Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums: Recent Posts

KillerQueen on "Fecal Trail ID please (and a story)"

KillerQueen — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:24:37 +0000

I didn't read the story but can tell you the evidence is not at all Bed Bug related.

KillerQueen on "Please help with ID"

KillerQueen — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:21:49 +0000

Odd Beetle

KillerQueen on "Keep finding single bed bugs but can't find any more? help!"

KillerQueen — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:21:14 +0000

If you found more then 1 then you can't say "keep finding single bed bugs". Unfortunately, it sounds as if you still have a problem and I would suggest you start looking into new PCO's to help resolve your issue. If you live in a building - be sure surrounding apartments get inspected. If you live in a stand alone home - be sure this is not reintroduction. Good Luck!

LBuggy on "Bed Bug ID Please [a: not a bed bug]"

LBuggy — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:27:23 +0000

Thank you!

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

bugsonme — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:16:03 +0000

Hi. I know I'm being a royal pain in the butt here - but I need some help with specific placement of my two gifted monitors. Having searched for a month and a half and finding nothing, having a dog inspection come up with nothing... I just want to make the best of my monitors now. I can't put on the bottom of my couch because the base is flush to the ground. I was thinking of putting a monitor on the underside of my couch cushion - between the bottom of the cushion and couch frame. Do you think it's better on the back of the couch? I generally sleep on the couch... My bed. My skirt has been cleaned and steam ironed... do I need to remove it for best results? I'm trying to keep things as normal as possible - which is why I put it back on. But, no idea where to place the monitor. The mattress is encased - the box spring, not so much. Cheap cover that has many small holes from my metal box spring. Thinking of putting one monitor on head of the box spring, between the box spring and mattress... but not sure. Is it better closer to the ground or should I place it between the mattress and head board? Should it face the headboard or should it sit on the back of the headboard? Please look at the pictures above and offer guidance. Eventually, I swear.. I will go away

AfraidHere on "Please help with ID"

AfraidHere — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:10:13 +0000

Hi P Bello, Thanks so much for the swift reply. I just put the same bug on tape, it looks totally different flat. I'm hoping you still feel it's not a bed bug. <img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/34gts7t.jpg">

P Bello on "Please help with ID"

P Bello — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:06:58 +0000

This does not appear to be a bed bug but willneed a better photo to tell what it actually is. pjb

bbdb123 on "Bug ID-not sure if BB or something else, bites or rashes?"

bbdb123 — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:51:38 +0000

Hello, So recently I found a very small, brown dead bug in my bed and thought nothing of it and just threw it away. Maybe a week later I found another one of the exact same bugs crawling slowly on my bed but unfortunately I just squished it and threw it out. Then I started thinking about what they might have been and I went into panic mode and thought of bedbugs. From pix I saw on the Internet the but didnt look like a bed bug; this bug was very small, oval shaped and you couldn't see it's legs unless you flipped it over. It didnt have antennae and it was a dark brown colour. Idk what it could have been. Today I cleaned up underneath my bed and found the same bug dead on my carpet. I have pictures but idk how to upload them on this damn thing. So along with this small insect thing, I found a yellowish bud shaped thing. I can't tell it it's just dirt off my shoes or something from outside but it is see through in the light. I was thinking that maybe it was a BB skin but it didnt look like the bug at all. I also found one more very small bug also- it was around the same size as the brown bug except it was striped with like a whitish coloir and brown and it had small wings. If you flipped it the "stomach" area was grey. I wish I had pix but these are the best descriptions I could come up with. I've Been super paranoid and I can't sleep because of this. Another thing adding to my stress is the fact that I have eczema, which makes it very difficult to distinguish between bites. I'm getting some rashes and welts that sometimes look similar to pix I see online related to bbs, but idk if it is just my sensitive skin acting up. Sometimes they itch but other times not. They nostly appear on my feet amd stomach amf lower back and a bit on my arms. This has further added to my fear and anxiety of BBs and I can't sleep or think properly an I am always scared to go in my room/to sleep. My dad wont take BBs into consideration amd wont help inspect my room/bed. just want to know what those bugs could have been and what are typical/usual in bug bites/rashes. What next steps should I take?? I cannot deal with this paranoia and anxiety and I fear calling in a professional because of the cost/embarrassment. Please help:( much appreciated

AfraidHere on "Please help with ID"

AfraidHere — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:49:25 +0000

Hi Guys, I'm hoping someone can help ID this bug. Had 8-9 bites 4 nights ago, nothing before that, couldn't be sure what it was. Cleaned quite a bit yesterday, found this today after work near the baseboard. Really scared, hoping it's not a bed bug. Is the picture clear enough? Thanks so much. Image 1: <img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/52ghtu.jpg"> Image 2 with penny: <img src="http://i40.tinypic.com/ap7ghk.jpg">

cilecto on "fabriClear"

cilecto — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:39:39 +0000

As Paul said, there are lots of products that kill bed bugs if you spray them directly (alcohol or detergent, for example). Eggs are harder to kill and few products, if any, are 100% effective. I would not be surprised if the product mentioned by the OP "kills bed bugs on contact", as promised. I'm not in a position to evaluate, but am curious as to its effectiveness against bed bug eggs and under what circumstances.

lkj on "PCO says bugs are gone, still getting bitten"

lkj — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:29:50 +0000

They did find eggs previously in the apartment (the first time they treated it), so I know it was bedbugs that time around. Thanks for the advice--I'll take the bed apart this weekend and check the frame carefully.

buggedout32 on "not sure"

buggedout32 — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:11:44 +0000

Hi, I got a hold of an iPad.. Lets try this again to make sure all info is correct. Ok, on the 5th of April I first saw the bugs in my sons wooden loft bed. I have intense OCD, and have spent literally hours apon hours in bed bug research. I do know this in no way makes me an expert, and when I said my pco commented that I knew more, it's because I was spouting facts to him during a conversation. The night of April 5th is when I first started treading with a steamer, and spraying alcohol. His bed was a loft bed all wood and many nooks and places to hide! We could see the fecal stains in all those crevasses we couldn't reach, but we tried. We steamed and used alcohol twice that night and about 3 more times that week. We checked every night when putting him to bed, thinking we were in the clear and we would see another. I then bought hot shot spray and an encasments. This gave him a week or two no bites. One night I was up late and I went to check on him, it was awful, there were like 6 or 8 bugs I went into kill mode. I didn't sleep that night as I would check on him, in the nooks I saw maybe 1st or 2nd I star.. It was the next day we burned his bed! We had durning all the been checking the other rooms nightly , seeing nothing. Till I saw them in my king sized bed, my bed room is on other side of house. That night I bought encasments, we cleaned the bed ,sprayed alcohol in the box spring, cleaned the frame and encased bed. We also pulled carpet back and put safer brand DE where the carper meets the wall. We also vacuumed the carpet under the bed and around it. We dusted baseboards in the halls , kitchen, living room, and under rugs. We dusted under the cushions on the couch and under the entertainment center, behind fridge and stove etc. I used a paint brush for all this. We bought a metal futon for a temp bed. It is isolated and encased. Also we re steamed his room and dusted in his dressers before letting him back in. We caulked baseboards and drilled a hole between each wall stud and puffed DE into the wall voids and sealed the holes. In my other sons room, has a wooden bed, we sealed all spaces, joints, and screw holes. We lightly dusted (u cant see it) and encased it. We also have dust between my mattress and box spring. All these things have been a nightly process, getting things done little by little. We also wash bedding nightly, and heat clothes before leaving house. Before bed we check all tubs and walk around each the room with a flash light. We haven't seen any behind outlets or picture frames. We put kids to bed, and stay up till about midnight or so then go hunt their bed while they sleep. Then we check our bed again, shower and then sleep! Like I said its been about a week and half since we have seen any. I thought if they were starving they would come after us just anytime. Our family room is just that, kids don't even got into their rooms until bed time (mainly cause the Xbox is in the living room) lol That's an up to date account, and I hope it's easier to understand and read, maybe you guys can better help me to understand, give advice, or tell me if you think what I am doing could possibly work. Like I said, I worry they are in walls where I can't see. I hope DE i puffed into wall voids will kill them . I used to see the activity, and can't anymore. I have read so many horror stories that make me believe that I can't win this fight. Part of me wonders if they can sense the DE even though its light and they are hibernating. Sorry for so many post, I just figured I have a better way to type and be better understood in my quest for info/ peace of mind!

P Bello on "fabriClear"

P Bello — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:20:45 +0000

Dear shopper, Perhaps you purchased via our CC and you can call and dispute the charges. In any case, these "miracle bed bug cures" either do not work or over promise and under-deliver on the results attained. Sorry you had to learn this the hard way. pjb

LadyO on "Just need to talk to somebody about BB [Q about bb on ceiling]"

LadyO — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:18:11 +0000

Hey, Guys. Well, after 10 days in Finland we came back home. Bed bugs really make you paranoid. My husband pointed to me that I was constantly checking chairs in the plain, chairs in an airport and I checked our hotel room 3 or 4 times. I don't even remember doing it (except checking room in the hotel). But it is okay, because all my life I am checking for spiders (have phobia). I even had 3 nightmares with bed bugs . Craaaaazy. :) but finally we are home. Today came the boss of PCO agency (ha-ha). He did 4th treatment. He told me, that he didn't find any bugs or traces of them. This is good. He told me that I can put all things back on their places. Now here is a question: Do I need to wash all things from plastic bags one more time or will it be enough just to dry them on high temperature? Last time I saw life bed bug on May 5. After that I did caulking around perimeter in all my rooms and didn't see any activities so far. Bug, You shall not pass! (c. Gandalf).

deerpark on "Keep finding single bed bugs but can't find any more? help!"

deerpark — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:08:57 +0000

So about 8 months or so ago we had an infestation, bed bugs were harboring in the headboard. We called the exterminator, thew out the matress/headboard, and all seemed well. About a week ago, I found a single bed bug crawling on a pillow in the middle of the night. I caught it, and called the exterminator. We didn't show him the bug, but it was indeed one as I did triple check it and compare to photos/what we had before. After washing everything/drying at a high temp, he came and said there were no signs of bed bugs, sprayed, and left. Last night I found one bed bug on my pillow again, filled with blood. In the day I lifted up my mattress and managed to catch 2 more adult ones. We are currently in the process of washing EVERYTHING again, and can't seem to find any more. We checked inside the boxspring, behind wall hangings, the mattress, chairs, couches, dressers, desks, the second bedroom; nothing. Are we missing something? I found 3 so s far and have had previous infestations so I don't think this could be a strangler. I am literally out of ideas.

bed-bugscouk on "fabriClear"

bed-bugscouk — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:26:40 +0000

Hi, Most online miricle bedbug cure are little more than contact killers and the FAQ's can tell you things that work better and are cheaper. Sadly te bedbug issue has become like a modern day Klondike gold rush for some companies and I can only suggest that you follow up the lack of resolution of complaints with the FTC and BBB who both have many open cases concerning bedbug product claims. Thankfully sites like this do exist to help consumers get better advice. David Cain Bed Bugs Limited

P Bello on "PCO says bugs are gone, still getting bitten"

P Bello — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:41:45 +0000

Dear lkj, If there's bites that are actually caused by bed bugs then there must be physical evidence of bed bugs present. You need to inspect carefully and perhaps use a magnification device plus a decent LED type flshlight to enhance your detection abilities. Headboards as you described can be difficult to inspect however, I suspect that area as well as your bed frame. And, did they ever find live bed bugs, shed skins, eggs or fecal deposits in your apartment previously? Hope this helps ! paul b.

shopper on "fabriClear"

shopper — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:39:02 +0000

I purchased this product for one of my rental properties and it does not kill the eggs, and you have to spray each bug directly several times before it even dies, does nor support their advertising. They also do not stand by their money back guarantee.

P Bello on "Bed Bug ID Please [a: not a bed bug]"

P Bello — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:35:13 +0000

It apears to be an isopoda, commonly referred to as a sow bug, pill bug and/or wood louse. No bed bug worries with this critter. pjb

Nobugsonme on "PCO says bugs are gone, still getting bitten"

Nobugsonme — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:35:04 +0000

Suspected bite reactions aren't evidence because you can't be sure bed bugs caused them. Did anyone visual confirm bed bugs in the first place? Regardless, at this point you need to find visual evidence-- bed bugs, cast skins eggs or fecal stains. <a href="http://bedbugger.com/faqs/identifying-the-problem-do-i-have-bed-bugs-or-something-else/">These FAQs include information on bed bug monitors and other ways to verify whether you have bed bugs</a>. There's also a FAQ to help you rule out fleas. As for monitors, Bed bug beacon is an active monitor which might find a sample especially if you are sleeping somewhere else. BBalert Passive is an option which will work when people are present. If you find visual evidence of bed bugs, be sure and preserve it. Take a photo for ID here, and don't let the PCO run off with the sample before an expert here has a look!

P Bello on "Brooklyn Exterminator Interview"

P Bello — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:52:39 +0000

Well, there is some misinformation therein. And, wow; "yikes" is an understatement. pjb

Nobugsonme on "Brooklyn Exterminator Interview"

Nobugsonme — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:45:24 +0000

Interestingly, I don't think I've never heard of NYC Pest Control. Which doesn't mean much, I mean there are hundreds of PCOs in the five boroughs. <blockquote> These bugs build up a chemical resistance if they’re not sprayed right, and the next generation will be able to survive a spraying. That’s why we’re constantly changing our chemicals. </blockquote> Really? The next generation is instantly resistant? Hmm... And yet he says DDT will still work.

KillerQueen on "Brooklyn Exterminator Interview"

KillerQueen — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:20:16 +0000

Yikes

LBuggy on "Bed Bug ID Please [a: not a bed bug]"

LBuggy — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Thank you both.

lkj on "PCO says bugs are gone, still getting bitten"

lkj — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:02:20 +0000

I had an infestation about four months ago after a stay at a hotel, and I got it treated by a PCO that my landlord paid for. I kept the bed encased and isolated, and I'm still being as careful as I can be with drying clothes and keeping them in bags. I called again about a month and a half ago because I was still getting a bite here and there, but the PCO said that they didn't find any activity. Three weeks ago, right when the weather started warming up, the bites suddenly started getting worse (5-10 a night), so I called again and the PCO came and treated again. I assumed they were going to do several treatments over the course of a month or so (as they did the first time), but I just found out from my landlord that while they did treat, they still claim there's no activity (even though I'm still finding spots on the sheets). Meanwhile, I got about 15 bites the last time I slept in my bed. I know I'm not supposed to stay with other people, but at this point I've started to stay at my s.o.'s because I'm so uncomfortable and tired of getting bitten. His place still has no sign of bedbugs (I'm checking constantly) and I've never gotten bitten there. My landlord says she trusts the PCO and that they're better than everyone else. She's not offering any other help, and I'm at a loss for what to do. I'm ready to throw the bed (or at least the bed frame, which is wood with an upholstered headboard) out at this point since it doesn't seem like anything else is working. Any ideas? I suppose it could be something besides bedbugs, but I'm inclined to believe that it is bedbugs since I had them so recently.

KillerQueen on "Bed Bug ID Please [a: not a bed bug]"

KillerQueen — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:49:34 +0000

Not a Bed Bug.

Sleepless in NYC on "Brooklyn Exterminator Interview"

Sleepless in NYC — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:48:50 +0000

<a href="http://gothamist.com/2013/05/23/brooklyn_exterminator_shares_bed_bu.php" rel="nofollow">http://gothamist.com/2013/05/23/brooklyn_exterminator_shares_bed_bu.php</a>

Louise on "Bed Bug ID Please [a: not a bed bug]"

Louise — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:47:49 +0000

Not an expert, but that looks like a wood louse to me, not like a bed bug.

LBuggy on "Bed Bug ID Please [a: not a bed bug]"

LBuggy — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:31:04 +0000

Hi. Is this a bed bug? It's sort of a shell with nothing underneath, so some kind of exoskeleton? <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/95687406@N02/8805806060/" title="bugs 003 by Lbuggy1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5345/8805806060_9310b12d01.jpg" alt="bugs 003" /></a> Thank you so much for your input.

paranoidmom on "Fecal Trail ID please (and a story)"

paranoidmom — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:13:12 +0000

I also wanted to mention that I swabbed it w/ a wet finger tip and a wet qtip w/ no smearing at all.

paranoidmom on "Fecal Trail ID please (and a story)"

paranoidmom — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:04:13 +0000

Sorry! Hit enter by mistake. The end doesn't lead anywhere. Just stops. Are these potentially fecal marks? That's my ultimate question. Trying to figure this out before going to see a dermatologist. Thanks! ~PM

buggedout32 on "not sure"

buggedout32 — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:02:47 +0000

that's Supposed To Read 10 OR More On The King Bed

paranoidmom on "Fecal Trail ID please (and a story)"

paranoidmom — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:01:32 +0000

Hello, I've lurked, commented, and even posted some pictures. Now I want to share my story...Making it as quick as possible. Back in March 2011, I went on a trip to Vegas. When I got back, I didn't bother to unpack, nor clean my room, so I slept on the couch in my living room. I was comfortable in my living room staying on the couch b/c there's no tv in my bed room and often times I'd fall asleep on the couch while watching tv. So up until about October 2012, i slept on my couch. While doing some cleaning in my bedroom in October 2012, I noticed an orange-ish bug. looked at it, thought passively. I wonder if it is a bed bug (it was dead) and I tossed it (unfortunately). Put sheets on my bed and slept in my bed for about a week. During that time b/c of a scheduling issue at work, I was also spending time over my mom's house staying nights w/ her. My daughter got a welt, hive like...and I thought hmmm...what could it be. Then she got 3 bumps on her backside one night and a huge welt on her eye causing it to swell. I also got 3 large welts on my leg at the same time. Very mosquito bite like...except it's November. Immediately i stopped sleeping in my bed (stopped allowing my daughter to sleep in it as well). Still went to my mom's. I didn't get anymore bumps. My daughter did. arms, legs, etc. So we stopped going by my mom's. She saw 2 bugs in her bedroom and I spotted what I thought to be hard fecal on her boxspring corner.. I posted pics here and got them ID'd as bed bugs. She's had treatment, but we haven't stayed at her house since December. Her treatment was Feb/March - April. So I still haven't slept in my bed. My couch only. No bites. BUT w/in the last 2/3 months or so, I've had an occasional burning sensation in my face w/ a bump here....a bump there. Goes away w/in 30 - 45 minutes after it pops up. Doesn't itch. and ONLY my face burns. Sometimes, I might have 1 bump on the upper part of my back, but it's random. And I'm not asking for ID by bumps b/c I know it's impossible online, just giving the info. There's no pattern w/ the bumps, no 3 dots (which I've seen referenced here as a myth). I sleep on a plain sheet on my couch and a light colored pillow, no case. I have not seen a fecal trace, casting, anything on the couch at all. I am afraid now to sleep back in my bedroom. My daughter has not had a bump reaction since December. I check her bedding daily, no spots there. Nothing on her loft, wooden bed frame. What I have noticed are these dots on the wall near my mattress in an arc pattern. I don't know if they've always been there and I'm just not noticing b/c I'm looking for a sign or something. There are no fecal stains on my mattress at all. Checked the underside and corners. I've checked the 3 corners of the boxspring that I can see, haven't raised the boxspring up myself to check the underside. And there's no traces on the backside of my headboard. here are the pics of the arc of marks on the wall. beginning of "arc": <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paranoidbugger/8805355018/" title="Untitled by paranoidbugger, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8114/8805355018_10c8d4b650.jpg" alt="Untitled" /></a> mid arc <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paranoidbugger/8805360646/" title="Untitled by paranoidbugger, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7423/8805360646_9611269792.jpg" alt="Untitled" /></a> end of arc <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paranoidbugger/8805362428/" title="Untitled by paranoidbugger, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/8805362428_97e32fc93b.jpg" alt="Untitled" /></a>

kmartin on "Carpet Beetle Eggs?"

kmartin — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:49:59 +0000

I don't have pictures but they were round, perfectly white, almost like pods - a wax like texture. About the size of a pencil eraser.

P Bello on "Carpet Beetle Eggs?"

P Bello — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:48:07 +0000

How little? Photos ?