Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums: Recent Posts

scaredjenny on "Finally can upload pictures."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:06:00 +0000

Ok thanks for helping me. :-)))

3biteNightmare on "My field trial of Beauveria bassiana fungus use"

3biteNightmare — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:57:42 +0000

Hey everyone, wanted to post an update. I stopped using Bb as it seemed to be ineffective in my case. I switched to Bedlam for my mattress and after 2 applications (4weeks), my bed is now bite- free. This week the building's PCO came to my apt with Delta Dust and treated the apt including my couches. He saw my cans of Bedlam and commented "That's good stuff!". So we shall see. I still have my Bb, but I'm not really using it as of now. Seems the traditional multiple method + some pro help is inescapable if you're really serious. I realize some people get rid of bed bugs by themselves and some PCOs are jokers, but I still don't think there is a magic bullet. To answer Dave's question, weren't you using Tempo? I've read that most dusts kill residualy for many months. Delta Dust is advertised as being effective for up to 8 months if left undisturbed. It might be the leftover dust from your treatment before Bb. Bb isn't supposed to be able to survive past 2 weeks unless it is continually being "passed on" to new hosts to feed off of right? Anyway, its been 8 months now and I'm still being bit. Nothing in my climb ups and no harborages found yet. Not even the little black spots. Nothing. Maybe I've got ghost bugs but something is biting me in rows and all over my face. Sigh.

bed-bugscouk on "Finally can upload pictures."

bed-bugscouk — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:43:25 +0000

Hi, Admin can delete but will most likely just lock it and in a few days it will be gone from the main page. It's best where possible to stick to one thread to keep the information together though. David

scaredjenny on "Finally can upload pictures."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:14:41 +0000

Hi Not sure how to delete this question as it has already been answered in my last post. Never realise before I uploaded it! 9 days without sleep has driven me crazy! Haha thanks everyone.

loubugs on "Bed Bugs truly can live a LONG TIME without food..."

loubugs — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:03:44 +0000

Do you know the temperatures at which the boxes were stored? Did you notice if the bugs were extremely flat and if adults a dull brown/light brown?

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:37:25 +0000

Hi thanks I have uploaded it again I have opened a account with imgupr so will be able to post pictures now. Thanks :-))

scaredjenny on "Finally can upload pictures."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:32:05 +0000

Here it is from far away. <a href="http://imgur.com/Jlon2do" rel="nofollow">http://imgur.com/Jlon2do</a> it's really tiny.

bed-bugscouk on "Here pics again."

bed-bugscouk — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:31:47 +0000

Hi, If you are thinking it's faecal the density of the mark is too low so it can't be. Worth spending some time looking at images to increase your ID skills or at least setting up a Flickr account to make posting easier. David

scaredjenny on "Finally can upload pictures."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:28:42 +0000

Here's the picture, it was less then 1 mm in size, thanks <a href="http://imgur.com/Px1q99U" rel="nofollow">http://imgur.com/Px1q99U</a>

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:24:04 +0000

<a href="http://imgur.com/Px1q99U" rel="nofollow">http://imgur.com/Px1q99U</a>

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:15:13 +0000

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:05:56 +0000

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:04:52 +0000

Thanks for trying to look anyway! I have read all that but my daft computer is playing up because I was able to upload the pictures the other day! I will keep trying. :-))http://instagram.com/p/Zfhc8hxeYW/

bed-bugscouk on "Here pics again."

bed-bugscouk — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:44:17 +0000

Hi, No images visible, check instructions here: <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/test-13" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/test-13</a> David Cain Bed Bugs Limited

bed-bugscouk on "Invisible Infestation (5 months so far) Painful Bites [photo: dermestid beetle]"

bed-bugscouk — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:41:49 +0000

Hi, It's not bird mites, they can't jump and also tend to associate with the birds nest rather than being actively on the birds themselves. David

bed-bugscouk on "So, how common is recurrence, really?"

bed-bugscouk — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:36:28 +0000

Hi, Reoccurancenis a product of how you got bedbugs in the first place, therefore paint with a broad brush the picture looks like this: Got bedbugs at a hotel - low risk of occurance as most people don't return to the scene of the crime. Got bedbugs from work - higher risk as most people go to same work location 5 times a week. Got bedbugs from neighbour - high risk unless they get treated Got bedbugs at cinema - depends on your viewing frequency but seating location Behaviour is highly conserved so risk higher than perception. It's not that it's a vague question and more that its a complex issu, the patterns of which only become clear with tens of thousands of cases and as such no academic and only a few "hard core" professionals are qualified to comment (about 5 of us at last count - worldwide ). The solution is actually what you take on board from the encounter in terms of future avoidance and on-going monitoring. It's a lot easier to dodge the bullet the second time around because you know what to look for and how time consuming needing treatment is. Hope that helps David Cain Bed Bugs Limited

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:33:24 +0000

Trying again <img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/ZfeOpQxeWG/">

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:29:25 +0000

<img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/ZfdbXsReVj/"> hope this one has worked!

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:26:14 +0000

<img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/ZfdbXsReVj/"> <blockquote><cite>scaredjenny - 1 minute ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/here-pics-again#post-170367"> » </a></cite> <img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/Zfcst1ReVC/"> <blockquote><cite>scaredjenny - 1 minute ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/here-pics-again#post-170366"> » </a></cite> <img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/Zfcst1ReVC/"></blockquote></blockquote>

bed-bugscouk on "Bed Bugs? UK"

bed-bugscouk — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:26:13 +0000

Hi, Firstly welcome, not many UK folks on the forum but there are a few of us. The second thing is that checking hotel rooms is all about avoidance and thus needs to be every location to be certain. All that said bites on feet and leg would lead me to investigate fleas before bedbugs as bedbugs will typically feed from exposed skin first. I would therefore suggest a check in with the FAQ's to refresh your mind about bedbugs and fleas and have a look. There is also a lot of good info in the useful tools section. Hope that helps. David Cain Bed Bugs Limited Usually London based but in the US this week.

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:24:38 +0000

<img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/Zfcst1ReVC/"> <blockquote><cite>scaredjenny - 1 minute ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/here-pics-again#post-170366"> » </a></cite> <img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/Zfcst1ReVC/"></blockquote>

scaredjenny on "Here pics again."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:23:04 +0000

scaredjenny on "ID pic please."

scaredjenny — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:21:32 +0000

Is this bed bug poo, it's a bit blurred on the photo but its less then 1 mm in size. Thankyou.<img src="http://http://instagram.com/p/Zfcst1ReVC/">

Nobugsonme on "What to bag before treatment, besides clothes"

Nobugsonme — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:07:12 +0000

Alcohol-wiping and vacuuming things down is by a reliable way to kill or remove every bed bug or egg present. Running dry clothing through a hot dryer for 1/2 hour does. So I would consider a sealed bag of clothing run through a hot dryer "treated," but a bag of items vacuumed or wiped down "untreated."

nmurcia on "Invisible Infestation (5 months so far) Painful Bites [photo: dermestid beetle]"

nmurcia — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:52:16 +0000

Wow, I have had the same problem for a week now, invisible bugs biting me. Started the day I was in the blackberry tree picking berries and shooing the birds away. I have suffered for a week with an itchy body, head and prickly feeling of bite and when I look nothing there. Yet I have bite marks throughout the week, under arms, legs, thighs, stomach, back. They itch a few days and seem to get dry. Then more bites appear and I couldn't figure out what it was. But after reading this forum and seeing the bugs in the container.. ugh, figured it was a mite and yes it bites. Now it all makes sense. Today after picking berries and then i was looking at the bottom of the container I noticed the miniscule little mites, they moved quick and seem to jump. Bird mites? Fruit/ tree mites? I immediately went in to get those clothes off and directly into washer and a hot, hot shower. Now praying that I've washed them all off. I've stripped my bed and bleached the sheets and now definitely staying away from that blackberry tree. The birds win!!!

cilecto on "Prevention: Vintage Toys & Collectibles"

cilecto — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:43:56 +0000

> - Are they truly odorless? My family has a bunch of REALLY sensitive noses, so that's important. Odor is not the main problem with DDVP strips. The vapors they emit can be harmful to humans in sufficient doses. They need to be used in accordance with their label, which IIRC, calls for not using inside spaces occupied by people for significant lengths of time.

bugsinsf on "What to bag before treatment, besides clothes"

bugsinsf — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:02:18 +0000

Thanks, Nobugsonme! Just one clarification, what do you mean by "untreated"? I did vacuum and wipe stuff with rubbing alcohol. Thanks.

Atwarwithbedbugs on "Sleepless and losing my mind over these bugs!"

Atwarwithbedbugs — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:59:59 +0000

Thank you everyone. I will do my research and ask questions, I don't think I asked enough questions when this company came. I think I freaked out more than anything and wanted the help ASAP. I just read horror stories of people who spent so much money and they still have bed bugs. I understand no one wants to write a success story right away because the problem may not actually be gone yet and then they forget becuase they want to get their life back to normal. I don't blame them one bit. I've been in my house for almost 2 months and I'm still not fully unpacked after discovering these almost 2 weeks after we moved in. I've drained my wallet buying my kids new mattresses and encasements for every bed, mattress and box spring. These things are brutal! My sympathies for everyone out there dealing with this!

bugsinsf on "So, how common is recurrence, really?"

bugsinsf — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:59:20 +0000

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of explanation I was looking for!

franks2000inchtv on "Bed Bugs truly can live a LONG TIME without food..."

franks2000inchtv — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:58:12 +0000

It all started June 2011 in Chicago. My boyfriend and I had just moved into a super dumpy cheap apartment. Until then I thought "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite" was just a saying. Neither of us had ever had them before. We moved in, and a month later had a trip to CA to visit his family. During the time in CA, about 4-5 days in, I realized I had tons of extremely itchy bug bits all over my feet. I thought they were mosquito bites, but hadn't even seen a mosquito since I had been there. I knew my boyfriend had itchy bites too. It took a few days to sink in, but we put 2 and 2 together. After getting back to Chicago we immediately looked at the bed. At the foot of the bed we saw the black spots on the bed. I was so stressed out and exhausted I said "I don't care, I'm sleeping on the bed anyways". I moved a pillow and a bed bug ran across the top of it... I was mortified. We slept on the couch. We knew absolutely nothing about bed bugs. Our landlord was a very old Indian man who didn't know what bed bugs were. He thought they were just like mites that live in a mattress or that they eat food like cock roaches. He said we probably didn't know but had them in our mattress the whole time. No.. obviously not since we've never had them before.. but there was a language barrier and he obviously just didn't comprehend the severity of the situation. He gave us "poison" to spray which ended up being bleach and it bleached my black couch. After talking to EVERYONE else in the apartment building we realized we were the only people who had them. Which is a good thing and a bad thing. Did I mention when we moved into our apartment, the people who lived there before us were clearly extremely filthy? Graffiti and food smeared all over the walls. Grease on the broken chandelier in the kitchen. Broken doors and door handles. I think they were gang bangers. After tons of researching on the internet and talking to people we bought some Diatomaceous Earth and sprinkled it all over the entire apartment. Luckily we had wood floors. We bought spray poison from home depot which the bed bugs loved. It didn't work at all, and they seemed to enjoy the lovely shower. Thank god for a pest control place right by our apartment called Bug Stop. They sold my boyfriend a poison called Insectrin X (which is Permethrin). We bought a professional pump sprayer apparatus and saturated every crack and surface and piece of furniture in that apartment. Just completely doused everything. Since the apartment was old there were huge cracks in between the wall and the trim that goes along the floor. At one point I saw a bed bug desperately run out of there and up the wall. I'm pretty sure they were in there just WAITING for us to move in and push the bed up against the wall. Luckily I already had my bed on a metal frame so after treating we just kept it away from the wall. As for our laundry, we washed a lot of it, and some of it I *think* we just put through the dryer for an hour or so at a laundry mat. I wish I remembered because it would probably be relevant to why I have them again. The treatments worked pretty quickly. We really didn't have a bad infestation because we caught it fast enough. After tearing the backing off the box springs and spraying it, I could see only 2 - 3 small areas where the bed bugs were setting up shop. After 2 treatments they were completely gone.... Fast forward to March 2012. We move to a new apartment.. we've been bed bug free since August 2011. We live 100% bed bug free. I move in with my dad in Michigan in July 2012. I live bed bug free UNTIL APRIL 2013 WHEN I GET A BOX OUT OF STORAGE THAT WAS IN MY MOM'S BASEMENT IN MICHIGAN SINCE OUR ORIGINAL BED BUG SCARE. So these little bastards were essentially living with NO FOOD from June 2011 until April 2013. Almost 2 years. THERE IS NO WHERE ELSE THEY COULD HAVE CAME FROM. I've exhausted every possibility of where they could have came from and it had to have been getting my comforter out of storage from my mom's basement. I must have had my comforter on the bed and taken it off and put it in storage before we knew we had bed bugs. Or maybe I just ran it through the dryer and it wasn't hot enough? I just don't remember, and I wish I did. I don't even remember using that comforter there, but it was in that apartment before I took it back to my mom's. My mom never had bed bugs. They never ventured out into her house. They simply were dormant for almost 2 years. Luckily, again, I caught them very quickly. After taking off my clothes for a shower I saw 1 bloated (with blood) nymph on the bathroom floor that was too fat to run. THANK GOD that happened or I probably still wouldn't know about them. The past 2 months I went through the whole routine again. Only this time I've bought Eradicator laundry detergent for washing all of my bedding and clothes, and Permethrin 10 from Tractor Supply Co to spray. Unfortunately I now live in a very nice carpeted condo with a King Sized mattress which I can't even move on my own to spray. While dousing everything with Permethrin I only found 1 tiny spot where I think the bed bugs may have been. There were a few small black spots. Other than that I saw 1 in my pillow case, and 1 that died after treatment. I haven't had any bites in a few weeks, but every bump or itch on my body just freaks me out. Plus I have some acne, and also spend a lot of time outside and the mosquitoes are out in full force this year. It's so nerve wracking! Plus I think I don't even react to bug bites anymore like I used to. The bed bug bites this time didn't even itch. I didn't even think they were bug bites until I found the nymph. I've doused everything twice this time. Here's hoping they're really gone for good.......................... I hope this story helps someone. Just know that they can live.. pretty much forever with no food :|

cilecto on "I REALLY NEED HELP! Land Lord is making bad decision!"

cilecto — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:43:29 +0000

Heat treatment (as in heating up a home or room to BB-lethal temperature) requires people who really know what they're doing. If not, the result can be a worse infestation or a destroyed home. What kind of heat treatment did your landlord do and who did it? Bean leaves are pretty iffy as a treatment. Leaves don't trap all the bugs in your home and they lose their effectiveness quickly. If your landlord (who wants to eradicate an infestation with bean leaves) is the one who applied heat, you might want to get advice from an expert PCO and perhaps a lawyer. If you want to better understand how bed bugs are beat, review our FAQ and a "comprehensive guide" from our Resources page.

Nobugsonme on "So, how common is recurrence, really?"

Nobugsonme — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:20:30 +0000

You should see a reduction in numbers after every treatment. If you get to three and there seems to be a little bit of a problem persisting, then you need another. I gather most cases are handled in about 3 treatments. Yours probably will be too. However, see everything I wrote about about continued sources of exposure above. People who have bed bugs and 4 or more treatments often have a continued source of exposure. Also see how I responded in <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-to-bag-before-treatment-besides-clothes">the other thread about bagging</a>. Any bugs or eggs bagged up could end up dragging this out.

Nobugsonme on "Sleepless and losing my mind over these bugs!"

Nobugsonme — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:13:21 +0000

<blockquote>Should the PCO spray again at no additional charge since he said I only needed one treatment? He charged me $285 for one treatment and I'm not sure how thorough the guy was that came. He did not say anything about a fee when I talked to him, but I'm not going to assume there's no fee. Should I possibly look into another company?</blockquote> We hear most treatments take 2-3 visits spaced about two weeks apart. Sometimes they take more, sometimes only one, but that should never be assumed, and a lot of people who think they always get it in one may just not be getting callbacks because they charge by the treatment and the customer decides to try someone else. A few PCOs routinely "do it in one" but it's labor-intensive and they take a very long time inspecting and finding and killing every last bed bug. They don't just do a quick spray and dust. The only reason to call this guy again is if you think he knows his stuff and if the treatment will be covered as part of what you already paid for. That depends what kind of agreement you had. Some PCOs promise to eliminate bed bugs, some promise X number of treatments. I don't know what you were sold. If it was one treatment, well, I would choose someone else if you can find someone knowledgeable and get them in sooner.

billybee on "these seem like BB fecal stains?"

billybee — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:09:57 +0000

Hi, I'm subletting this summer and the students subletting to me are actually moving into the apartment in September. They got a mattress and box spring from their friend at a different apartment and left it for me in my bedroom. I checked the seams and didn't find any bugs and didn't see any splotches of stains--their friend said it was fine (although the mattress was old & beat to hell). But a day later I looked again and noticed some brown and black spots on the edges of the mattress and box spring. I took some pictures with my phone: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346788/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346788/</a> Here's the above area, a bit closer: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346978" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346978</a> The spots were mostly in small groupings, but I decided to check them against photos on the web of bed bug stains close-up and... they looked VERY, VERY the same to me. So there are more than several groupings like this. There are more dots on the edges toward the corners of the mattress, as opposed to on the edges in the middle. And there were less dots on the edges of the box spring. I'm guessing the mattress had or currently has a low-grade infestation, since the spots never accrued to make big splotches. We threw out the mattress and box spring, so they were only there for 2 days. But I'm worried that a few bugs, maybe a female, escaped. Am I off on this? Are these stains something else entirely?--even though some of those dots show up in places that couldn't be marking by touching some dirt--tiny, isolated spots only a bug can get to like this one: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8751225535/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8751225535/</a> Thanks very much, if any experienced eye can help. The mattress and box spring was at the place for over 2 nights; I'm hoping if those were bed bug stains, then the stains are old or 3 days isn't enough for the bugs to leave their homestead and enter mine. Adam

Nobugsonme on "Sleepless and losing my mind over these bugs!"

Nobugsonme — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:08:24 +0000

<blockquote><cite>Atwarwithbedbugs - 9 hours ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/sleepless-and-losing-my-mind-over-these-bugs#post-170313"> » </a></cite> Thanks. I will keep everyone updated who reads this. Sometimes when I'm reading posts on here, I'm surprised no one writes back after a few months or so to say they no longer have BBs or haven't been bitten in a while. That's what I want to see, success stories!!! :) </blockquote> Believe me, when people do still have bed bugs or get them again, they do come back and tell us and ask for help. I assume most people who leave don't post a success story right away because they are cautious and want a few months to go by before declaring victory (people tell us that all the time). I suspect many of them are so done with bed bugs by then that they forget to come back and write a success story. I can understand that. I hope your problem is gone soon and that you will come back and update us. In the meantime, there are <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/forum/success-stories">over 350 success stories from people who didn't forget to update us here.</a>