people scratching either bites or other skin irritations.

bed-bugscouk on "2 years later +, The Saga Continues: An Update"

bed-bugscouk — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:35:14 +0000

Hi, I would go with 2. I have at time illustrated this point with people by making them itch or inducing a small skin reaction. Sorry you are going through this, if a chat on Skype wod help PM and we can arrange something when I am back in the UK. David Cain Bed Bugs Limited

bed-bugscouk on "True horror story: Bed bug lodged in my ear canal"

bed-bugscouk — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:28:35 +0000

Hi, Since you ignored my last comment I will make it again: Hi, Bedbugs in ears is certainly not something I have encountered in over 12 years and dealing with some of the most extreme infestations. I think the best advice is to seek medical assistance with this issue and by all means ask them to preserve samples for us to confirm. David Please be careful about bumping old threads to support your ideas because if I recall correctly one of the main participants on this one actually had Pscocids and not bedbugs.

bed-bugscouk on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

bed-bugscouk — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:18:54 +0000

Hi, The stain is fresh blood related and not faecal. The out ring is most likely lymph the clear to yellow fluid you often get in cuts and spots. The install sites are standard underside of sofa on the leading edge and head end of no spring base on the bed. I will include pictures to illustrate when I am on a PC rather than the phone tucked up in bed. David Cain Bed Bugs Limited

bed-bugscouk on "these seem like BB fecal stains? [a: maybe]"

bed-bugscouk — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:13:15 +0000

Hi, They certainly look feasible for faecal but something is just not quite right. If they are faecal they are old and have been treated. I would suggest testing with bed bug blue for 100% peace of mind, it can be found in the useful tools section. David Cain Bed Bugs Limited

taz711 on "Need help on stain on bedding (photo included)"

taz711 — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:43:11 +0000

It's very weird these stains mostly always appear when I'm not in my room. I'm either at work, in the shower or out and when I return they are there. I can't figure out what it can be. I have searched my mattress purchased a mattress encasement and pillow protectors yesterday. I am so freaked out :-/. Sometimes the spots are smaller and a little darker the one day I came home there were 3 round ones on my pillow. The thing is m not getting bit so I wasn't really sure. What do the bed bug stains normally look like? I did buy some of the bed bug monitors as well. I was so convinced it must be signs of bed bugs.

bed-bugscouk on "Need help on stain on bedding (photo included)"

bed-bugscouk — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:40:42 +0000

Hi, 100% not bedbug related. David Cain Bed Bugs Limited

wondering about on "PackTite owners in NYC?"

wondering about — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:39:01 +0000

Hi there, I'm wondering if any one in NYC or Brooklyn might have a PackTite I could use once and pay a few bucks to do so? I have a leather carry-on small suitcase/briefcase type piece of luggage I'd like to submit to the PackTite treatment. It is very old, well-worn and well liked and I wanted to try my luck here on this forum before tossing it out.

billybee on "these seem like BB fecal stains? [a: maybe]"

billybee — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:36:20 +0000

bump--no one saw the photos & has an opinion?

bugsonme on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

bugsonme — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:34:37 +0000

<blockquote><cite>P Bello - 12 minutes ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/big-big-thanks-and-little-assistance-placing-monitors-please#post-170569"> » </a></cite> OK, your foto is not clear enough for me to make a 100% determination however, what I see in the foto is not consistent with what I see in the field regarding bed bug fecal stains paul b.</blockquote> Yeah sorry it's kind of dark in my room and my camera is shot. They're red, I was thinking more blood stains, rather than fecal. But, wondered why there wouldn't be a pretty big dead bb around f it caused that mark.

bugsonme on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

bugsonme — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:31:48 +0000

yes, thank you .. it does! Actually, in my madness just after I realized my "bites" could possibly be bed bugs just over a month ago, Here is what I have done: Took bed skirt and comforter to Laundromat to wash/dry on hot- steam ironed the bed skirt before putting it back on. Bought some heavy duty, clear, shower curtain liners, took the covers off of my couch cushions and wrapped them in the shower curtain liners - taped the hell out of them - put the covers back on. There's a whole sleeping routine, socks, pants, etc, that I won't go all into ... I think about the loveseat there next to the couch but check it daily and find no sign of anything.

P Bello on "Need help on stain on bedding (photo included)"

P Bello — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:21:38 +0000

This does not look "bed buggie" to me. BTW, you sent a PM but I cannot open it because you did not place a subject to it. pjb

P Bello on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

P Bello — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:20:21 +0000

OK, your foto is not clear enough for me to make a 100% determination however, what I see in the foto is not consistent with what I see in the field regarding bed bug fecal stains. As for your couch; perhaps consider/purchase a sofa safe type product that completely encases your sofa which would seal in any bed bugs therein. As for strategic placement of your passive monitors DC will provide comment thereof as those are his invention. However, you need to place these such that bed bigs will encounter them and use them for fecal deposition and potential harborage. Hope this helps ! paul b.

bugsonme on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

bugsonme — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:07:26 +0000

Also ... wouldn't a blot spot that size yield a pretty large dead bb somewhere?

P Bello on "Prevention contracts"

P Bello — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:06:08 +0000

You also need to consider the "whys & wherefores" on these deals. For example, why would anyone do these deals if it didn't benefit them? And, in doing such a deal aren't you "betting against yourself" ? You're betting you will get bed bugs despite your prevention efforts whilst they're betting you won't. And, what is the warranty/guarranty on the services provided? Suppose the following: > You're into your "BB insurance service say three months or $150" so far when you find you've got bed bugs. > You call and they, as promised, schedule to do another $2,000 treatment. (Note that you've just paid only $150 for a $2,000 service, right?) > They show up and do the service work. > A week later you're still getting bitten. Is a follow up service included? And, if so, how many such services are included ? Remember that saying: "There's no free lunch." Note that the math only works out for the service provider if there are a sufficient number of service subscribers to off set the cost of the few who actually need the treatment work. Overall, it sounds like a ponzi scheme/insurance sheme hybridization mutant thing. So many questions ! However, remember that it's probably YOU who is going to put in the best effort at protecting yourself and your family from bed bugs ! Hope this helps ! paul b.

bugsonme on "BIG BIG THANKS! And little assistance placing monitors please."

bugsonme — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:05:11 +0000

Thank you sooo soo much to Nobugsonme for calling over to US Bed Bugs in an attempt to ship some monitors to me ... and thank you thank you to US Bed Bugs who decided to just send me a couple monitors ... thank you thank you!! So my monitors have arrived and I wondered if someone couldn't give me good ideas on best places to place them.... Here is my living room - where I have been sleeping. [img]http://<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95187254@N08/8771871641/"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/8771871641_a9cba6cfb6.jpg"></a>[/img] Here is my bedroom - sometimes I get up at 5am and sleep there for two hours before work. I have a "bed bug proof cover" on my matress, and a cheap bed cover on my box spring, both taped at the zipper. The box spring got a few holes from putting it back on the metal frame - and one tiny one I can't get tape to stay on. I feel like I get bit there.... [img]http://<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95187254@N08/8778441864/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8553/8778441864_2b1b0ed149.jpg"></a>[/img] And... thank you again to the kind folks for sending me a couple monitors. Just knowing they were coming, I had a normal life (aside from the constant drying of clothes, etc) this weekend! And, just when I had convinced myself that my problem couldn't be bb's ... I come home from work (after having only slept in my bed this morning from 5-7) and find this on the foot of my bed. Note: My cat had laid there ALL day, and he's been itching and scratching like mad and has hairballs and clumps of hair missing despite baths and constant checking with nothing found.... <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95187254@N08/8778443584/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/8778443584_f482ecf8d3.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95187254@N08/8778443584/">Untitled</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/95187254@N08/">LlSALOU</a>, on Flickr Any input appreciated!!!! thanks so soooooooo much ...

Notimeforthis on "Prevention contracts"

Notimeforthis — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:42:38 +0000

Thank you. We were looking at the pack tight. However I saw mixed reviews as to its sturdiness. Although its function to do what it claims was supported. I'm sure we will buy one before our next trip. I'm thinking I will just plant kidney beans in all my rooms and breed spiders....geeze I hate these things. I will ask my pco more questions regarding what the contract actually does and of course keep reading this forum.

Ricky1963 on "True horror story: Bed bug lodged in my ear canal"

Ricky1963 — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:13:43 +0000

bed bug eggs I dont know what to do for a year I been going crazy I been 2 hospitals and 1 ear doctor I have a hole in my eardrum the eggs hatch they come out my ear and a little tickle in my ears ever night I have little bites on my body the doctor says bed bugs dont stay in your ears well they do someone please help me I can feel them on my face and they get in my eyes my eyes gets red sometime but I do have a hole in my eardrum I feel them in both ears when i am breathe in and out my ears gets sore

arianacassie on "Its Been Almost 60 Days........Im Scared To Say It"

arianacassie — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:59:29 +0000

it has now been almost 120 days !! happy to report still bedbug free !!!!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel ppl wish everyone on here a speedy end to your bug issues! if i can get rid of them everyone can just have faith .

arianacassie on "Describe the smell - compare to food if you can."

arianacassie — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:54:19 +0000

For me it smelled like a musty basement.

taz711 on "Need help on stain on bedding (photo included)"

taz711 — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:32:34 +0000

P Bello on "Prevention contracts"

P Bello — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:32:25 +0000

Dear notime, In my experience and observation those type programs sound great but may deliver less than promised. As such, there are many questions to be considered. I would caution you to do your homework and make an informed choice prior to committing to a long term service agreement/contract. Additionally, the precautionary prevention steps you are currently utilizing, while they do require some additional effort, are your first line of defense in helping to avoid the need for another $2,000 treatment. DC, KQ & Others, Please note that a "sound prevention program" and "preventative treatments" are not the same thing. As an example, DC's passive monitors and other such devices are in fact a part of a prevention program. However, there are various programs utilizing various methodologies and techniques being implemented with success by various entitites. None of us can wear "blinders" or be ignorant to the fact that there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat that actually work. Hope this helps ! paul b.

P Bello on "Does DE + Ortho Home Spray work??"

P Bello — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:15:03 +0000

How long till you see dead ones? That depends on where they die, where you look, if you know how to look, if you know where to look and if you know what you're looking for. So, could be a few mins to never. DE - a slow killer, not my first choice in a dust product for bed bugs. Ortho - not sure which product you mean. What is the active ingredient(s) in your product (read it off the label & tell me the AI and the % thereof) ? Hope this helps ! paul b.