http://bedbugger.com/forum/ Bed bug support forums en Sun, 19 May 2013 05:55:40 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/invisible-infestation-5-months-so-far-painful-bites-no-bugs-to-be-found#post-170363 Sat, 18 May 2013 23:52:16 +0000 nmurcia 170363@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>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.<br /> I have suffered for a week with an itchy body, head and prickly feeling of bite and when I look nothing there.<br /> 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.<br /> But after reading this forum and seeing the bugs in the container.. ugh, figured it was a mite and yes it bites.<br /> 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.<br /> Bird mites? Fruit/ tree mites?<br /> I immediately went in to get those clothes off and directly into washer and a hot, hot shower.<br /> Now praying that I've washed them all off.<br /> I've stripped my bed and bleached the sheets and now definitely staying away from that blackberry tree.<br /> The birds win!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/prevention-vintage-toys-amp-collectibles#post-170362 Sat, 18 May 2013 22:43:56 +0000 cilecto 170362@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>&gt; - Are they truly odorless? My family has a bunch of REALLY sensitive noses, so that's important.</p> <p>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. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-to-bag-before-treatment-besides-clothes#post-170361 Sat, 18 May 2013 22:02:18 +0000 bugsinsf 170361@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thanks, Nobugsonme!</p> <p>Just one clarification, what do you mean by "untreated"? I did vacuum and wipe stuff with rubbing alcohol.</p> <p>Thanks. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/sleepless-and-losing-my-mind-over-these-bugs#post-170360 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:59:59 +0000 Atwarwithbedbugs 170360@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>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! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/so-how-common-is-recurrence-really#post-170359 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:59:20 +0000 bugsinsf 170359@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thanks, that's exactly the kind of explanation I was looking for! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-truly-can-live-a-long-time-without-food#post-170358 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:58:12 +0000 franks2000inchtv 170358@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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). </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.... </p> <p>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.</p> <p>My mom never had bed bugs. They never ventured out into her house. They simply were dormant for almost 2 years. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>I've doused everything twice this time. Here's hoping they're really gone for good.......................... </p> <p>I hope this story helps someone. Just know that they can live.. pretty much forever with no food :| </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/i-really-need-help-land-lord-is-making-bad-decision#post-170357 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:43:29 +0000 cilecto 170357@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>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?</p> <p>Bean leaves are pretty iffy as a treatment. Leaves don't trap all the bugs in your home and they lose their effectiveness quickly.</p> <p>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. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/so-how-common-is-recurrence-really#post-170356 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:20:30 +0000 Nobugsonme 170356@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>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. </p> <p>I gather most cases are handled in about 3 treatments. Yours probably will be too.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/sleepless-and-losing-my-mind-over-these-bugs#post-170355 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:13:21 +0000 Nobugsonme 170355@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><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.<br /> Should I possibly look into another company?</blockquote></p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>If it was one treatment, well, I would choose someone else if you can find someone knowledgeable and get them in sooner. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/these-seem-like-bb-fecal-stains#post-170354 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:09:57 +0000 billybee 170354@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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 &amp; 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:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346788/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346788/</a></p> <p>Here's the above area, a bit closer:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346978" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8752346978</a></p> <p>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. </p> <p>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.</p> <p>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:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8751225535/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/95850046@N03/8751225535/</a></p> <p>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.</p> <p>Adam </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/sleepless-and-losing-my-mind-over-these-bugs#post-170353 Sat, 18 May 2013 21:08:24 +0000 Nobugsonme 170353@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <blockquote><p><cite>Atwarwithbedbugs - 9 hours ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/sleepless-and-losing-my-mind-over-these-bugs#post-170313"> » </a></cite><br /> 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!!! :)</p> </blockquote> <p>Believe me, when people do still have bed bugs or get them again, they do come back and tell us and ask for help.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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 <em>didn't</em> forget to update us here.</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-to-bag-before-treatment-besides-clothes#post-170352 Sat, 18 May 2013 20:50:50 +0000 Nobugsonme 170352@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Please read <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/27/faq-how-do-i-prepare-for-pest-control-treatment/">the FAQ I linked to above</a> if you haven't yet-- it discusses bagging untreated items and when those bags should be unpacked. </p> <p>It talks about the problem with bagging untreated items and waiting until treatment is done before unbagging them. (And I'm not just talking about opening the bags but taking the stuff out.) If the items were not treated, yes, common sense says they may have bed bugs inside.</p> <p>You can treat them somehow (eg Packtite, <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/03/29/what-is-a-packtite/">see FAQ on that</a>) putting items in the machine while bagged to avoid spread, or you can unpack them carefully, keeping your eye out for any bed bugs (to be killed instantly) and understanding that if there are residual sprays/dusts in your home, then the bed bugs<em> may</em> cross those and die. This isn't guaranteed but it's better than waiting until treatment is over, IMO.</p> <p>I'm not a pro, that's just my logical opinion. I suspect pros who tell people to bag untreated things and unpack them after treatment either (a) haven't thought it through, or (b) are hoping you'll hire them for more treatments after the problem resurfaces. </p> <p>I doubt they fall into the second camp, so let's assume the first and you can ask them some more pointed questions at this point. I'm not saying you should just ignore your PCO's directions, but I think you're right to be concerned and you should discuss them at greater length with a manager. And I would stick to a manager. It may be some of the folks you're talking to don't know a whole lot about bed bugs beyond what they actually do.</p> <p>Leaving stuff bagged in the sun is very unlikely to be helpful. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/so-how-common-is-recurrence-really#post-170351 Sat, 18 May 2013 20:32:18 +0000 bugsinsf 170351@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thanks!</p> <p>By "treatment" I meant doing the scheduled number of visits: 3, maybe 4, etc. Sorry, should have clarified.</p> <p>My question, in other words, was: how likely are we to kill all bed bugs in the house after 3 or 4 chemical applications? (Again, stressing that I know the answer varies). </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-castexoskeleton-please-help-id#post-170350 Sat, 18 May 2013 20:26:08 +0000 Brooklyn22 170350@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thank you both so much. You've put my mind at ease. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/so-how-common-is-recurrence-really#post-170349 Sat, 18 May 2013 20:20:44 +0000 Nobugsonme 170349@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>People write a lot of hysterical things about what needs to be done before bed bug treatment -- remember a lot of people giving such advice are panicked at the time. I would put more stock in what the PCO recommends, since he has (hopefully) inspected the area and has experience.</p> <p>Here's my question: What does "recurrence" mean?</p> <p>I think the situation you're referring to -- bed bugs <em>persisting, coming back, or seeming to come back</em>, depends on three possibilities:</p> <p>1) All bed bugs were not eliminated during treatment.</p> <p>I don't know what your PCO means by treatment. Does he claim to eliminate all bed bugs in one spray? Two? Three? Any of these are possible, but we're told most spray/dust treatments take two or three visits, sometimes more.</p> <p>Remember if treatment fails, people don't tend to call the original PCO in unless more visits are already covered by previous payments, so not getting callbacks doesn't always = success.</p> <p>On the other hand, while I'm not a PCO, it doesn't seem odd to me that you were not asked to bag kitchen gear. I would not worry about your PCO's approach based on that.</p> <p>But if you were asked to bag<em> untreated</em> items in the other living areas, <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/27/faq-how-do-i-prepare-for-pest-control-treatment/">you might want to read this FAQ on prep and bagging carefully.</a></p> <p>My suggestion would be to get treatments approx. every two weeks until the problem is eliminated. Use some kind of passive monitoring system to confirm bed bugs don't persist. Don't rely on bug sightings or lack of skin reactions as confirmation.</p> <p>The bottom line is you don't have to "sterilize" your home, you just need to kill all the bed bugs. </p> <p>2) You have a continued source of exposure (either attached to your home, like an attached neighbor, or you are/ someone else is bringing them in from another place repeatedly).</p> <p>No one can tell you how likely you are to bring them in again, but if there is a continued source of exposure, you want to be careful and take precautions.</p> <p>Social workers who go to people's homes, frequent travelers, flight crew, and others who may be routinely exposed to bed bugs may want to take special steps to avoid bringing them home. (Packtites -- <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/03/29/what-is-a-packtite/">here's a FAQ</a> --can help.) The <a href="http://bedbugger.com/faqs/travel">travel FAQs</a> may help also for mitigating various kinds of exposure situations, not just travel. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-id-please-8#post-170348 Sat, 18 May 2013 20:02:22 +0000 LBuggy 170348@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thanks Loubugs and PJB. I found it on the inside section of an interceptor (coming out of the bed) which is pretty far from the pantry. Not sure if there is a kitchen on the other side of the apartment wall though. </p> <p>I don't think I have a macro on the camera. But will check. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-castexoskeleton-please-help-id#post-170347 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:44:53 +0000 KillerQueen 170347@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <blockquote><p><cite>Brooklyn22 - 2 hours ago <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-castexoskeleton-please-help-id#post-170335">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;</a></cite><br /> Thank you for your help! Could you clarify a bit. I'm not sure what this means. Not a bed bug?</p></blockquote> <p>It means it NOT from a Bed Bug. Look at pictures on google - search "woodlouse" or "sow bug" and compare to your sample. It will be clear what Lou is talking about. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/so-how-common-is-recurrence-really#post-170346 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:41:57 +0000 bugsinsf 170346@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I realize this question is intrinsically vague and the exact answer would depend on a thousand factors, but here it is anyway, just to get an idea.</p> <p>When we read about bed bugs on the net, we get the impression that unless you pretty much sterilize your place perfectly, they will be back. We hear that it's really hard to get rid of them, and only the most stringent preparation and treatment will work, and many times not even that.</p> <p>On the other hand, I realize that a complete, total preparation seems not to be the rule. My PCO, for example, did not ask me to bag the stuff in my kitchen area, even though I live in a studio. I asked him for how long he's been treating bed bugs and how often does the treatment fails, and he said "10 years", and "pretty much never, unless people bring bugs again from, say, a friend's house". It's likely he is somewhat biased, but to say that they almost never come back after doing treatments for ten years does make me think that at least *most* treatments do work right away. So that kind of thing makes me wonder that perhaps recurrence is not *that* common, and that one gets that impression from the web because people with horror stories are more likely to be posting about their experience. Those who had a treatment and got the problem solved probably just move on with their lives and don't think much about it anymore.</p> <p>So, my question is, does anybody get a sense of what the typical recurrence probability is? I assume that large, old houses have higher recurrence rates. My own case is a relatively new studio. Any idea?</p> <p>Thanks. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/talstar-professional-any-good#post-170345 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:37:36 +0000 KillerQueen 170345@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Better to dust behind the wall with a product like Tempo 1%, Drione, or Delta dust. Dusting cracks, crevices, and voids will always provide you with the most effective and longest lasting residual. You can then spray the outer "crevices" along the baseboard with Transport Mikron or Temprid SC. These are two very good choices for residual liquids. Please read all directions and follow the label accordingly. Including protective equipment and reentry times. </p> <p>That being said ...... I would have a hard time believing you found two bugs (Bed Bugs - that is) behind a baseboard and nowhere else if you're dealing with Bed Bugs. These are "spill over" areas that would suggest significant evidence can be found in the "common harborage" areas first. </p> <p>Far too often we/I see people reporting they found a Bed Bug or evidence off, only to be wrong some 90% of the time or more. </p> <p>If you saved your evidence please post a picture here for confirmation. </p> <p>PS. I don't recommend self treating and would rather see people hire a professional. The advice given is for education purposes only and in no way do I recommend you use these products without the proper training/understanding about said chemicals and their application. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vikane-fumigation-for-car-in-the-chicago-area#post-170344 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:31:48 +0000 Nobugsonme 170344@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>See theboss's update in this thread:<br /> <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vikane-for-cars-close-to-chicago" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vikane-for-cars-close-to-chicago</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-to-bag-before-treatment-besides-clothes#post-170343 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:28:17 +0000 bugsinsf 170343@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thank you all for your useful and supportive replies.</p> <p>I approached by PCO with the question of whether I should keep things bagged until the end of the treatment (reminder: I vacuumed and wiped, or at least wiped, them all, but am afraid some egg may have escaped), or if I should open the bags before treatment is over so that if there are any bugs inside they can walk to the poison. They told me I should keep it all bagged until treatment is over, and that if I open the bags I will provide a place for them to hide (inside the bag). The answer does not make sense to me. I guess they assume the inside of the bags is really clean and bug-free.</p> <p>Actually one of the techs told me that I should open the bags after treatment, and "keep an eye" for any bugs inside. That sounded crazy to me, since this was coming from the same guy who had to come here twice to only find a single nymph, and even so he needed to take a picture with a cell phone to zoom, because it was so small the naked eye could not tell.</p> <p>Another tech was more reasonable and told me that I should keep the bags in the sun so the heat can kill any bugs inside. That sounds good and worth doing no matter what, but I doubt that *all* parts of the bag will be heated enough.</p> <p>Finally, I got the answer that I should not open the bags to prevent bugs from getting inside them when I called the PCO (person there seems to be more knowledgeable, but again, it's not an answer that I find completely reasonable).</p> <p>What I think I will end up doing is keeping stuff in the sun, wiping everything again when I open the bags, one at a time, and "keep an eye" for any bugs. Does that sound like the best course of action, or would you still open the bags before treatment is over?</p> <p>Thanks. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-help-with-two-ids#post-170342 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:26:16 +0000 EffeCi 170342@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>first one: a Psocid<br /> second one: a cast skin, likely a carpet beetle one </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-help-with-two-ids#post-170341 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:24:10 +0000 KillerQueen 170341@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Nothing Bed bug related here. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/talstar-professional-any-good#post-170340 Sat, 18 May 2013 19:11:57 +0000 beardog 170340@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thanks for the reply,I will do some more looking around for Transport.I just do not want to waste my money or time on something that is not going to work.I will check out transport and see what it is about and try it or something else.I need a good residual spray because I know I have bedbugs but I have only seen 2 and they were behind my wall trim on the floor.Any help would be great.Thank You. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/prevention-vintage-toys-amp-collectibles#post-170339 Sat, 18 May 2013 18:06:06 +0000 vintagetoylover 170339@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi everybody!</p> <p>I don't currently HAVE A bed bug problem - and I want to KEEP it that way! As a result, I've gone from a hardcore thrift shop maven to someone who tends to prefer to steer clear of second-hand goods due to the risks involved. I consider myself lucky that I never encountered ANY kinds of bugs in my prior adventures, but I'm just not willing to keep taking such risks.</p> <p>However, my greatest passion in life is collecting toys - particularly vintage ones from the 80s and 90s. This, obviously, presents a bit of a problem, in that it's literally IMPOSSIBLE to acquire these things new from the store. I have two options: Quit collecting something I'm very passionate about... or figure out a way to prevent any new treasures I find from infecting my house.</p> <p>So my main question is: <strong>What's the best way of preventing bed bugs on vintage vinyl/plastic toys bought second-hand?</strong></p> <p>I've read a bunch of sites and the FAQs here, but most things seem to be referring to furniture, linens, clothes, stuffed animals... stuff like that. I've found very little specifically targeting these kinds of items. I also have issues with (and questions about) all of the main prevention/killing methods...</p> <p>Washing:<br /> - If a toy is, say, solid and has no major nooks or crannies where bugs could hide, is a simple washing with soap and water good enough? I've heard that the eggs are nearly invisible and can stick to things... but I'm not sure just how invisible/sticky they are.<br /> - How deep does a "crevice" have to be to be a problem? Would, say, the joints on a poseable doll be considered a potential nesting place? Or would they need to be deeper/larger than that?</p> <p>Heat:<br /> - I keep seeing this as the best solution, but I'm not sure it will work for me. Some toys' vinyl will literally start to break down if exposed to too high of temperatures for too long. Has anyone had experiences heat-treating vintage toys or collectibles without damage?<br /> - A tumble in the dryer seems like a good way to break things - and a PackTite is WAY too expensive for me. However, I keep seeing that solar heating is really unreliable. Is there a way to do this with an indoor/outdoor thermometer that would make it a bit more reliable? My attic DOES get plenty hot in the summer...</p> <p>Freezing:<br /> - Probably would do less damage to some toys than heating, but I can't afford a professional freezer, so I think this is out... Unless there's any other ways?</p> <p>Pest Strips:<br /> - Are they truly odorless? My family has a bunch of REALLY sensitive noses, so that's important.<br /> - Do they damage the items inside the bags in any way? Do they leave a residue on them?<br /> - How dangerous are they? What's the best way to air things out after removing them from the bags?<br /> - Can you reuse the same strip for multiple bags? Or is it "spent" after a single bag, even if it's only been a few weeks?<br /> - Isn't using ACTUAL pesticides for prevention a bit of overkill? I keep thinking it is...</p> <p>Submerging in Water:<br /> - I've read that this doesn't work... but why? It seems like there'd have to be SOME amount of time that would eventually drown the little jerks or at least make them swim out of the toy/item.</p> <p>Storing for 2 Years:<br /> - This would cause no damage whatsoever, so it's great in that respect.<br /> - I've read that you have to use the HUGE "storage" Ziploc bags for this and not the regular "food" ones. But I have sandwich bags and gallon-sized "storage" bags that seem pretty air-tight. Why does it have to be the giant ones? They're WAY too big for my needs. Would the smaller ones work as well? Or is there a certain kind I could get that would work but aren't as huge?</p> <p>If anyone could offer me some help and guidance with this, I'd REALLY appreciate it. I know it's probably partially my OCD talking here, but I just can't stop worrying about this and I'm getting a bit depressed at how it's completely destroyed my favorite hobby for me :(</p> <p>ANY help is welcome!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-help-with-two-ids#post-170338 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:37:34 +0000 NMCOT 170338@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>Over the past two months my wife has been bitten on 4 different occasions: each about two weeks apart. Three times there have been 3 to 4 bites in a close grouping and on one occasion there was only 1 bite. The bites become raised like mosquito bites and are extremely itchy. The last set of bites also brought on a rash near the bite location. Thus far we have thoroughly checked the bed, box spring, metal frame, nightstands, armoire, dresser, and have found no evidence of bed bugs. Besides many spiders and dead ants we found only the insects described below.</p> <p>The insect with the entire body in the photo is extremely small. It was trapped (along with about 9 or 10 others) in tape which was around an air conditioner. The photo was taken through a microscope with 150X magnification.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8750740251/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8750740251_21f8eb0e9e.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8750740251/">tiny bug</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/95916299@N08/">NMCOT</a>, on Flickr</p> <p>The other photos are of a second insect found on the top of an armoire. In the photo, also taken through the microscope, the insect was on its back.The body broke in two after taking this photo. It was about the size and shape of a sesame seed. The body was a rust color with a dark border. In the other photos the insect will appear slightly larger than it really was because I placed the two broken body parts together.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8750739751/"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8257/8750739751_4fd2886635.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8750739751/">bigger bug</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/95916299@N08/">NMCOT</a>, on Flickr</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8750739625/"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2885/8750739625_b7555c335b.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8750739625/">top</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/95916299@N08/">NMCOT</a>, on Flickr</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8751862024/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/8751862024_1aceb0414f.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8751862024/">qtip top</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/95916299@N08/">NMCOT</a>, on Flickr</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8751862128/"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/8751862128_61ce2f84ec.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95916299@N08/8751862128/">qtip fr</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/95916299@N08/">NMCOT</a>, on Flickr</p> <p>Thanks for any help.</p> <p>Jim </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-id-possible#post-170337 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:25:54 +0000 loubugs 170337@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I think it has something to do with pentatomid bugs; the double dark spots on the circumference reminds me of various species, such as brown marmorated stink bug. It's a guess, anyway. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vikane-for-cars-close-to-chicago#post-170336 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:24:33 +0000 theboss 170336@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi..after being told how "unusual" and "rare" it would be for my car to be infested by my PCO, sure enough, it was, and I've been reinfesting my condo and vice versa, vicious cycle. If your car is infested you've got to get it fixed or your chances of fixing the whole situation are low.</p> <p>Could not find a company to Vikane my car in Chicago, which surprised me because we are a huge BB market. I would suggest Vikane because there are sooooooo many cracks and crevasses in which to hide, it's the best and most effective way to get it over with it. </p> <p>After a relentless search spending days on the phone, found a great place two hours away from Chicago close to Bloomington IL...they did a great job, and were nice guys as well, so I want to share. Also, several car rental companies in Bloomington will drop off a rental for you if you need it, so that this is a day trip from Chicago to drop the car off on Day 1, and pick it up Day 2.</p> <p>Fumigation Services<br /> Levi Farrell<br /> 309 310 1930<br /> <a href="mailto:l.farrell1989@hotmail.com">l.farrell1989@hotmail.com</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-castexoskeleton-please-help-id#post-170335 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:23:20 +0000 Brooklyn22 170335@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Thank you for your help! Could you clarify a bit. I'm not sure what this means. Not a bed bug? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-castexoskeleton-please-help-id#post-170334 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:20:53 +0000 loubugs 170334@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It's basically what's left of an isopod or woodlouse, a land crustacean. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-castexoskeleton-please-help-id#post-170333 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:20:33 +0000 loubugs 170333@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It's basically what's left of an isopod or woodlouse, a land crustacean. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/please-do-not-use-imageshack-to-host-photos-for-id#post-170332 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:18:20 +0000 loubugs 170332@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I like Flickr.com. You upload large images and it resizes so when you go there, you can download the largest in order to view properly what people have uploaded for identification. So it's also in your best interest to upload the image with the highest resolution. Play with your camera/phone so you know when something is actually in focus; don't necessarily rely on the autofocus mode because it doesn't always work. It's best to be able to set camera or phone to macro mode, too. This is best for close up pictures. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/possible-bed-bug-castexoskeleton-please-help-id#post-170331 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:15:50 +0000 Brooklyn22 170331@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I found this exoskeleton/cast on my sheets within the past hour. It was not there earlier today, nor when I woke up. There was some blood on my pillowcase when I woke up this morning, though I washed it off before considering that it could be bed bug related. I've checked the boxspring and mattress, though I've found no signs of fecal matter or other bugs. Further, there have been some small cockroaches in my pre-war apartment during my lease, though their frequency has been rarer recently.</p> <p>See the attached photo for help. Very worried. </p> <p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/miOdJ4j.jpg"> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-id-please-8#post-170329 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:04:18 +0000 loubugs 170329@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A small beetle, possibly a silvaniid, something like a saw-toothed grain beetle. Do you know if you have any cupboard type foods such as dried cereals, dried fruits, nuts, oatmeal, that could be infested? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-anyone-id-1#post-170326 Sat, 18 May 2013 16:58:19 +0000 loubugs 170326@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>cockroach nymph. Looks like brown-banded cockroach. </p>