http://bedbugger.com/forum/ Bed bug support forums en Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:39:52 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/would-you-recommend-steri-fab-or-kleen-free-for-shoes#post-61802 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:12:12 +0000 twitchyscratchy 61802@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Which one is better?</p> <p>I know a steamer or a packtite is ideal, but i can't afford either of those "luxuries" (ha.). </p> <p>I also don't have a dryer and the ones at the laundromat won't work with the dryer shelves.</p> <p>I wouldn't use the chemicals on every day shoes, only ones i intend to store for a while (at least a few months).</p> <p>In terms of my every day shoes, they are leather. Has anyone tried pouring boiling water on leather shoes? Baking them in the oven? If I did boil or bake them, then oil them immediately afterward, will this destroy my shoes?</p> <p>Also, I can't afford new shoes. </p> <p>I hate you, bedbugs. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-and-hints-for-a-first-time-infestation#post-61662 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:55:24 +0000 fantastapotamus 61662@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi everyone, </p> <p>apologies for the length, but I've had a LOT of questions building up since I've found this problem and I'm taking this time to get them all out and get some answers to give me some peace of mind.</p> <p>I am sure this is a sentiment held by many when they first go searching for resources on bedbugs, and don't take this the wrong way, but this is a site I never wanted to visit or become a member of. :(</p> <p>However, since I have a problem and this seems like an excellent community of people that can help since you have all gone through something similar, gather round as I tell my tale of woe.</p> <p>My name is fantastapotamus, and I have a bedbug infestation. How they got here isn't important (but in brief I blame the renters I had in here before me... biggest mistake of my life that just keeps getting bigger), how to get rid of them is. </p> <p>I found them on Friday night as I was going to bed. I was about to climb in between the sheets and saw some black "lint" on my fire engine red bedsheets. I reach to brush it off and think "I'll vacuum that up on Saturday"... except the lint started to run away. I grab it and it explodes in my fingers, leaving what looks like blood on my fingers.</p> <p>now, never in a billion years would I have thought I could have bedbugs as I keep a clean house, I vacuum once I week change my sheets regularly, don't travel / sleep in hotels much, etc., but after a few leaps of logic in my head (bed.. bug.. blood,... red bump on my forearm in late October.. ah !!@#!) I went to the internet and found this site (among others). A few checks on what to look for, and I go back into my room and find.. bedbugs! </p> <p>It wasn't as big as I had expected, but the fact that I could see 3 or 4 on the corner of the boxspring and <u>lots</u> of excrement (surprising for how few were visible), and then shuffled along the top of the boxspring to find more traces.. and then more on the other top corner, and the bottom corner, etc., I was outta there. I (barely) slept in the living room floor on my camping pad, and was up first thing on Saturday to start calling exterminators. </p> <p>I got someone to come in on Monday afternoon, so after three relatively sleepless nights I got an exterminator / PCO to come in and examine the problem and spray my place. It took over an hour, and he sprayed everything he could - all exposed carpet, edges (I'd pulled the baseboards) the baseboards themselves, bed, boxspring, dresser, nightstand, fogged a dust into the electrical outlets / light switches (I also removed covers), electrical panel and just as thorough leading out to the front door of the house. I've been able to sleep a bit better, but this has obviously left me a LOT freaked out so I have a ton of questions I hope you all can help me with.</p> <p>1) is there any way to estimate how big the population was in my particular case? Prior to spraying I saw maybe 30 bugs total (living or dead) in almost all stages of development (more "older" bugs.. half? maybe more?) and all within easy reach of my bed, none much further than the hallway outside my door, and off bed bugs were few.. maybe 6 of the 30?- clearly id'ing from stage 3 to adult with some guesses at mobile black dots as earlier stages after feeding (they all gave off that smell when I squished them).</p> <p>1) I know the chemicals they sprayed have a 2 week residual effect on the insects (and I've seen them working on my pre-bedtime "bug patrols" - dead ants / millipedes / bedbugs where there wasn't anything the time before), but should I be concerned about sleeping in the front room of my place vs. the bedroom - will I just move the problem out to the front and risk moving the infestation to my couch / front room?</p> <p>1b) should I be staying out of the infested room(s) to ensure I don't track away the residual from the chemicals and give them a chance to survive? or even worse, pick up a hitchhiker and take them to a previously uninfested area (still covered in chemicals, but not ground zero)?</p> <p>2) in relation to where I sleep, this infestation is in a room in the basement of a half duplex (I guess technically a fourplex) - do I need to worry about the surviving bugs heading upstairs or next door for a closer snack? ie. do I need to warn my neighbours of the problem? upstairs is already aware of what I found and what I've done, but I haven't talked to the other half yet... </p> <p>2b) how far away can they sense their meals? again - if I move too far away will I just be pushing my problem off to others around me?</p> <p>3) also in relation to sleep location - if there are survivors of the chemical treatment, do I need to get back sleeping in "ground zero" ASAP so that I can draw them out and through the chemicals so they can die? I haven't found many new carcasses on my searches so I'm thinking one of two things - the bigger guys have headed off to other "diners", or they are in hiding waiting for me to come back. the smaller guys (stage egg to 2) I'm thinking I will never be able to tell if they are gone or not. not such a comforting thought.</p> <p>4) preventative measures - I'm getting mattress enclosures dropped off tomorrow by my exterminator (part of their service / "guarantee"), but I'm looking at the following steps for preservation of personal sanity:</p> <p>4a) pillow enclosures - the pillows I had were pretty much at the end of their life, but when I buy new I don't want them to get infested, so enclosures = a good idea in my mind.</p> <p>4b) boxspring and mattress enclosures: a no brainer - the location of the majority of the bugs, lock them in, starve them out. I have no idea on the brand, are there any that are that much better than the rest?</p> <p>4c) climbup interceptors - I have been considering these for the simple fact that they will let me know if there is still a problem, and they are fairly cheap. anyone know how sturdy they are? do they work? what are their dimensions? I've got a sectional couch that only has about 3 inches of height clearance under the legs, so I'm hoping they are somewhat short to fit under those.</p> <p>4d) DE powder for the edges of the room, electrical outlets, etc. put down a coating of that, put the baseboards back on and viola an effective barrier to carve these little vampires up when they come for me. at least that is my understanding of how that stuff works.</p> <p>4e) annd possibly drawer liners / garment bags for clothes - it has only been a few days but I'm already very frustrated with living out of garbage bags. which leads me to </p> <p>5) laundry - hot wash, hot dry. does it have to be back to back. ie, if I run stuff through the wash and then it sits for a bit before going in the dryer, do I give them a recovery time to live again? how long does the clothing /bedding /fabric stuff have to be dried before eggs to adult are d-e-a-d?</p> <p>5b) the most curious question for me about laundry is this - I bag stuff prior to spraying because it is clothes and they may be infested. I then put it in the wash (Reaching in the potentially infested bag) and put it in the wash, possibly getting some on my skin. when dry, I pack into bags again and fold into other bags so I have some sense of organization (clear garbage bags were purchased after 1 day of "what @#$@# bag is my underwear and socks in... and do I have anything clean / bedbug free?). my question is - how do I know I've taken enough precautions to ensure I haven't just stored some lone survivor away to release into the wild after the chemicals die away and they can begin to rebuild their army of bloodsuckers? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/id-help-038-encasement-question#post-61788 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:41:55 +0000 als 61788@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hey folks,</p> <p>thought id never have to come back to these forms, but here we are (siiiigh). two questions:</p> <p>1. carpet beetle? bedbug? something else? theres one biggie and one small-y and i apologise for the crappy macbook photobooth photos:</p> <p>backside:<br /> <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4082514015_00b39f9807_o.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4082514015_00b39f9807_o.jpg</a></p> <p>frontside:<br /> <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4082514011_398d1bcaa4_o.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4082514011_398d1bcaa4_o.jpg</a></p> <p>2. personal recommendations on a mattress encasement. i have a double-sized futon mattress. on one of those standard/common black metal futon frames. (ohh beautiful king sized bed, how i miss you so) also, im located in toronto.. so 416ers, your suggestions are most appreciated!</p> <p>please &#38; thanks in advance! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-serious-help-found-in-my-suv-too#post-61766 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:16:04 +0000 shaye 61766@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I need help! My mothera apt bldg became infested with these vampire bugs and wouldn't you know they ended up at my 3 bedroom house. I was having itchy spots all over my arm in August. I didn't think much of it really since mosquittoes love to get me, but once they were not going away I became wary. Inspected 1st bedroom, nothing. Inspected second bedroom and found 1 on a curtain, no droppings, nothing else. Then came my bedroom, found the colony in the crease of my pillow top mattress, about 10-15 of them big and little. I freaked out! Since we rent our house I called the landlord and she will not hire a professional, so I called around and only 1 company had any experience with them, wanting $2100 to treat our home. Needless to say we do not have since my husband just returned to work after 6 month layoff. I super vacuumed, decluttered, encased every bed in encasements, sprayed with this stuff from lowes bayer advanced labeled for bedbugs and put down DE. I continue to spray every week since I know it kills them seeing it first hand, but I have serious questions. Am I spraying too often? Should I remove my dog from his bed in our room? All was well, we went two weeks with no bites then I started to notice them only on me about the time my daughter said a bug just bit her in our suv! Upon searching, sure enough they are in the suv! Have I been carrying them back in the house? I'm paranoid every where I turn now, uncomfortable every where! This started at end of August, its November now and I'm going insane! We had already planned to move in january or february since we are always having some issue here, but now I'm afraid to go, our couch is brand new and I hate the thought of having to toss it. Beds will be replaced but how do I be sure not to take them with us? Steam clean? Leave our stuff in the moving truck in those frozen temps? But for how long? Am I being impatient? How long does it normally take? And how do I get them out of my truck with all its hiding spots? Winter? Please help me, I feel so alone in this fight, my husband shows no signs and has never seen them so he just thinks I'm crazy! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/things-that-remind-you-of-bb#post-61776 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:17:18 +0000 watkinsnewan 61776@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have had some pretty panicked moments these past few weeks.. some very funny..<br /> I was sitting at the Computer Reading this site while my 22 month old was watching Super Why an having a good old time jumping around I look back at her and looked at my freshly Windex TV (big screen) OH MY GOODNESS 5 HUGE BB... I made a V line to the TV I grabbed some diaper wipes on the way there they are disposable and started killing them NOT BB just Chocolate milk (Spill proof sippy cups...NOT...).... *Deep breath*<br /> I was having breakfast and some of that perfect toast just out of the toaster light butter and Strawberry Jam...As I put it up to my mouth BB Crossed my mind I Got sick to my stomach and had to throw all the strawberry jam away along with that perfect toast... ( I love Toast)..<br /> And tonight the whole reason for thread....<br /> I was walking past my daughter who was having her evening snack before bed time and after Dinner...( I cook a lovely meat loaf, with mash taters, peas and carrots and Mac and cheese.. And some Cheese Toast...I had mater sandwiches (Tomato sandwiches with mayo and light salt I am addicted I know gross I cant help my self...)Well MY 22 month old has to have her snack or she screams... And I pick and choose my battles with her.... very strong willed..)Well Her snack is Coco Pebbles.. I only allow Her to have what she can fit in her hand then I hide the Box...She ended up throwing them on the floor.... When I was done with the dinner dishes I walked in to the dinning room where all the kids were snacking and saw a big pile of BB... Below her feet.. Grabed her sent the kids out of the room I went psychotic... I started to reach for the OHDM( WAIT I CANT THE KIDS ARE IN THE HOUSE) and I wasn't prepared to spray... So I grabbed the next best thing my handy Murphy's oil soap...I started spraying like a mad woman NO movement... What are they already dead I thought to my self.. NOPE it was just Coco Pebbles in a pile.. *SIGH* Thank goodness...<br /> Hope this makes you laugh cause it did me....<br /> I had to get it off my chest.. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/a3-superior-just-heated-the-house#post-57426 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 04:59:27 +0000 Bugbitten Meg 57426@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>...well, actually, our house got done Wednesday, and my mother-in-law is over tonight because her house is still too hot to sleep in. </p> <p>Thanks to the several members willing to discuss or recommend a good NJ PCO, I ended up looking hardest at Cooper and A3 (AAA) Superior... I believe both companies have an IPM and a whole-house thermal treatment option. Telephoning around, I found that while both would quote me prices for an inspection, only A3 was willing to discuss (estimated) eventual costs over the telephone. (as of late August '09, they were saying: $1-2 per square foot for an IPM treatment with 2 visits, scheduled 2 weeks apart, or about twice that amount for whole-house thermal [one visit expected, but with a 60 day warranty]. ) Our infestation isn't very large; everyone in both houses is sensitive to bites, so we didn't take long to notice that we had bugs. However, our house has been under construction for some time-- there are fully exposed central beams and framing in several areas, plus the accumulated chaos of having moved stuff around to accommodate ongoing work several times already. It looked to me like thermal was likely the better (tho' more expensive) option for us, and that was one of the things I thought needed to be discussed when an inspection happened. Mom-in-law had meanwhile arrived home from vacation to find hungry bugs awaiting her, too, so her house was added to the proposed inspection.</p> <p>Jeff Klein did the inspection (with dog) and I noticed that since we have a cat he checked, among other things, whether it might be fleas. (I knew it wasn't, alas, both because the cat's on Frontline and because I've had flea bites before and they're a bit different--for me, at least. But it's nice to know that if you don't really need a bedbug treatment, he will try not to sell you one.) We discussed options and went with thermal ('mom' too-- in her case, probably because she's still not fully unpacked from moving into town a year or so ago from the larger family house </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-3-lb-dog#post-61785 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:09:46 +0000 shaye 61785@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>We have a 3lb dog that has his own bed in our bedroom (where the vampire bugs are) I have sprayed and sprayed and applied de. Thought they were gone when noone received bites for 2 weeks, but sure enough they are still there. Should I remove my dog from that room completely? I have de around his bedding as well but it seems like they are still getting him and I'm worried. Last night I couldn't take it, I needed a break from bites, so I slept in a bug free room while my husband was the bait. I could hear my dog in agony. Was this from the bugs or because I wasn't in there? Never heard him again after my husband got on my side of the bed. Any thoughts? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/company-in-coquitlam-bc-that-sells-encasements-etc#post-61804 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:26:38 +0000 sickofbugs 61804@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Canadian Pest Control Ltd. 604-524-5511 sells bed bug encasements for mattress/box springs/pillow cases at very good prices. They have other products too.</p> <p>sickofbugs </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/carpet-beetles#post-36021 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:18:43 +0000 buggedout16 36021@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>OK... I'm not sure what is going on. The guy from pest control came by just now, took the things I caught and is going to put them under a microscope, but said "looking at them, they look like the larvae stage of carpet beetles". I told him I first found them in my bedroom and on the bedskirt, and may have some bites but not sure, and he said he was pretty sure they weren't, but would call the landlord's office back after he looked at them. I'm going to *try* to post a picture of what I've found so you all can tell me what you think, here in a second when I figure out how... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/precision-thermaheat-treatment-went-terribly-next-step#post-61783 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:16:08 +0000 BuggyinLA 61783@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I live in a tiny studio apartment in LA and had a ThermaPure Heat treatment provided by Precision Environmental yesterday. After the inspection last week they seemed like a great company - they claimed they could treat our wood floors (where the bugs are likely hiding in HUGE cracks), walls, numerous bags of contaminated clothing from previous failed spray preparations, and our wood furniture. Their very confident salesman told us that our electronics would be safe, that the heat was a low 150 and slow - perfect to kill bugs without any damage to our belongings. Best of all, they claimed to have a 100% kill 30 day guarantee! So after meticulously combing our apartment for candles and aresol cans, and moving our bagged clothes back into the closets (per Precision's instructions), two guys from precision showed up to treat 3 different units in the building. They claimed that anything we cared about should be removed from the apartment- suddenly we had to decide if our laptops and antiques were safe. We tried to stay calm and left.</p> <p>Twelve hours later we came home to find the company still there. Our apartment was "done" but they were still there working on one of the other "severely infested" units. We walked into an apartment that was largely untouched beyond the bed. Some walls were warm at random, but most everything was cold. Two candles that we had accidentally left upside-down were un-melted. The apartment was not rifled through at all - it was dirty, but it didn't seem like anyone had walked around checking internal temperatures. </p> <p>Not more than 20 minutes after entering the apartment I saw a bug bed run across the bed. ON THE BED. Assuming that they did bother to point a heater at the bed, our best guess is that the floors and infested clothes were left untouched, so the bugs just crawled back after the heat treatment.</p> <p>In my panic I squashed the bug, so although I was able to get the technician back into the apartment he didn't believe that there really had been a bedbug. He said that when they were heating there had not been any bugs running around, there was "no visible activity," and therefore they could do nothing. He suggested that we wash all of our clothes again (even though the inspector has explicitly stated that we would not need to wash any clothes. I caught another live bug about an hour later.</p> <p>So, what's next? I have no idea really. Our management company has decided that Precision can't really solve the problem and that heat won't work, so although they are Precision's client (and I am not), they are uninterested in pushing Precision to do more. Although management is being accommodating their current plan is to have Precision come back in a few weeks and have us move to another building while treating all of our belongings in a PackTite. </p> <p>I'm looking into the future and all I can see is lost work time, bugs, and living out of an empty apartment. Any advice on advocating that Precision live up to their original 100% claim would be greatly appreciated. We're certainly looking into vikane treatment, and any SoCal experiences regarding that would be great too. We spoke with Lloyd's in Anaheim and they seem like they seem sure that vikane will work, but Precision also claimed that they could solve all of our problems so I'm very skeptical. HELP! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-picked-up-from-a-hotel-full-of-carpets-what-could-they-be#post-61792 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:04:57 +0000 curlynicole 61792@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello. I went on holiday 2 weeks ago and the second hotel we stayed in was FULL of carpets!!! (we were in Turkey near Aphrodisias in Western Turkey and it was the only hotel in the area ...) Carpets on the floors, hung on the walls, over tables and sofas.. one of which we sat on when we arrived as we were exhausted... The hotel itself didn’t look that clean, being run by one bloke and his lakkie and infact he didn’t seem that keen for us to sit on the sofa but offered us some uncomfortable looking chairs (they had small carpets on them too!) Anyway we did sit on the sofa about 30 mins before eating and going to bed… During this time I was wearing a wool cardigan too… : ((</p> <p>Two days later, (about 60 hours) in the morning at a different hotel … (we only stayed one night at the Carpet Hotel!) we were both suffering from small bites, hardly visible but really quite itchy mainly on our hands.. I also noticed a kind of rash like thing going on down one site of my torso, quite itchy but more rash-like than anything else, although there were some raised pimpley type thing going on there too. Since returning from holiday the “bites” seem to have got a lot more extensive, now especially on hands, wrists in the area of the veins, and up the arms… I can also feel some bite-like symptoms on my feet occasionally or maybe I’m being paranoid?? I also feel that when I wear the cardigan I was wearing at the time, I seem to get more bits… they are like pimples in size and elevation but really quite itchy at first but this soon goes… after about a day the bit has subsided… </p> <p>The strangest thing is I haven’t seen ANYTHING bug-like on my skin at all???? </p> <p>Has anyone any suggestions what might be causing such things and possible treatment? I live in Turkey so any treatment would have to be generic or from a natural source as we don’t have the range of products available elsewhere (despite being quite a “buggy” country!!!) Worried the culprits will be migrating into my collection of Turkish wool kilims!!! Help!!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/de-diatomaceous-earth-and-heat-pipesradiators#post-61608 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:31:58 +0000 never_again 61608@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am DE-ing the perimeter of my new apartment as a prevention method for possible future infestations. There are quite a few heating ducks around and i was thinking about dusting under/around them, but i just wanted to make sure there wasn't a health risk to doing so.</p> <p>Could the heat release DE particles in the air consistently or is it pretty safe to dust there? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-haiku#post-55921 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:02:47 +0000 geethatsreallyitchy 55921@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>little black bugs. flat<br /> with hunger. wasp their bellies<br /> with my lover's blood. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/where-are-they-1#post-61773 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:40:06 +0000 DieDieDie 61773@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Two months since the first bite and I've seen a total of one BB. Just one. No fecal stains, no blood spots, no eggs, just nothing... I saw the one, about one week after the first treatment. I had just moved a small suitcase to throw out and he staggered out a little dazed and confused. I scotch-taped him up and that was that. </p> <p>I don't suspect the suitcase as a vector as I've lived in the same place for six years and the suitcase hasn't left the room in about four years. They could have been hiding around there though. PCO has been out twice and the bites have receded, but not stopped. I haven't received any 'bites of three' for several weeks, but will occasionally wake up with a lump on my forehead or an itchy spot somewhere else. So the battle is FAR from over.</p> <p>But seeing as I'm still receiving bites, it would actually be 'good' (not the right word) to know where the h*** they are!!! I spray the bed frame nightly with Good Night and have dusted the perimeter (lightly) with DE. I know this sounds quite toxic... and it probably is. My apt is incredibly warm year around so the windows are always open. After spraying, I'll leave the bedroom door closed for ~3 hours and air the place out before going to bed. Not ideal.. but fewer bites.</p> <p>So ... Has anyone else experienced this? Still receiving bites, but no signs of BB. I strongly suspect BB because (1) seen one (2) LL has been upfront about BB in the building (3) neighbor had BB (she recently moved). A few weeks before I started receiving bites, we received a notice from LL saying some had been found and that everybody's apt would be inspected (mine was - and they didn't find any).</p> <p>Reading other posts in the forum, for most there seems to be an 'ah-HA' moment, when you pull something aside and 'voila' there they are. Hasn't happened yet. Sure would be satisfying to find one and douse him in alcohol. Maybe he'll scream just a little. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/will-bb-bite-through-clothing#post-61770 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:45:28 +0000 shaye 61770@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have searched the internet over and cannot find anything telling if bb's can bite you through your clothing. I found these creatures in my bed end of August and have been battling them since, not realizing they were also in my SUV, which I believe to be where they started since my mothers bldg became infected and I had been doing her laundry at my house for months by then, transporting it with my truck. So I think my battle has gone longer than it would have since I wasn't aware they were there, surely carrying them back in with us. My daughter and I are the only 2 in the house showing reaction to them and both have gotten bitten on our bottoms! Always in areas that had been covered with clothing when other skin was exposed. So does anyone know if they do get to you through your clothing or is it my dogs fleas that decided to eat on us too? I'm going insane at my house. Having to wash everything constantly and taking nerve meds along with sleeping pills just to rest. Also I always feel like bugs are on me when they are not! What is that all about? Or feels like needles stick in my skin periodically all day long with nothing there! I have never felt so alone and defeated in my life! Become paranoid about everything! Girls up the street have had head lice and I'm convinced that's now headed our way too! Help please </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-and-poor-college-students#post-61752 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:45:31 +0000 keldo 61752@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello bedbuggers, been lurking here quite a bit recently and I thought it'd be beneficial to make a post of my scenario and get a fresh perspective</p> <p>I, as mentioned in the topic, am a poor college student. I share a &lt;650 sq ft. one bed room apartment with one other individual. About a month ago my roommate started to receive small welts, which a doctor confirmed to be bites (At this time I hadn't a clue because I wasn't being bit). We promptly contacted our land lords who (at their own speed) laid sticky traps to determine what precisely the pest problem is. The traps confirmed bed bugs. Fast forwarding to today, my apartment *should* be getting sprayed as I type this. Now I just have a few curiosities to be answered:</p> <p>The real estate company that owns the apartment complex is fortunately paying for this treatment. I assume because if nothing is done my building (imagine a sardine tin) would be at risk. They originally mentioned that if additional treatments were required (this one is done through 8 visits I believe) it'd be out of our pockets; Which I understand. Today, they said if the problem returned, they'd break our lease and evict us (I'm not 100% sure on the context i.e. threat or not, my roommate was the one at home). Now with the persistence of bed bugs in mind, I'm a smidge concerned and am curious to the legalities of this. I'm attending a large university in Connecticut to get a sense of logistics. </p> <p>Just to add a few things:<br /> My roommate and I are quite sanitary people. Our small space is vacuumed regularly, clothes laundered and dishes washed. We suspect the problem occurred from an overnight visit to a friend in Boston, who (after the visit of course) we found out was experiencing bed bugs (fyi this information was not disclosed to the real estate). </p> <p>I've already developed a great bit of dislike concerning my land lords from previous encounters but one thing that sticks out is that a week or so prior to informing them of the issue, they were suppose to "spray" (I think gel was suppose to be used actually) the base boards as preventative measures for 'spiders and roaches.' As the notice directed, we pulled everything out of the pantries, pulled all furniture and furnishings away from the walls, and waited for the pest control/maintenance crew to show. They were suppose to arrive at 11, they showed up at 12.30, as we saw them park out front. They then said they were doing each apartment in order, (I'm #11) so it'd be about an hour and a bit. I personally was home and waiting (in a disheveled apartment) for them to stop in, but they never came; actually witnessing them leave about 45 mins after arrival. So of course I called up the real estate company to figure out what was going on, and then said to "Not worry about it, and feel free to put everything back" (paraphrased). I did just that being fed up that they didn't understand why I was upset. The kicker of this whole story is that my roommate also called to talk to someone and the response he received was that "the maintenance crew came by and saw a sign on the door that said 'Do-Not-Enter'" and just proceeded to continue onwards (Odd they say that because they were suppose to key-in the Pest crew if no one was home anways). There was definitely no such sign on the door, and there was someone home the entire day, so that is completely false. Is this in any way relevant to any legal issue or just an example of terrible land lords? </p> <p>I can also try my best to provide any other details if anyone is interested.</p> <p>Edit: I forgot to mention that the level of infestation I imagine is quite low. Despite immense effort, I've failed to see any bed bugs or signs of bed bugs (black specks in tufts of mattress, blood spots on sheets, etc), just the handful of bites. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/how-did-folks-rid-their-homes-of-bed-bugs-in-the-old-days-befor-ddt#post-61682 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:35:46 +0000 Itchybutdealing 61682@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Can we pick up tips from them? Anyone know this obscure bit of history? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/washing-encasements-necessary#post-61765 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:58:32 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61765@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>The Protect-a-Bed instructions say to wash them for best results. How does washing them making them 'better'? Do I have to wash them? The PCO finished his first visit a little while ago and I forgot to wash the encasements. Really not in the mood to head back to the laundromat to was the encasements if I don't have to. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/30-rock-bed-bugs-reference#post-61727 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:58:47 +0000 eatingmealive 61727@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Obviously 30 Rock is a sitcom, and the reference was out in left field/not totally accurate, but it was a mainstream reference. Definitely not informational, but I enjoyed it. </p> <p>(Jack Donaghy is being discriminated because he is said to have bed bugs) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-is-the-bed-bugs-body-liquid-color#post-61757 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:48:02 +0000 hate 61757@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I got bites and I am afraid they are bed bugs. I checked mattress and box spring. Nothing there, but I found some dark brown bugs between the capet and wood board. I use my nail to kill them and a white liquid come out from their bodies. I heard when people squeeze it, the color should be blood color. Are these bugs in my home bed bugs? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/im-ready-to-announce-success#post-60916 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:13:21 +0000 Itchy-Scratchy 60916@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It's been a while since I've been on the forum, as my brain needed a break from all the BB drama. But I thought I'd post a quick update, as I am now feeling a little more confident that we've achieved success. We haven't seen a bug, had a bite or had blood on the sheets since February 2009. And our building, which at one point had 10 infested apartments, is "clean" also.</p> <p>We battled for 7 months and had 12 treatments from Orkin. Mattresses were encased, beds were isolated, we used DE sparingly. I caulked all of the baseboards and all of the bedroom furniture (thanks to Jim's advice!). We put a number of sealed, plastic bins into storage (that won't be coming out until September 2010). My daughter and I are still keeping a lot of items in baggies -- frankly, we are so accustomed to bagging our laundry, we didn't stop! And my daughter's mattress and boxspring were eventually pitched and replaced.</p> <p>I have to say that battling BBs was one of the hardest things I've faced. I still have occassional nightmares where I awake screaming, itching and feeling like I have bugs crawling on me. I snap on the lights, inspect the bed, and then lay down again knowing that I'm OK.</p> <p>This board saved my life. I didn't think I'd get through it. Honestly, by the 9th treatment, I was really losing hope that we'd ever get rid of them. But we did. And that's my message to everyone -- <strong><em>don't lose hope!</strong></em> </p> <p>Kate </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/finally-my-little-bedbug-success-story#post-59776 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:19:15 +0000 treesinbrooklyn 59776@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi everyone,<br /> I wanted to post my success story primarily because I used this blog to solve the problem, and I wanted to give encouragement to others who are in the overwhelmed stage of it.</p> <p>One thing I noticed is how varied the solutions are and that different things seem to work for different people.</p> <p>My concerns and main issues from the start:<br /> <ul>My landlord refused to pay for anything (yes, I know this isn't right).<br /> Toxicity (I have three cats and also live as natural a lifestyle as possible).<br /> Money (I'm unemployed).<br /> The Bugs (They are indeed horrible and caused great interruption to our lives for a solid few months).<br /> My stuff (lots of wooden musical instruments, records, books, papers etc...)</ul></p> <p>My story begins with my boyfriend and I moving into a new apartment which we were very excited about and had been planning to do for awhile in order to leave a bad living situation we had been in for a couple of years (noisy building, crime issues etc...).</p> <p>About one week after a month of unpacking, organizing, cleaning, hanging pictures etc... we started noticing weird bites or a rash or what... we didn't know. We thought it was something in the new water or spider bites perhaps? I should have taken pictures of the place then, because the newly arranged and tidy apartment became chaos for the next six months.</p> <p>We had once had a neighbor in our old building who had bedbugs (and had major treatment) but that was definitely over a year and a half ago, so we were doubtful that somehow we never got infested there, but would take one to our new place. Though ultimately we still have no idea where the bugs came from. The old tenant? A new neighbor, suspiciously the apartment below us moved out soon after we moved in, but I didn't see any items being thrown away. </p> <p>Finally, after a couple of weeks I found this blog. I spent hours simultaneously disgusted and fascinated by what I was reading. Then I went to inspect the bed. Hmmmm, nothing, I didn't see any signs. Still deep down I knew that bedbugs were probably what were biting us.</p> <p>One week later, clear signs. Bugs hiding in the corners of the box-spring just like those horrible pictures. I went into action mode after reading everything on this blog and devised a plan as fast as I could.</p> <p>My call to the landlord did not go well. Heated conversation in scraps of poor English resulted in threats and a clear answer that he would not pay for anything. Plus he said we could not say anything to anyone else in the building since how does he know it's true, etc... Rather than fight that battle, I started working on what I could do immediately on my own.</p> <p>I spent many many more hours on this blog. After several hits and misses, I found the combination of things that ultimately worked for me and without ever hiring an exterminator. I'm not saying don't hire one, because I know that the policy of this blog is that you need one, and I can certainly attest that I worked really hard to get rid of the bugs without one. If I had had the money I would have definitely thoroughly researched that option.</p> <p>What I did instead:<br /> Got the little red Reliable steamer... we love it! I admit my mom bought this for me since I was basically broke. Central Vacuum Factory shipped it the next day at no extra charge. We immediately steamed per excellent instructions on this blog. </p> <p>Next I began the tedious launder and ziploc bag process of clothes, blankets, curtains etc... In New York these huge bags are at all the drug stores now due to this epidemic. I found several live bugs crawling on my clothes in the closet and actually threw away a favorite skirt because I didn't know about steri-fab yet and couldn't handle killing it, so just threw the whole skirt away (sealed of course).</p> <p>Then, I got rid of my mattress, frame, and box-spring, which actually I was ready to part with anyway because it was all really old. We sealed it all up in heavy duty garbage bags with duct tape and marked with signs warning of bedbugs before putting them on the curb.</p> <p>Bought an Endura aerobed. This thing is amazing and actually super comfortable. We put it directly on the floor. It is camouflage and great for camping when we stop using it as our main bed. My cats have slept on it, jumped on it and kneaded claws into the blankets with no damage to the bed.</p> <p>Got Steri-Fab, Bedlam, double-sided tape, DE powder, spray bottles, caulk and excellent heavy duty clear duct tape.</p> <p>Over a couple of week period of time during which we still got bit a lot (turns out that the infestation was pretty bad as we were to find out) we implemented many things that began to give us relief.</p> <p>Steri-fab kills on contact. I could not live without that spray during the height of the infestation. We strategically sprayed a border of Bedlam a little above the base of our bedroom and hallway walls. I found a formula on this blog for spray-suspended DE that left a nice thin chalky layer. We have a molding that goes all the way around the bottom and three-fourths of the way up the walls around the entire room. We put one solid spray of DE on both of those which dried nicely with little visibility due to the color of paint on the molding (kind of cream color).</p> <p>We found a nest or accumulation of perhaps a hundred bugs hiding all over and inside the radiator in the corner of the room, and after steri-fabbing like mad to kill them all, thoroughly treated that area with DE and bedlam, after steaming and sealing with caulk, and duct taping any possible escape holes into the wall or floor. This was a pretty scary day and fortunately we were both home to work hard to deal with it right away. We also used face masks to protect ourselves from inhalation of chemicals and dust.</p> <p>We placed double-sided tape all around the bed. We just couldn't take anymore waking up with several bugs in the bed biting us. We woke up every morning and checked the tape for many weeks, finding a lot of bugs coming from all directions. I killed them with steri-fab to put them out of any misery in case they do suffer somehow stuck like that. We replaced the tape often.</p> <p>One danger of isolation that has been discussed on this blog happened. Or at least this problem didn't start happening until we started laying the tape down. The bugs went to the ceiling. Soon we had a step ladder at the ready, a couple more bottles of steri-fab and sprayed the overhead lamp base with Bedlam. They were already crossing the DE on the upper molding before reaching the ceiling.</p> <p>This was probably one of the more horrifying aspects of the infestation. I slept with a shower cap and ear plugs and after getting bitten on the eyelids, a little sleep mask to try to stop them.</p> <p>We stepped up the steaming, used Murphy's oil soap to clean the floor, and basically just cleaned, steamed, cleaned and inspected a lot with a high power flashlight. I got really good at spotting nymphs that were barely visible and killing them on contact. The aerobed was amazing. Every few days we thoroughly steamed it, steamed the floorboards underneath, and I think in that way killed a lot of eggs.</p> <p>We also completely sealed the floor molding with clear duct tape so that no bugs could come into the room that way and sealed any cracks we saw in the wooden floor that seemed troublesome. </p> <p>The ceiling phase probably lasted a few weeks at it's height.</p> <p>After that things got a lot easier. One life-saver was the Pack-Tite. I scraped money together to buy this thing and then systematically heated up everything I could and then sealed. Books, papers, CD's, DVD's, clothes, shoes, hairbrushes, everything that I didn't think would combust or be destroyed in the process. I had it running two times a day for a awhile.</p> <p>This allowed me to take trips to visit people after making sure my bag with all my stuff came straight from the pack-tite out the door with fresh clothes on my back from a ziploc, freshly-showered me and steri-fabbed shoes carefully isolated until I put them on.</p> <p>When we had a house-guest, he followed all the protocols and received no bites, and also pack-tited all his stuff before walking out the door. Then when he got home he took extra measures there as well and didn't have any problems.</p> <p>We haven't been bitten in about three months and the bugs are nowhere in sight, nothing on the tape either (a practice which we've been slow to let go of). In May, after being reduced to a trickle where we would spot an occasional bug crawling on the wall near the bed it seemed that our system was working to stop the breeding and eventually kill the ones still hiding. </p> <p>We are still using the aerobed. I like the simplicity of picking it up, turning it over, checking it for anything and cleaning if need be. After getting the pack-tite, I also heated up the bedding often to make sure nothing was hiding in it before using it for sleeping.</p> <p>I am just now opening the ziploc bags. I always pack-tite it first and then put the stuff away. We finally put all the books back on the bookshelf. I am still careful not to take anything out of the room that has been in the closet or wherever, without re-pack-titing it for extra safety.</p> <p>So that is my story. February, March and April were the worst months. By May we were fooled into thinking it was totally gone, but realized we had stragglers. By July we seemed to actually be in the clear but kept vigilant. Now I think that if there is one hiding somewhere, I feel totally confident in handling the situation with the right tools. Plus, as I've said I use the pack-tite a lot to be safe. So far, still clear. I also carefully watch what people put out for trash pickup to see if anyone else in the building has them. I don't think they do, so maybe we did bring one from the old building without ever having actually been infested ourselves, or maybe the previous tenants had them, but they hadn't spread to anyone else. </p> <p>We have kept all the tape down on the moldings as protection for any bugs coming in or getting out.</p> <p>I just signed a lease extension and am looking forward to finally enjoying the apartment. So far, so good.</p> <p>I want to officially say thanks to everyone here who's stories, knowledge and advice helped me deal with this. I think it's really good not to panic and get rid of things you can't replace. My wooden classical guitars, vinyl records, and favorite books are all ok. As many people here have said, understanding BB habits, breeding etc... goes along way toward figuring out what's going on with your particular infestation. Also, getting over squeamishness, which I definitely had to do, to actively look for them and kill as many as possible.</p> <p>Best of luck to everyone. I see what looks to be a whole family's group of mattresses out on the street pretty much daily now walking the streets of Brooklyn. Obviously, this is a really big problem. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/please-critique-my-moving-plan#post-59809 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:22:14 +0000 DieDieDie 59809@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>New to BB. Mid-August '09 I received a memo from LL saying bedbugs have been reported and all units would be inspected. My apartment was inspected late-August and no signs of BB were found. After Labor Day, the bites started. PCO has been out 2x - 1 week ago and 3 weeks ago. Still receiving bites and have decided to move. I'll have some time to prepare as I don't have the $$$ right now for new apartment deposits - $$$ have been drained by laundry, cat boarding, a couple hotel nights, etc. etc. etc... - go figure. </p> <p>Lease is up in Feb. I'm hoping I won't have a problem breaking the lease, if I can manage to figure out how to get out of here before then. </p> <p>The question - what is the most effective protocol for leaving the beasts behind? </p> <p>Thermal and/or Vikane treatments don't seem to be available (Portland, OR - if somebody knows differently, please tell). I'll invest in Packtite and a good dry steam cleaner. All furniture and most electronics stays in the apt. I'll need to bring laptop. It resides on desk with tall metal legs, but electronic cords nearby may be climb-able. I've not seen anything in/around the laptop (not that that means anything).</p> <p>Basically, I'll just bring stuff that can be washed - sheets, clothes, dishes. Books I think I'll need within the next 2 years, go in Packtite in current apt, then Ziploc, then Packtite again in new apt. Pictures, sentimental stuff, and books not required right now gets sealed for 2 years (adding 6 months to be extra sure). Mattress is in an AllerZip at the moment, but I'm thinking that I'll leave that behind too (but wash encasement and use it on the new mattress). </p> <p>What am I missing? I know there is a non-zero probability that they'll come with, but I'd like to get that probability as close to zero as possible.</p> <p>Kris in Portland, OR </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/baby-dies-mother-using-bug-bombs#post-61561 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:12:09 +0000 bait 61561@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>She had just moved in and had an insect (supposedly roach) problem....</p> <p>WILLIAMSTON, S.C. -- Authorities said that bug spray that produces a fog to kill insects may be to blame for the death of a 10-month-old Williamston boy and critical injuries to his 2-year-old brother.</p> <p><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/02/ap/national/main5502222.shtml">(Link to full story.)</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/air-mattress-038-bed-frames#post-61732 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:36:04 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61732@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Is any standard metal bed frame ok to use with an Aerobed, assuming it's the right size; or does it have to be a certain kind to support the Aerobed? Also, any suggestions on where to get one (locally rather than online)? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/a-little-dark-halloween-humor#post-61746 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:11:20 +0000 JohnnyFedora 61746@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30834936&#38;l=e23dce758d&#38;id=1249801476">Bed Bug Halloween Pumpkin</a><br />A friend posted this on their facebook page. I couldn't resist passing them on. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/temperature-in-single-stand-alone-home#post-61585 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:14:31 +0000 watkinsnewan 61585@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I know that raising the temp inside of my single home will not kill the bugs... BUT will it help the eggs hatch if I were to raise the temp in the home... I have central heat an air...I leave the thermostat set from 69 - 72 degrees should I have it set a little higher to the help the eggs hatch.. and If this will help the eggs hatch... what if I leave the home can I set the thermostat A little higher than when I am home.. What is the ideal temp...will it help.. It has been 5 days since my first treatment... Anyone Please!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/cancel-second-treatment-by-nybedbug-dog-what-to-do-next#post-61246 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:58:23 +0000 Maddash 61246@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A couple of weeks ago, my 2 year old showed a few bites on her leg and face, and my wife had one breakfastlunchdinner row on her arm. A week ago my landlord sent NY Bedbug Dog to inspect my one bedroom apt in a large apartment building (that has struggled with bedbugs quite a bit). The dog indicated bedbugs around our bed (which sits in a dining alcove) and my daughter's crib. He seemed to ignore the couch, which is basically in the same room as us. The PCO did not do any visual inspection following the dog's point. We had not been told to prep at all. He basically told us to throw out all the stuff around our bed, my daughter's books (sad), and magazines, etc. This was his only instruction. From reading on this site, I know it's a lot more complicated than that, but I followed his advice. He sprayed right away around my bed and around the crib (I did not see exactly how or where, as I was getting my girl ready to vacate the place), and we were told to leave for four hours.<br /> Over the next couple of days, we did laundry and bagging. We bought my daughter a new bed and trashed the crib, along with underused toy, animals, etc. We put tons of stuff through the dryer. But we started to wonder about how unspecific the PCO had been. Also about what chemicals my daughter was being exposed to. We called and asked what had been used to treat-- we were told Phantom and Gentrol.<br /> I then called John Furman (KQ), on the advice of this board and a friend who had used his services with success. Furman told me of his skepticism of dogs and suggested that I must do visual inspection myself, in as detailed a way as possible. He also said Phantom was ok but not great for 1st treatment, and that according to some studies, Gentrol, a pesticide designed for roaches, may very well increase BB population. Great.<br /> The week went by, and we saw no bites. I did as thorough an inspection as I could, with a halogen flashlight, looking at the bed slats, under furniture, baseboards, all very carefully, and found NOTHING. We were starting to think false positive, and to relax a bit. Then, today, bites appeared on my daughter's leg again. Our hearts sank.<br /> Now, we're not sure how to proceed. Do we go forward with the next treatment from this same company, and see how it goes? Or are we wasting our time with them? It is free, provided by the building, which is a far cry from the expense of going outside for a better PCO, like Furman, but we don't want this to turn into something worse. Can anyone chime in as to what you think is the best way to proceed here? Thanks for all your knowledge and help, here, and everywhere on bedbugger. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/is-it-possible-to-get-bed-bugs-internally#post-61653 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:32:47 +0000 shughes 61653@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>long story short, i just move into an apartment building in sept. i noticed german cockroaches from time to time and though the black specks were roach droppings. now after the bites i've been getting i've come to the conclusion it is bed bugs.<br /> my question- is it possible to get them up your nose? and i mean, way up there if you are breathing them in for a long time? i swear to you, i'm blowing them out of my nose in large amounts. they are darkish brown with hints of red which makes me think it's bb... but not full on adult bed bugs but i'd say fresh ones. or is it possible that these are yet another type of bug? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/moving-back-in-tonight-scared-opinions-appreciated-so-please-respond#post-61454 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:18:29 +0000 jeanmean09 61454@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I'm moving back in tonight into my bedroom after sleeping on the couch for a few weeks. After reading so much on this site, i'm afraid that they may still be here. how can i be so lucky to have gotten rid of them so soon?</p> <p>here's time timeline of this case-<br /> sept. 14-16: business trip to where i may have gotten them from a hotel<br /> oct 10: saw an actual live bedbug.<br /> oct. 16: PCO came in, determined they were only in my room. would come back to spray once the room was cleared out.<br /> oct. 20: sprayed whole room ,which is now empty, mattress thrown away, clothes washed and bagged, everything else trashed. confirmed again they are only in my room, rest of the apt is clear<br /> oct. 29: came back and sprayed again, saying theres no evidence they are still there as it was a mild case.</p> <p>tonight-my clothes are still in bags in the living room. for the first time i am planning on sleeping in my room. i got an air mattress and hopefully i see no bites tonight. he put little sticker things on the baseboards to see if any would get stuck in them and they are empty. so does it look like i'm in the clear? i havnt been bit since october 16th. ive been sleeping on the couch in the living room and they havnt followed me there. the PCO says i'm safe to buy a new bed and hang up all my clothes and go back to my life. but considering what ive read here, it seems too good to be true. so many people have been cleared of BBs and months later still have them. i'm staying positive and hoping for the best. the last thing i need is to buy a new bed and to find out i still have them. is it possible for it to be over? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/prof-effeci#post-61707 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:22:34 +0000 EffeCi 61707@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Two pics of myself delivering a two hours lecture about BBS at Milano University of Agricultural Sciences, in "Urban Entomology" course. </p> <p>;-)</p> <p><a href="http://www.pest2000.it/Cimex/FCProf01.jpg">EffeCi1</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.pest2000.it/Cimex/FCProf02.jpg">EffeCi2</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/adding-insult-to-injury#post-61654 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:45:15 +0000 Itchybutdealing 61654@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Now my daughter and I have lice, thanks to infested friends at school. I am a walking mini zoo. Add fleas and I could charge admission. Please tell me life will change.Thanks. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/my-pco-was-going-to-put-de-on-my-couch#post-61714 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:36:56 +0000 twitchyscratchy 61714@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>i came in briefly from outside (i knew he wasn't spraying yet) and he was about to "dust" my couch! that's not good, is it? </p> <p>also, is it normal/good to see little piles of the DE in certain places? my understanding was that it should be too thin to see. it also has permethrin in it (the dust he was using) and he said it wasn't toxic to cats! BS!</p> <p>i've already paid him up front for two treatments- what should i do?</p> <p>he was a really nice guy, but i got the feeling he and i had different concepts of safety- especially where kitties are concerned.</p> <p>thoughts? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/pco-treatments-and-infants#post-23930 Fri, 30 May 2008 14:47:52 +0000 BeatBugs 23930@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Bed bugs are clearly persistent critters, so if you just want to kill them, stronger is probably better.</p> <p>But like a lot of folks here, we have pets and small kids, and I'm wondering if there are things we should ask about while shopping for a PCO.</p> <p>ThermaPureHeat doesn't show any providers by us, in Seattle, so we'll likely need steam/chemical. Anything we should look for or avoid?</p> <p>Is diatomaceous earth an inhalation problem in the babies' room once in place, or only during application? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/de-is-awesome-everyone-with-bbs-should-use-it#post-61696 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:14:34 +0000 KILL_ALL_BEDBUGS 61696@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I haven't seen a bedbug in months, thanks to a heat treatment and DE. I just found out today that the apartment below mine had them (and is where my infestation came from in the first place) up until a few weeks ago. I think I avoided re-infestation because of the DE I put in every crack and crevice I could find.</p> <p>Before I had bedbugs, I had lots of house centipedes and flies and spiders. Now, nothing, zero bugs of any kind. I find dried out centipedes on the floor once in a while. Freaking awesome. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/if-you-ever-need-help-in-denver#post-53432 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:19:32 +0000 FlippyFloppy 53432@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>call Mark Campell with Professional K9 Detection @720-225-7177. He and his wonderful dog, Cali, came over to my apartment building to perform a search for bedbugs. I knew we had them, but I didn't know wether they might spread to other locations of the building, or maybe they had come from other locations into ours. Cali found the bugs and Mark spent a great deal of time (several hours total) explaining how these creatures operate, and how to kill them. He knows about PCO's and different products and techniques as well. Because of Mark, I was able to have a PCO focus on the apartment that needed attention, rather than spending a ton of money exterminating the entire building. I was also able to tell the PCO EXACTLY where to put extra attention (suitcase, couch).</p> <p>Cali made a positive "I.D." on my wife's suitcase. This all but guaranteed that they came from the hotel she stayed in in Chicago. I plan on using Mark again when I purchase a new home. Cali can also detect mold and his other dog can detect narcotics! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/humor-people-encasements#post-61612 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:29:05 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61612@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So there are mattress encasements, bedspring encasements, pillow encasements, even couch encasements. What about a person encasement :D A full body outfit including finger sheaths and a hood that covers your whole head, with a front that's easy to see and breath through. You can wear it sleeping or awake. The bed bugs will never be able to get to you and will die. Or they go to your neighbors, and then he can start wearing one. How about it? lol </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/very-confused-1#post-61702 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:27:47 +0000 vabites 61702@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A friend who had bed bugs came to my house and stayed for a couple of days.. This was mid August. Immediately after that, i started getting bites on me. I thought it was some allergic reaction and kept seeing doctors. This friend one day informed me that he had bed bugs in his house. I panicked and immediately called a PCO to inspect my house. He found a dead bedbug in the guest bedroom. I got the house treated immediately, but kept getting bitten. My wife and kids who were out of town came back and they got bit as well. </p> <p>After the first treatment, the PCO came back like in one month and we were unable to find any bugs. I searched everywhere. no evidence of bugs, eggs or feacal matter. no traces of blood on the mattress as well. we encased every single mattress, box spring with mattress covers from walmart. </p> <p>Why am i not seeing anything at all? I dont see any dead bugs, skin castings or anything at all. I called a different PCO (this time a better one). He could not find anything as well. All we see are carpet beetles. This is november already and by now they should have multiplied right? After putting on the encasements, for the past 7 days, we have been bite free. In addition to the mattress covers, we put in the bed bug interceptors to the bed posts. We dont see any bugs in there.</p> <p>I was planning on getting a heat treatment but how will i know if it is succesful if i dont see anything myself?</p> <p>I am planning on getting a K-9 Inspection, but they said they cant do it because my house is recently sprayed and i have to wait for 1 month before the K-9 can come.</p> <p>Meanwhile we are all getting mad at house. Any comments/suggestions are highly appreciated.</p> <p>Also the Heat treatment is going to cost 7000 dollars for my town home for all 3 levels . I still want to do it as it gives me a peace of mind. Can someone suggest what i can do? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bedbugs-for-the-third-time#post-61574 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:13:53 +0000 Sourgirl69 61574@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>HELP ME SOMEONE!!! I’m going absolutely insane! My apartment is infested for the THIRD TIME in a year! We did EVERYTHING we were told to do before the extermination and after. BUT My landlord was doing the same thing as Deedee’s, a unit at a time, months apart…so where are the bugs going to go? Into the units that no longer have the barrier, duh. I’m sick to death. My mental state is questionable. I don’t sleep at night. I get bitten and react BADLY! The bites swell and itch sooo bad. I have a job to keep, it’s hard when I’m not sleeping. I sit in my chair at work and scratch profusly at the thoughts of having to go back to my bug infested apartment after work.<br /> It’s also playing a toll on my love life: Who wants to be intimate on a sofa or a bed with BEDBUGS? Social life: Who wants to invite friends over and chance they get bitten or even better carry them back to their own homes? Not to mention my mental and physical states.<br /> I don’t care if you pay $1000 a month or $500 NOBODY should have to live like this. I paid for the first extermination cus I was the only one who seemed to be having the problem. PCO told the landlord to do the WHOLE BUILDING cus they would just move on and on…but he didn’t listen. Come to find out, it WASN’T ME who started the infestation it was the guy downstairs who we’ve seen hauling second hand EVERYTHING into his apartment. When he was finally evicted due to the stench coming from his apartment, it was discovered that he was SWIMMING IN BEDBUGS, as was the gentleman in the unit next to us. My “infestation” was mild in comparison. I didn’t pay for my second extermination and I’m not paying for my third. This is an epidemic, they are running rampid throughout our cities, people WON’T speak up due to the emabarrassment and the stigma attached. I think it’s time our government got involved and try to find a way to get a handle on this. It’s a viscous mind warping cycle that someone has to end. In the meantime I’m off wash my WHOLE LIFE in hot soapy water at the laundromat for the third time in a year.<br /> Frustrated and Insane in Dartmouth, KJL</p> <p>In reading this back, I’d like to clarify: I do NOT believe in the blame game; however, we were told by a professional that the guy who was swimming in an infestation downstairs was most likely where it started. The landlord was informed and advised by the PCO to exterminate the WHOLE building! As a result of the landlord’s carelessness, I think it’s now his responsiblity to provide humane living quarters for his tennants.<br /> Also, by opening this rant with a plea for help, it was more of a plea for the lend of an ear. I am greatful for this forum and my being able to vent. It’s unfortunate, yet comforting to know others are experiencing the same thing. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/preparation-for-exterminators#post-54404 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:39:51 +0000 sweetblood 54404@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Has anyone here had to do more with clothing than wash, dry and store in air tight bags? I'd like to think that the heat from the dryer is enough to zap them, but of course now I'm just paranoid. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/climbup-interceptors-keep-cracking#post-57429 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:00:21 +0000 crashed 57429@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, I'm not sure what to do. The climbup interceptors that I have on my bed keep getting huge cracks in the middle from the weight of my bed. They're obviously not all that effective with cracks in them, so what should I do? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/please-help-identify-pics#post-61535 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:35:13 +0000 upagain 61535@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, please let me know if you think this is BB related. Looks like a book louse but I am unsure.</p> <p><a href="http://img24.imageshack.us/g/sidehq.jpg/">http://img24.imageshack.us/g/sidehq.jpg/</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/climbups#post-61679 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:35:05 +0000 soscared 61679@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Is it possible to find just fecal specks in the climbups, but not bugs? I found loose black specks in the outer well. Strange! How often should the talc be replenished?<br /> Thank you. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/question-about-cast-skins#post-61678 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:33:31 +0000 soscared 61678@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Are they super fragile and crumbly? So if I find smth that kind of resembles one, but doesn't fall apart when I handle it, then it's not a cast skin?<br /> Thank you. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-cant-you-packtite#post-61659 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:12:23 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61659@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I thought I was going to be able to avoid getting a Packtite by putting my boxes of old papers, magazines, etc in Ziploc bags and not opening them for a year-plus. Well, tonight I found an old, dead bb in a book! It was on the inside of the dust cover.</p> <p>I was flipping through my books pretty quickly, not really expecting to find anything, but there it was. I read another post by someone who said he never found a bb inside the pages but did find them on the edges, spine, and inside the sleeves; so I made it a point to look there, and that's where I found one.</p> <p>There's no way I'm throwing out my books, and packing them for over a year isn't an option; so it looks like I'm getting a Packtite. Anyway, can you put boxes of stuff in them? I imagine so, since you can put books in them. And I take it boxes with packing tape on them are ok? What about Ziploc bags?? It'd be awesome to be able to put the bags in there instead of having to take all the stuff out. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/ethicallegal-question#post-61665 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:46:30 +0000 bugsarehere 61665@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>First up, I need to complement this site and say that no site on the internet has been as useful to me as this site has been, there's so much excellent information in one place (on a topic though I never thought I'd need to know about but we'll leave that for now...).</p> <p>Obviously I have a bed bug problem, the source is something I'm not 100% certain about as I travel alot for work and live in an apartment complex so of those are the prime suspects (though I'm not counting out a friend bringing them in or some other source).</p> <p>I found out about this around two weeks ago and since then have done some investigations and tend to believe that my current infestation is quite small as I only found a couple of tiny bugs when I pulled off the sheets of my bed though more scarily I found one crawling on me out of my couch!!!<br /> I've been vacuuming like a maniac, washing and bagging unneeded clothes, telling friends they can't come over and throwing out things I don't really need in anticipation of calling in a pest controller in the next day or so.</p> <p>My dilemma is that I'm moving at the end of the year for work and my lease expires in a few days, I'm able to extend my time here until the end of the year outside of my lease after negotiating with my landlord, though if I tell my landlord about the bed bugs I'm sure I'll be evicted immediately with nowhere to go... (I was planning however to tell my landlord when I leave so she can act on it)</p> <p>My plan was to get a pest controller in, have him spray the house and hopefully cure my Bed Bug problem, my concern however is that if he's even 1% unsuccessful that the next tenant might inherit this problem which is something I wouldn't wish on anyone and my other concern is that my landlord's husband is a lawyer which worries me that I'll get in trouble if I don't disclose my issue up front.</p> <p>Any suggestions on what I should do? Can I try self treatment first before telling my landlord? or do I have no real choice?</p> <p>Thanks in advance!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/dont-know-what-is-was#post-61660 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:17:19 +0000 Vell23 61660@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>But I killed it anyway, I just woke up and found some type of bug on the double sided tape I have down. It was kinda a lil longer than a bed bug, and fatter, but it had lines going thru it, I smashed it with a shoe and no blood came out so I don't think it was a bb. I actually have not seen any on the tape, which got me wondering wats going on with them. I couldn't take a pic cuz I don't have a phone, I know right </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/airtight-containers#post-61513 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:34:09 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61513@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So I have some boxes of old papers, books and items that I want to keep. My plan is to wrap the boxes in Saran Wrap, put them in XL Ziploc bags, then put them in airtight containers and not opening them for over a year or until/if I get a Packtite. Can anyone recommend a good airtight container, preferably that I can buy locally instead of online? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/a-funny-scare-a-bit-off-topic#post-37939 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:17:41 +0000 vampiremenionprey 37939@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So last night I slept like a dream. No bites even (but i have a theory to that) That glass of wine did me some good.</p> <p>My husband and I decided that it would be best to start from scratch. we've come up with a game plan to help rid us of these nasty blood sucking vermin. First we're starting with our matresses since we can't afford the nice(r) covers. We bought a two air beds and set up our son's last night. </p> <p>First step was getting the bed out to the dumpster. I pulled off all of the sheets and put them in a garbage bag and proceeded to lift the matress. We noticed at the foot of his bed there was about a 6 inch tear in the encasement! EEK! This left me nauseous to think what we might find on the box spring by his head (where the switch plate is covered in blood spackles). I lifted up the matress and screamed! I dropped it as quickly as I could and almost went into a panic attack as my husband starting laughing!</p> <p>"what the <a href="mailto:F@#&#38;">F@#&#38;</a> is so funny!" i yelled at him as he died in laughter. He was at the head of the bed in tears from laughing so hard. He lifted the matress back up, still in hysterics and showed me what was so funny.</p> <p>What I thought to be about 10 adult bed bugs (i dropped the matress so quick i didn't get a good look) was purple NERDS (the candy). At that point i started laughing, and crying in relief! Appearently our son had hid some of his halloween candy in between his box spring and matress and the box busted open! </p> <p>LOL go ahead and laugh, you know you wanna. Besides it will do you some good!</p> <p>As for my theory about why i didn't get any bites, I vaccumed the hell out of his room after moving the bed out. His box spring didn't have any tears in the encasement, but to be on the cautious side it went out the door. I took the vaccume wand and got all around the phone jacks and swich plates, behind his movie case along the celing and blinds and then all along his closet and shelving. The only bugs that i've ever seen in our room was nymphs which i believed to be coming from the switchplate that was by his head. The walls connect and our bed was against that wall. Today we're throwing out our bed and couches and we will be overly prepped and ready when the PCO gets here tomorrow!</p> <p>Wish me luck I'm going into this hellstorm with DE, ziplocks, a lighter and maybe some hairspray too! ;) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/ive-become-obsessed-and-think-i-need-to-talk-with-someone#post-61485 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:11:09 +0000 offsides1971 61485@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>We've had 3 treatments in 30 days, maybe 4..I lost track..Our last full treatment was Oct 1. Baseboards, ceilings, every light switch/plug, every drawer, in our master bedroom. He also did the entire upstairs (two more bedrooms, bathroom, hall, laundry). They were basically in our master; however, once he sprayed (both stuff to kill and stuff to sterilize them and also dusted everything) we did have about 10 escapees into the hall, etc. trying to get away from the poison. We had to move out of our master where they were because my asthma kicked up which is why he didi the rest of the rooms to prevent them from "coming to look for us" in the guest room and son's room.. We've laundered, bagged, etc. The master bedroom is nothing but bear bones and waiting to be repainted. Then had carpets cleaned at 230 degrees, the entire house on Oct 7. Then PCO came and sprayed all the baseboards again Oct 11. We've not seen one bug since Oct 1. ....and I am obsessed. I'm obsessed because I haven't seen any. You'd think I'd be thrilled but I can't stop thinking one is lying in wait for us. Our PCO says we got them and that the chances of them "lying waiting hungerly to move back into our Master suite" is not realistic. He states in 30 days we would have seen some sign of them migrating. I can't stop though. I have a flashlight on everything and even everybody. Every little twitch, itch or red mark (and my skin marks easy) I'm sure is a bite. I inspect my 11 year old like he's a science project. My husband is ready to put me in a rubber room I swear. I'm thinking I might need to talk with a professional as it's clearly taken over my life. I can't smile, I can't enjoy my son's ballgames or activities. Everyone I meet on the street I think "I wish I had their life so I didn't have these bugs". I feel guilty for being so upset about these when my friend is going through cancer. I'm sure she would be thrilled to have bedbugs instead of what she is fighting. I go ballistic if anything touches the floor anywhere, even a pencil that falls on the floor from doing homework in the kitchen. Does anyone feel like this? Is it just me? I don't know how to be normal again. I even freak out when my poor child checks out library books at school...and they are required to so I can't stop it. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-couch-frames-truly-ever-be-bb-free#post-61222 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:49:11 +0000 ThisBItes 61222@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have had four treatments and will have the fifth in about three days in a period of about six weeks. My infestation is localized to my sectional couch and the problem has definitely gotten better since the PCO started coming. Does anyone know if I can treat the couch frame with Murphy's and exactly how to do it effectively? Does anyone know if a piece of furniture can ever truly be free of these little demons?? What is strange about my infestation is that only one part of the sectional was bad and the hide abed part of it had very little bbs and none in the mattress at all. I actually feel pretty fortunate compared to some of the examples I have seen on the web. The PCO also showed me what looked like dust on the side of the couch and explained to me that it was actually eggs--GROSS. If anyone has any answers for me I'd really appreciate it. I had to toss my son's playyard because the PCO found evidence of bbs and I WILL DO ANYTHING to get these things gone for good. The mental stress and being on constant bugwatch has really been almost worse than the bites. Good luck to anyone out there fighting these evil b#*@$rds!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/mattress-on-street-risks#post-61604 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:50:21 +0000 upagain 61604@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I try to avoid walking by mattresses in the street but sometimes I can't (like today, walking with a client and couldn't think of an excuse to cross street, took a peak at the seams too.). What would the risk be of picking up a bugger walking by close to one of these things, or I am just being real paranoid? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/confused-on-signs-of-bed-bugs-early-on#post-61637 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:57:54 +0000 offsides1971 61637@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>We had the whole bedbug infestation drama starting Aug 30th...had 4 sprays, and haven't seen a bedbug since Oct 1. Frankly, I had bites on my hands/arms for about for week leading up to Aug 30th and thought it was a skin allergy as my skin is very sensitive. Anyway..I'm paranoid..read my other posts and you'll see it. I'm desperately afraid of every little itch, twich, etc. And again, my skin is so sensitive that if I just run my finger down my arm I have a trail of little hives for an hour. So I have a pimple on my hairline, doesn't itch..it's sore like a pimple/hair follicle. I keep thinking if it was a bite I would see a mark on my pillow or bed. Either blood, feces something. I keep reading about people getting bites with no marks on their bed. It just sounds odd, even if it is a nymph that there wouldn't be something when they peirce your skin and get their fill. Frankly, I can't remember when I started seeing the marks in our bed..how early on it was. I was so ignorant that bugs never entered my mind so they could have been there awhile. Is thinking "gee this must be a pimple since it's sore and doesn't itch (I reacted with violent hives before) and there's no mark on the bed" naive? Our PCO swears that after 4 treatments in 30 days and steam cleaning carpets, bagging, etc. with no signs in a month that we've got them all. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/stains-saliva-water-and-peroxide#post-41733 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:02:07 +0000 pleasenotagain 41733@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>There has been a fair amount of discussion around this topic, but I'm just trying to get it straight. Is there a reliable test to determine whether a brownish-blackish stain is bed bug feces? Does putting on water or saliva and rubbing and seeing if it runs/smudges do it? Is hydrogen peroxide the only surefire way to go?</p> <p>I would really like to be able to be sure that these small stains on my comforter have nothing to do with bed bugs. They are the only signs that I might be infested and I would like to take them off the list if possible. Thanks! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/things-we-had-to-give-up-#post-61627 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:54:21 +0000 bbboogie 61627@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Since our friendly neighborhood bedbugs moved in with us we've had to change a few things around here.<br /> My husband is no longer allowed to wear his black socks to bed. I got tired of getting the magnifying glass and examining little bits of lint!<br /> I rise at dawn with the sun glaring down on me since I had to replace my chocolate brown blackout curtains with white sheers.<br /> My bedroom no longer has a Native American motif since the colors were shades of brown and beige and that makes it hard to find little black specks. Now it looks like we're sleeping in a hospital with all the white!<br /> My nighties were tossed and I now sleep in long sleeves, high neck and long pants. Yep, does wonders for your sex life NOT! :-)) Speaking of which...who in their right mind is going to take all their clothes off in bed anyway??? Seems like inviting them in for dinner.<br /> We no longer eat any kind of seeded bread, bagels, rolls, etc. Maybe never will again. :-(<br /> And last but not least, most of our clothes are too tight becasue of the constant washing in hot water and drying. Oh well, I needed to lose some weight anyway.<br /> See? There IS a bright side if you only look for it. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/temperature-questions#post-61616 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:00:48 +0000 upagain 61616@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I've been reading the FAQs and searching thru old posts (and searching the net) and finding so much conflicting information on what temps kill all stages (inc. eggs) and for how long. I know that a lot of temps are buffered so that all areas reach a certain temperature, but in an ideal condition what is the kill zone? For example, one thermal provider website quotes 60 minutes at 113F but only 7 minutes at 114.8F. So that almost 2 degrees really cuts the time that much? You read a lot of 120F for 90 min while I believe I read a post that for Packtite says hit 120F and run for 30 min. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-personal-bed-bug-monitors#post-60242 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:56:35 +0000 Douglas Stern 60242@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I just wanted to post a brand new product on the forum that you may be interested in know more about - it is called the Bug Dome and I consider it an excellent inexpensive personal bed bug monitor for home and travel use.</p> <p>Cost is $99.99 and includes free shipping. We are the first firm in the United States to carry this product from Silvandersson which is the maker of Cryonite.</p> <p>Here is a link to the information and close-up photos so you can check it out.</p> <p><a href="http://www.sternenvironmental.com/products/bed-bug-dome.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.sternenvironmental.com/products/bed-bug-dome.php</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/any-news-on-pats-cats-what-to-do#post-20778 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:38:42 +0000 freaked out in brooklyn 20778@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am scared my cat has been been sneezing a<br /> lot... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/please-help-with-identification-and-photo-tips#post-61518 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:00:11 +0000 kiirastacia 61518@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am trying to take a photo to upload for identification; but I can't get a clear one. Tips would be great. I have a wonderful bug specimen, its wiggling on a piece of tape. It's either a small roach or a bedbug; tear-drop shaped with a mostly colorless body. For simple description: The bug can be divided into 3 sections: head section - the pointy part (appears to have antennae), leg section (six or so colorless wiggly legs), and rear section (colorless with an uneven dark center, has ridges). Doesn't appear to have wings. I KNOW we have roaches; unfortunately we also have either scabies or bedbugs. Any way to definitively tell the difference between roach nymphs and bedbugs? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/no-bites-but-weird-crawling-feeling-mosquito-038-bedbug-venoms-related#post-58738 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:02:07 +0000 perhaps1271 58738@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I saw a bug that I later identified as a beetle, but now I have this weird crawling sensation at night, but no bites.<br /> Could be psychosomatic, but I'm squinting at every speck of dust or lint that makes its way into my bedroom region, and some have looked suspect.<br /> I know some people don't have allergic reactions so you can't tell they've been bit, but whenever I've gotten mosquito bites they've always gone itchy and swollen, sometimes becoming nasty welts.<br /> So my question is this, if I react allergically to mosquitos, would I react allergically to bedbugs? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/frightened-please-help-me-and-tell-me-if-i-am-safe-or-not#post-61572 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:34:03 +0000 frightenedofbedbugs 61572@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am hoping that someone can help me and hopefully calm me down or tell me what to do. A few months ago I went to an old movie theater and then went shopping and tried clothing on in a nice department store and hung out for a while and when I came home about 9 hours after the movie I had a bite that itched like crazy - I had to put cortazone on it every hour for several hours - and I realized that I most likely got it during the movie. </p> <p>I actually went and googled the movie theater and someone wrote that they got a bed bug bite at the same movie theater during the same movie that I saw. I was freaking out, but was happy that I didn't just come right home. It's been about 3 months (bite was the first week in August) and I still freak out at every speck I find and every little itch I feel. We immediately examined our clothing and didn't find anything and then washed and dried the clothing on high heat just to be safe. </p> <p>I was wondering if someone could just let me know that if I had a problem I would know by now. I sleep with my closet light on and my glasses and a night light on... I never have a comfortable sleep since the bite I got. I examine my bed and sheets (all white) all the time and didn't notice anything since then except for two or three little black dots and nothing since then and those dots could have been there for a while. Also, I haven't had any bites since that day... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-in-developing-country-no-vacuum-cleaner-no-dryer-please-help#post-61575 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:39:35 +0000 Sammy 61575@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, I'm in a bit of a different situation than most people on this site but any advice would be very gratefully received.....</p> <p>Basically, the first part of my story is typical: stayed in dodgy hotel at the start of October, got some bites, assumed it was a mosquito though they were much more painful and swollen than mossie bites usually are. Came home, unpacked, and about a week later noticed huge swollen bites all over my legs. I have quite an extreme reaction and didn't immediately identify them as bedbugs, though I did wonder, but I live in a developing country (I'm based in Africa) and there are lots of different insects I thought could have been responsible. I washed all my bedlinen, left mattress and duvet out in the sun, and then moved into my housemates room while she was away (I now realise this was dumb) For a week I'd no new bites, and had a friend to stay in the spare room, however just before she left she discovered she was covered with bites (much more text-book bedbug bites than mine) and then a day or two later (yesterday) I started to get some even though I was still in the other room. Once I was sure they were bedbugs (there's lots of evidence that's the case now I've been reading so many websites, though I still haven't seen an actual bug) I contacted a pest control place and sent my duvet, sheets, pjs, etc to the dry cleaner. </p> <p>I've arranged for an exterminator who is spraying the house as we speak, the problem I have is that lots of suggestions on this site won't work for me because of where I am. My clothes are either washed by hand or in a washing machine which I'm pretty sure washes cold, I don't have a dryer, I don't have a vacuum cleaner. My house is covered with little gaps and cracks in the walls and i can't think how to cover them. I can't buy any expensive equipment - most companies don't even ship here - and I've just spent a fortune on drycleaning my bedlinen and can't afford to do the same with the rest of my clothes. I can't even find ziplock bags, sourcing big black plastic garbage bags to take all my bed stuff to the dry cleaners took trips to three supermarkets. </p> <p>The exterminator doesn't really speak english: I got a colleague to explain on the phone and I'm pretty sure theyr'e treating the mattress and spraying the house but I'm not sure what with (and to be honest, not sure I'll ever find out) I'm staying with a friend tonight which I know is not ideal but have no idea how toxic what they're using is, and won't have any bedclothes back till tomorrow. I'm terrified they won't be gone: I'm seriously allergic to these bites, some of them are over an inch and a half and red and swollen, unbelievably itchy and I haven't slept properly in weeks now. I also feel so limited in what I can do: reading what people have done successfully - things which were I at home would be basic and achievable: vacuuming, putting clothes in the dryer: I'm really worried. </p> <p>I have a friend in Nairobi which has much better shopping possibilities who is going to try to track down mattress encasements and ship them but by the time I have them internationally shipped it will take a couple of weeks ...... </p> <p>Please, please if anyone has any advice as to what I can do, let me know. And if there are powders etc you can recommend, could you use generic rather than brand names if possible as while some chemicals may be available here its not so likely the specific products will be. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/upcoming-bed-bug-education-in-chicago-boston-for-hospitalityproperty-mgmtetc#post-61568 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:12:29 +0000 Nobugsonme 61568@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>These two are a bit different, but they're for people who manage properties, residences, etc. (Could not fit something which made more sense in the title bar!)</p> <p>See:</p> <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/11/03/bed-bug-educational-event-in-chicago/">Chicago 12/2</a></p> <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/11/03/bed-bug-educational-event-in-the-boston-area/">Boston 11/17</a></p> <p>These are not for the general public, but I know some of you will fit into those categories or know someone who does, someone who needs a bed bug education or a bed bug plan... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/mites-question-for-pcos-or-anyone-who-knows-mites-help#post-61452 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:01:53 +0000 earthangel 61452@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am pretty sure that what is torturing me and also my at-home assistant (who can't come anymore now) with bites and itches is some kind of mite. I am now also pretty sure it's from birds, as I found out our building has had a bird problem - briefly, hundreds and hundreds of them all over it at dawn daily because of someone who feeds them. Various maintenance/sanitation issues are ongoing for this well-kept nice building I live in. </p> <p>They are too small to see. My question is this - if you narrow it down to chicken mites, northern fowl mites, or rodent mites - do I have to know which it is? are the treatments really different for all of those? I'll still try to catch one, I've sent for a device KillerQueen recommended, but I am going crazy with endless laundering and huge disruption in a small space, so now that I know what I most probably probably have, I want to get the most powerful PCO treatment that will do the job.</p> <p>An additional reason for question - maybe I am too pessimistic, but I think I may have to "guide" any PCO I work with so I want to know as much as I can before I get mixed up with anyone. I read all the mites forums but I trust the people here the absolute most as to knowledge and integrity.</p> <p>I will be very happy if someone knows a NYC PCO who can deal with mites without my non-expert help!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/oprah#post-3040 Fri, 18 May 2007 22:39:14 +0000 wantmyskinback 3040@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Her website is: <a href="http://www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml" rel="nofollow">http://www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml</a><br /> I recommend writing her daily. eventually someone on her show will see it and will contact you and try to get the "story" . And there is a story here. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/medication-already-on-the-market#post-60640 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:02:58 +0000 meremortal 60640@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Just a thought...does anyone know if research is being done to evaluate any effects existing medications/herbal supplements (approved for use in humans, of course) may have on bedbugs? For example, if I knew that taking glucosamine would help my knee heal AND cause the bedbugs that were biting me to grow shells so thick they could no longer move (yay!), then I would certainly consider that as another tool in the battle. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but if you don't ask you won't find out! I'm sure drug companies would be interested in any research on this topic, as their sales would skyrocket if it was found that one of their products helped. Even if a brand new pesticide was developed (and worked!), think about how long it would take to get approved. Maybe we should be concurrently looking at what's already out there. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-can-i-replace-wooden-slat-bed-base-with#post-61548 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:34:46 +0000 Maddash 61548@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Okay, so now that I've read more on the forums I'm all tweaked out about the fact that both our and my daughter's bed have wooden slat bed bases. Ours is finished, hers is raw pine. What could I use as a replacement that would hold a mattress but not allow the bb's to set up shop? Maybe some kind of compound material? I know plywood and particle are no good. Ideas? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bite-reactions-changing-over-time#post-26903 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:29:22 +0000 WelcometoFlatbush 26903@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> I understand that bed bug bite reactions can change over time. At first I only had the delayed reaction. With my most recent (confirmed) reactions i was bitten on 4 or 5 occasions over a month. The last set of bites swelled up dramatically almost immediately to the size of a dime or a penny and itched so bad i woke delirious starring at the bites before i realized who I was.</p> <p>Since i moved, ive only had flea bites looking reactions, sometimes i wake up with them. Its been a year so far and I have not had any reaction like that. My question is. Is it realistic that my reactions would be attenuated immediately after moving so drastically? My thoughts are that, no this isn't rational. i still cannot stop thinking it.</p> <p>Has anyone experienced a change in their reactions like this while still having a BB problem? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/refurbished-roomba#post-61413 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:14:41 +0000 cilecto 61413@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Saw this offer for a refurbished Roomba (vacuuming robot). As a bedbugger, I'd hesitate to bring in anything that's been in other people's rooms, especially sweeping their baseboards.</p> <p><a href="http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/11/02/woot-refurbished-roomba-530-for-130/" rel="nofollow">http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/11/02/woot-refurbished-roomba-530-for-130/</a></p> <p>OTOH, wouldn't it be great if there were a machine to roam your house and snarf up your BBs while you sleep? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-during-the-day-in-your-clothes#post-59211 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:56:40 +0000 Dave2009 59211@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Ok, so I’m about 90% certain I have bed bugs. I haven’t seen them but the bites seem to match up. Over the last 6 months or so, about 2 times a week I wake up with a few red, itchy bumps that are about ½ inch in diameter. The red bumps go away after 5 to 15 minutes and the itching goes away as well. </p> <p>So those are the bites I get in the morning. However, for the last 3 months or so I’ve noticed bites I get during the day while at work. I usually get them on my arms above the elbow or on my legs above the knee. They do not seem to leave any any kind of mark like the ones I get in the morning. The itching usually only lasts 5 minutes and the frequency is about once an hour.</p> <p>Is it possible the bed bugs are hiding in my clothes and biting me while I’m at work? Is there some kind of “aftershock” with the bites in the morning? Like I get bit at 5:00 AM and it starts to itch again at 10:00 AM? What is the best way to find out what is biting me? Should I see a dermatologist? I mean it’s not even leaving red bumps, so I wouldn’t even know what to show him…</p> <p>Thanks </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/thermometers#post-61551 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:58:35 +0000 bitebedbugsback 61551@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I'm curious how hot my dryer gets. What kind of thermometer can I throw in there with clothes to measure the temp? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/foam-memory-foam-vs-bbs#post-58744 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:42:51 +0000 bbfiend 58744@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So, I read around here that the BBs don't like foam/memory foam? Can anyone expound on that for me please? Thanks!!!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/pco-will-be-spraying-shoes#post-61564 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:35:47 +0000 twitchyscratchy 61564@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello bbs,</p> <p>I asked my PCO what to do with my shoes. all of them but the pair i wear everyday are bagged and outside.</p> <p>i asked if he would spray them, and he said he would treat the outside, but not the inside where they would be in contact with the body.</p> <p>is this wise? </p> <p>i've said before, our problem is at this time still very small. we've had them no more than 10 days and i'm LUCKY to have caught it this early on. i sincerely doubt any bugs would have had the chance to move in to our shoes (though i know it is a possibility). do you feel treating them with the spray is sufficient? </p> <p>btw, i have very little money and can't afford a packtite. i also have no home dryer to speak of and my laundromat does not allow shoes. anyway, most of them are leather. </p> <p>my friend has a garment steamer. should i steam/hairdryer them? </p> <p>should i bake them in the oven?</p> <p>would you folks feel comfortable with PCO-sprayed shoes?</p> <p>please advise. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/packtiting-my-laptop#post-60290 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:32:04 +0000 soscared 60290@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I just packtited my Dell Latitude laptop, at just under 140 degrees as a max (and having taken out the battery) and it works perfectly. I know the company doesn't recommend packtiting electronics, but I just thought i'd post my experience. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/seriously-i-had-to-get-medication-for-stress#post-55500 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:11:16 +0000 worrywart1 55500@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>After becoming suspicious that we might have bedbugs (still not confirmed), I have really been a mess. It was all I could think about day or night. I could barely function at work or at home. After a while I went to my doctor and explained to him what was going on. I didn't have any obvious bites at the time but I described a weird one I had had, and he didn't deny that it could have been a BB bite but he said it also could have been a spider bite. I explained to him about the way I was obsessing and stressing about the whole thing, and he ended up prescribing a medication for stress. It seems to be helping some.</p> <p>I know some people have strong beliefs and feelings about the medications they take, and I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do. I'm just saying that for me, for now, this was what I needed to do. Just thought I'd share that.</p> <p>BTW, I'm still doing what I can to determine what's going on and using precautions with clothes and shoes when leaving the house, but I'm not going crazy like I was. </p>