http://bedbugger.com/forum/ Bed bug support forums en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:01:47 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-bigger-bug-photo-bed-bug#post-62755 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:51:46 +0000 bugcrazylady 62755@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, so I found a bigger (still dead) specimen of the bug I have been finding in my apartment. He looks more brown colored than the others(they looked more greyish), but he is still pretty oval shaped. His back has striped ridges over the whole thing, but his belly looks as though he has more than 6 legs (I could be wrong though, it is hard to see). </p> <p>can anyone tell me if this is a Bed Bug? And if not, can it still bite me?</p> <p>Thanks!!</p> <p>(The first link is his underbelly, and the second is his back. Also, I have 6 more pictures in the same album)</p> <p><a href="http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/danielletocco/New%20Bug%2011-21-09/?action=view&#38;current=DSCN1039.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/danielletocco/New%20Bug%2011-21-09/?action=view&#38;current=DSCN1039.jpg</a></p> <p><a href="http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/danielletocco/New%20Bug%2011-21-09/?action=view&#38;current=DSCN1046.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac152/danielletocco/New%20Bug%2011-21-09/?action=view&#38;current=DSCN1046.jpg</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/dog-inspection-false-positive#post-62692 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:52:17 +0000 dreamersball 62692@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I'm a bit shy about posting on forums, but I wanted to share my story in case it helps others. </p> <p>Recently we got some bites and worried that we had bedbugs. We hadn't found any actual bugs, but they're pretty small so we figured we should get an inspection. An inspector came, didn't find any bugs, but we decided to get a K9 inspection, because we figured if we did have them it wasn't a huge infestation but we wanted to nip it in the bud. It's hard not to get hysterical about the possibility of having bedbugs. </p> <p>The K9 inspection was pretty brief; the dog stayed on the leash &#38; the handler led it all over the house fairly quickly. When it went into the bedroom under suspicion, it sat down right next to the bed, on the side where the bites had been happening. Sitting down is the dog's signal, apparently, that it has smelled bedbugs. So, we concluded that we had them, though the inspector did not do any visual inspection in the area where the dog sat down -- to confirm the presence of the bugs.</p> <p>We decided to think carefully about treatment options, because they're so expensive and we don't have a lot of money. That's when I came across this forum and read some of the advice from killerqueen. We decided it'd be cheaper to pay for another, more thorough inspection, rather than do a treatment, because the fact was, we hadn't ever actually seen a bug. </p> <p>We called Boot-a-Pest, and John came out and did a really, really thorough inspection. He worked more slowly and carefully than the inspection from the previous company. Whenever he found a dark spot that looked like blood, he had a special testing thing he did (it was very CSI) to see if it was blood. He took off the covering of the box spring and looked there; he then staple-gunned it back on. He didn't find anything (except one book louse and some spiders). He declared us bedbug free. </p> <p>John encouraged me to put this information out there, because it does appear that the dog inspections can result in false positives (as well as false negatives). Also, just because you have bites, doesn't mean you have bedbugs in your home. </p> <p>Finally, I would like to give a huge public thanks to Boot-a-Pest (killerqueen) for helping us with this situation. He was friendly, down-to-earth, and professional. This man knows his bugs -- not just bedbugs but all bugs. I also feel like we could call him again if the bites returned, and he would help us deal with the situation sensibly and effectively. But frankly I hope I never have to call him again. :) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/ziplocs-and-packtites#post-62777 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:16:38 +0000 bugbuster 62777@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>First, can you put a ziploc bag in a packtite and second, if you can, would that ziploc be safe to be re-used after a trip through it? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/couch-encasements#post-62678 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:51:34 +0000 Full Couch Encasement 62678@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My name is Ken Hippner I am the founder and developer of Sofa Safe. Its a FULL couch encasment for a bed bug infested couch/sofa. </p> <p>I am here to answer any questions anyone may have about how it works, and its multi purpose use for bed bug removal and containment. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/fecal-spotsblood-spots#post-62775 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:07:58 +0000 coosyaa 62775@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Can someone please take a look at tell me what they think? I have two dark spots on two different pillow cases and one blood spot (the size of 1/4 of a penny). The thing about the blood spot is that i kind of had a large pimple on my face and think it might be from that.</p> <p><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/bedbuggs/Bedbugs#" rel="nofollow">http://picasaweb.google.com/bedbuggs/Bedbugs#</a></p> <p>I haven't gotten any bites and neither has my boyfriend. I also haven't seen any kind of spots on anything except for my pillows. Is it possible to have bed bugs and not have any bites? Any suggestions?</p> <p>Thank you very much. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/ive-got-them-freaking-out-and-sad#post-62709 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:47:27 +0000 buggedout16 62709@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So... I was here a little over a year ago, thinking I had bed bugs that turned out to be carpet beetles. Unfortunately, this time it's not such a happy ending. I found this little guy crawling up my bedroom wall today and it looks exactly like the pictures on here. I've been terrified of this since last year when I thought I had them- it's my worst nightmare and I don't know what to do. My mattress and box spring are already encased from the scare I had last year; and I don't see any stains or spots on the sheets or any of those areas. I didn't see anything in my couch either, but I sleep there occasionally by accident- falling asleep watching TV or something- so I'm sure they are there, too. I know "what" I have to do know; but doing it is going to suck. I was supposed to work all weekend; I just called in for tonight to try to start dealing with this; don't know what I'm going to do about the next two nights. I think I know where they came from- my littlest sister's apartment- I visited her about 6 weeks ago and she mentioned she'd been getting lots of mosquito bites- when I came back I had some bites too but they went away- I'd had other spots that could be bites or acne and kept inspecting my bed and etc. for signs- saw none until today. I'm going to have to let her know, too. Although you'd think she'd have seen them by now- maybe she just doesn't know what they look like. I live alone, in an apartment building, and I am not going to be able to do furniture moving by myself. I think I'm just going to throw away a lot of my stuff. I'm terrified of how this is going to turn out. I just wanted to vent here.</p> <p>Oh, going to try to post the photo if I can once I figure out how... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-bed-bugs-crawl-along-plastic-eg-cable-cord#post-62773 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:02:30 +0000 buggedout16 62773@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>OK as I am trying to clear my apartment etc, I noticed something I'd never have thought anything of before... My cable TV connection is in the bedroom and I have a connecting cord that sits on the floor and goes from the bedroom all the way to the living room where my TV is. It's plastic coated but I'm thinking now that the bugs could possibly be much more widespread in my apartment than I thought, if they can travel that way. The cord is not really near my bed, but I mean it is in the same room. Unfortunatley I guess the bugs have already spread that way if it's going to, but as an added help, should I unhook it and get rid of the cord, or what??? Thanks... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/moved-one-week-in-did-i-manage-to-ditch-them#post-62770 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:11:50 +0000 rod 62770@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>So after three treatments: two from the LL's sketchy PCO, and one steam and spray treatment from a reputable PCO that I paid for out of my own pocket I got ready to move. The last PCO said that he didn't see any live BBs during the last treatment. Unavailable in Toronto and/or out of my price range included: bug sniffing dogs, Vikane treatments, heat treating trucks, or Packtites. </p> <p>Here are the precautions I did take:</p> <p>1. Threw out mattress<br /> 2. Used Rubbermaid containers rather than cardboard boxes for most things. Boxes were sealed with Vapona to be opened after 2 weeks. I know this is not a sanctioned or recommended practice, but I wanted to try something other than discarding/sealing away for a year and a half my 700 books and records<br /> 3. Put all paper knick knacks in the freezer in bags where they'll stay undisturbed for 2 weeks.<br /> 4. Re-bagged all laundered and bagged clothing (i.e.: I put the bag of clean clothes into a *new* bag just for peace of mind.<br /> 5. All electronics and music gear that I could not steam or freeze I vacuumed every day in the lead up to the moving day.<br /> 6. Left behind all items *too risky* that were close to the problem and hard to clean i.e.: luggage, two fans, and some other knick knacks.</p> <p>Things I risked: Stereo, 3 guitars, two amps, recording equipment, framed pictures (not close to the bed area), desktop computer.</p> <p>I'm now sleeping on a futon mattress donated by a friend before I have my old bed from back in Ottawa brought over in a month. I have D.E.ed the mattress and the baseboards of my room in a preventative measure. </p> <p>So a week or so in and I haven't seen ANYTHING. the only place I see BBs are in my bad dreams (two last night). I know that it takes time before one can declare victory but what I realize is that it's really hard for me to tell if I have them or not. I don't react to bites and never did. I never actually saw one except when they were in my mattress that I've since discarded. Where should I be looking? How and when can try to detect them without spending more money?</p> <p>Any advice or assessment of my precautions would be appreciated. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/for-pco-does-anyone-know-about-this-supper-heating-the-house#post-62761 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:07:42 +0000 flabergasted 62761@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I just discovered these things in house. My brother and I both started getting weird bites around the same time. I thought it was scabies because of the way I was reacting and did the treatment for them. I didn't get anymore for awhile so I guess the BB's don't like the skin treatment. I noticed a couple of new bites and the pharmist said sometimes it takes a second treatment. Well before I wasted the $50 cream for a 2nd treatment my brother phones and says it not scabies we have bed bugs because he caught one in his couch. Well my couch and recliner are full of them.</p> <p>So in my search for a pest control company I ran across this Thermal exterminating. I watched the videos where they were using it in hotels on the US and thought it was better than spraying pesticideds in my house. Low and behold we have one of the only two companies in Canada that do it here in our city. So I called and spoke with him - the low down of the conversation is it costs about $1,700 the process is they seal up the house bring the heat up to 140 degress and sustain for 4 hours and basically cook them - you do the cleanup. He says you don't have to get rid of your furniture and it also kind of acts like a cleanser as well for any mold, dust mites or other creepy crawlers.</p> <p>I was told by someone I am probably better off spraying because I have a condo but we have solid concrete block walls between us and they could be coming in at the foundation joint. Were not sure who's house got it first but my neighbors moved in two months before the 1st bites appeared and big brothers downstairs tenat is a prison guard.</p> <p>So the delema here is spend 1,700 maybe it works or go the spray route and take the $1,500 I am saving toast the couch because the PCO I found will do the fisrst spray and followups for 750.00 .</p> <p>For some peoples interest while reading the forums I used my H20 Mop and mini steamer last night on the couch after I riped the bottom off and they cooked just fine. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/sprayway-good-night-product#post-13191 Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:47:11 +0000 jennifer09 13191@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi,<br /> anyone know if Sprayway-Good Night kills these creatures? I used this spray stuff on my bags and shoes and put them in sealed plastic bags. Haven't touched them for a week. It contains: 3-phenoxtbenzyl cyclopropanecarbonxylate AND N-Octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide. Anybody know? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/on-london-radio-again-this-morning#post-62766 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:47:22 +0000 bed-bugscouk 62766@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Another normal Saturday morning, woken up by a radio researcher asking to have a chat about bed bugs on air and hour or so later.</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00541w6/Vanessa_Feltz_21_11_2009/" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00541w6/Vanessa_Feltz_21_11_2009/</a></p> <p>2:36:16 in</p> <p>Nothing earth shattering about the information for seasoned bed buggers but its all about getting the message out there.</p> <p>Look and avoid is much better than suffering.</p> <p>I will be doing another podcast session later int he day and will post the link when its online.</p> <p>David Cain<br /> Bed Bugs Limited </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/being-bit-never-found-the-bugs#post-61075 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:37:55 +0000 bugged2 61075@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Going nuts... found my first 3 bites on Sept 15, 2009, on my rib cage...few days later had 7 bites going down my stomach. For the following 2 weeks, I'd randomly get bit on my stomach, breasts or shoulders every few days-all places always covered while sleeping. Finally called Orkin after finding out a friend had been at our house in July-Sept and he had bed bugs (thanks for not telling us!).</p> <p>Orkin sprayed the first time on Oct 6th. Started getting bit again on Oct 12th. Then Orkin came and did a 2nd spray on Oct 14th. I thought I was in the clear...then I realized bites on my stomach on Oct 22nd while in the shower. Truly going nuts. We've taken our couch to the dump, encased all beds and boxsprings. Orkin is returning on Mon (Nov 2nd) for our last spray. We have spent $400 to Orkin (living room, and 3 bedrooms done...I wasn't chancing anything and had every room sprayed) and have spent over $250 on encasements. </p> <p>Here's our biggest issue: we've NEVER found a single bug. The Orkin investigator found black spots on the underside of our boxspring, and claimed those to be fecal matter (though it sits where the frame is and the frame is black...). It's a brand new kingsize bed that we purchased in Feb, with no headboard, just sits on a metal frame. We've never found eggs, or skin shedding.</p> <p>I have washed and bagged all of our clothing and belongings. I found these zippered bags at walmart for $5.24 and they fit a TON of clothes in them:<br /> <a href="http://www.walmart.com/catalog/detail.gsp?image=http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/73/18/10/55/0073181055402_500X500.jpg,http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/73/18/10/55/0073181055402_500X500.jpg,http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/73/18/10/55/0073181055402_AV_60X60.gif&#38;product_id=11085278&#38;iIndex=1&#38;isVariant=false&#38;corpCard=false&#38;type=-9223372036854775808" rel="nofollow">http://www.walmart.com/catalog/detail.gsp?image=http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/73/18/10/55/0073181055402_500X500.jpg,http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/73/18/10/55/0073181055402_500X500.jpg,http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/73/18/10/55/0073181055402_AV_60X60.gif&#38;product_id=11085278&#38;iIndex=1&#38;isVariant=false&#38;corpCard=false&#38;type=-9223372036854775808</a></p> <p>This bag is very similar to the ones we have.</p> <p>Here are my concerns:</p> <p>*I adopted a kitten from a shelter on Sept 11th (days before being bit) took him to the vet, and $90 later they said he is completely free of any mites, parasites, fleas, etc.</p> <p>*I am the only person being bit, possibly on the couch and the bed...</p> <p>*I've been bit numerous times on the stomach and breasts. Few bites on back, and one on thigh. All bites itch, and have left scars (even the first ones from 6 weeks ago)</p> <p>*We've caulked EVERYTHING-cracks, crevices, baseboards, etc...</p> <p>*We do not have carpet, the entire house is ceramic tile, so they cannot be living in the carpet</p> <p>*We have electric baseboard heaters along most walls in the house...father and boyfriend claim they are metal and get too hot for the bugs to survive...took 3 off today and did not find anything, so we are not checking the rest of the rooms</p> <p>*Could the bugs be in our electronics?</p> <p>I apologize for the long post, but I am going nuts. I am just thankful that I am out of work and able to do the necessary bagging and disposing of things. We had a lot of our belongings bagged up on the kitchen table, and our stupid kitten climbed up the bag and ripped holes in it. I caught it, but who knows how long it could have went exposed. I taped the tears... again, these are trash bags with our belongings that cannot be steamed, sprayed, or dried, and are going to sit in there until we inspect.</p> <p>Any thoughts, suggestions, or anything really to help me sleep at night would be great ;) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/another-bite-question#post-62617 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:46:40 +0000 islandgal 62617@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have posted here before....</p> <p>In early September, my boyfriend, who is a landscaper, came home with bites all over his forearms, some singles, some in pairs, some in lines and groups. They were incredibly swollen and itchy. There were about 20 of them. A week later, he had more. I made him start wearing bug repellent and long sleeves to work. He didn't get anymore bites for 4 weeks after that, and in that time he had to work at other various sites. </p> <p>Fast forward to after the 4 weeks: bites have returned in the same manner. It seems likely he is being bitten at work, as the bites are only on his forearms - the only exposed skin while he is at work besides his face. He only got the bites while working on a site that was in a particular mountainous area. But, since we are due to visit his family at the beginning of December, I wanted to be certain. So I scheduled the bed bug dog in. </p> <p>The team came exactly two weeks ago, did a visual inspection, and found nothing. They brought the dog in to confirm and he didn't find anything either. We live in an 800 sq ft basement suite of a house and the owner, his wife and little girl live upstairs. The inspection lasted about 45 minutes, and they were very thorough. I was then convinced that he had been bitten at work by some flying bug and relaxed. I just wanted the dog to inspect for peace of mind.</p> <p>5 fays after the dog inspection, I notice three small, red bumps in a line on my shoulder near where my bra strap would be. They were not itchy, I don't think. I thought they were pimples and put it out of my mind. Almost a week later, they were still there, so I tried to "pop" them. I think some pus came out, but they are quite small so it was hard to tell. They are now healing with a small scab in the centre. </p> <p>I admit, I have sensitive skin, excema, mild breakouts, ingrown hairs etc., but I have never "broken out" on my chest/shoulder area. I now have about 6 or 7 of the same bumps on both sides of my shoulder/chest area. Is it possible that I have just "broken out," or is it too much of a coincidence? Should I see a doctor, or have another inspection? I think maybe right now, I just need some peace of mind again :( </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/interesting-it-happened-to-me-alert-read#post-62712 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:47:23 +0000 nervousbreakdown09 62712@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello there.</p> <p>I have not been on here in awhile but I wanted to come back on and share my story because I think it might help many people out there who might be going through what I just went through over the past few months. Here is the breakdown...As you can see from my name, I WAS having a nervous breakdown and now, I am nervous breakdown free. </p> <p>I went on vacation in mid August to Colorado and came back with distinct bites on my ankles and on the back of my knee cap. They were in a line, all in a row. As the week went on, I got 6 more bites and noticed the red comet like blood stains on our white linens. When I went online, it immediately pointed to BED BUGS. I had really never heard of bed bugs in California but this website scared the bejesus out of me and I was immediately convinced this is what I had. I called a PCO in the Los Angeles area who came out the next day. He took a look around my house and told me that although he didn't see anything, he could "tell by the bites on my legs that we had bed bugs" and that because we were on vacation the week before, we must have brought them home with us. He immediately charged us hundreds of dollars, told me to wrap up all of me bedding and my other linens, and he proceeded to douse my home with delta dust and another mixture of dust. ( I know. I know.)</p> <p>He said that my BB problem was so small that that should take care of it. He told me to bag all of my clothing, linens etc, wash and dry, and not come back into the house for the rest of the day. So that is what we did.</p> <p>The next day, we came back in, and we hired a cleaning crew to clean up all of the dust. It was EVERYWHERE. He told me to leave a one inch perimeter around the edges, which we did. A few days later, more "bites." This time, on my stomach. We waited a week, called him back, and he came back in a week later and sprayed with pymtherin instead. Again, we bagged, washed, dried. This time, we kept everything bagged. We sprayed the entire house, all furniture, everything. We came back in, and again, days later, more "bites." I couldn't believe it. I was literally having a breakdown. I would come on this forum and beg for help. I would cry daily. I never ONCE saw an actual bed bug. I started to think that maybe we had mites? I would get "bitten" in the middle of the day, sitting on the couch in the living room. If we had had such a small infestation, how did it become so large where now they were eveywhere? </p> <p>So, I basically moved out of my home with my animals and moved in to my parents house. I called 3 different PCO companies who call came out, including an entomologist. They laid sticky traps, searched the entire house including the mattresses and couches etc. They found nothing. I hired a caulker who caulked all the floors (no carpet in the house) so there were no openings. I bought climb up monitors and they were always empty. I literally had no life for 2 months living out of one plastic bag and wearing the same 3 outfits. It was a nightmare.</p> <p>So my original PCO came back a final 3rd time and told me they were going to spray one more time. Even though I was hesitant, they told me this time, they would get rid of them. They came back 5 weeks after I initially called them and sprayed. 3 days later, I came in the house for an afternoon and that evening in the shower, I had 8 huge "bites" all over my torso that were as large as quarters. HUGE WELTS. I literally started crying. I went to the doctor and they injected them with cortisol. Ouch.</p> <p>In the midst of my tears, I started getting suspicious. How in the WORLD were BB getting me at the daytime on my stomach like that without me noticing? I wasn't even spending the night there. I would go in and sit at the kitchen table and work on the computer for 3 hours and sometimes I would wear pants and a sweatshirt. It was weird. I started to think that it was possible that maybe I had bird mites or some invisible problem but what would be the possibility that I had both? Or did I not EVER have bed bugs?</p> <p>So, I hired a full painting crew and cleaning crew. I paid $4000 and had the entire interior of my 1800 sq foot home painted, ceiling to floor. Everything. Then, I had a cleaning crew come in deep clean my home including all of my furniture, etc. We threw out our rugs, the one couch the PCO had doused and two chairs.</p> <p>We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. We took the 50 contractor bags that had been cleaned and dried back to the laundrymat and we cleaned and dried them again. I hired an air conditioning duct cleaner to come in and ran the fire places all day.</p> <p>We moved back in. 10 weeks after the initial bites occured. </p> <p>I have now been back in for 4 weeks. NOT ONE SINGLE BITE OR MARK. Sleeping through the night on our white sheets, no stains, no weird itching. Nothing.</p> <p>Yesterday, we opened our guest bedroom closet which is the one place we never go in and the last place that wasn't deep cleaned of 4 or five boxes. We emptied it and deep cleaned it and found remnants of delta dust on the boxes in there. I took a shower after and what do I see on my stomach that night for the first time in weeks? A big red welt on my stomach just like the others. Normally I would freak out and think this was a bug but it is not. It is the chemicals.</p> <p>So... here is my theory. I could be wrong, but...The chemicals that they spray were leaving marks and "bites" that were making me think that I was still getting "bitten" even though I really wasn't. The only bites I ever got that were in a row and itched were back in August and then never again. So for all of Sept and Oct, I was going through a nervous breakdown and it was my own doing.</p> <p>My husband is convinced he had a small problem that was probably taken care of by the 1st round of chemcials.</p> <p>Had a read a post like this when I was going through what I was going though, I would have felt way better. So I wanted to share with you.</p> <p>Also, this PCO is in Los Angeles and should not be handling BB. He didn't even know it was BB for sure and still treated for it which someone told me is not even legal. The other 3 PCO's who came told us that his application of the Delta Dust in our home was illegal and the places and the amount that he applied was illegal and not consistent with the labeling. One PCO refused to enter our home because of how toxic it was. :( There was Delta Dust literally everywhere in our house.</p> <p>I hope this helps someone out there!!!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/phantom-125-pco-question-please-help#post-62606 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:11:19 +0000 wchicago 62606@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello<br /> My PCO has been spraying with Phantom diluted at .125 (chlorfanapyr, .125). Everything i've read says that phantom is good for bbs (originally developed for termites), but also that for bed bugs the dilution is usually .5 (this .5 dilution recommendation is from the Phantom manufacturer website, as well as all the published work on phantom and bedbugs)?<br /> this has been driving me a little nuts (i'm in week 6 of treatments, they come every 2 weeks and spray phantom .125, and yes i'm still getting bites). My questions, and someone please PLEASE answer if you know</p> <p>1. Should chlorfanapyr be diluted at .5 for bedbugs,or is .125 the proper dosing?<br /> 2. If it is being sprayed for 6 weeks at .125 and should have been at .5, will this give me chlorfanapyr resistant bbs because they've been surviving small doses?<br /> 3. How do i talk to my tech about this (I always have the same tech)? Keeping in mind, he is helpful when i ask for advice about some things (Like how to protect my dog, cure my shoes, etc) - but sometimes gives me conflicting advice from his own company (e.g., he said no vaccuming, but manager of his company just told me i should be doing daily vacuuming), he didn't give me a prep sheet or post care sheet, and gets a little huffy when i ask him about why he's doing things a certain way &lt;like i had to beg him to treat my nightstand and dresser, instead of just the baseboards in the bedroom, and even then he did not treat any furniture until the last visit, after i talked to his manager. notably, after treating the bedroom furniture, biting in the bedroom stopped&gt;.</p> <p>help? please? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/the-sofa-safe#post-62731 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:01:15 +0000 watkinsnewan 62731@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello Ken Hippner (Full Couch Encasement)I got your message and would like you to introduce your self and your company to all the bed buggers.. Remember we are all waiting.and have lots of questions.<br /> This thread is for all to ask Ken about his company The sofa safe. I have been waiting a long time to hear from him in this public forum. So I decided to start the topic. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/2-questions-questions-for-killer-queen-or-other-godlike-pcos#post-60648 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:55:21 +0000 wchicago 60648@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> I'm a newbite from chicago. I bought a brand new sleeper sofa that came with an evil "bonus" and because it was new it never occurred to me that the bites i got within 3 days of having it might be bedbugs until a PCO came to treat for possible fleas, saw a cast bedbug skin on sofa and said it was infested. In the month since getting the new sofa i managed to spread them to my bedroom and a sunroom (my evening routine = i sit on new sofa to watch some tv, go into back sunroom and play with dog, check email in my office, and go to bed -so i was bedbug vector to almost all other parts of the apartment. ARGH). Anyway, I spent 4 days washing, drying bagging all clothing as per PCO requests -also removed switchplates, outlet covers, etc all over apartment although he ended up not reating any of them, don't know why.<br /> He came and treated with steam on sofa and bed, Bedlam on sofa and bed, and phantom on bedroom baseboards, sunroom baseboards, living room baseboards. He didn't treat any of the switchplates or anything in my office despite my request to treat the office (i've been bitten in there -but he said he couldn't find evidence of activity - i have 2 desks, 2 computer chairs, a lateral file, a bookcase and a dresser for off season clothing-he only inspected for -i'm not kidding, 2 minutes-scanned the room and said "no acitivity").</p> <p>I know, get to my questions (thank you for your patience with my babbling. I think bedbugs cause babbling, at least they seem to in me)</p> <p>Question1 -since he did not treat in there, can i steam, let dry, and then dust DE (lightly and safely, i read the insanely helpful FAQ and bought a respirator)? i know he doesn't want me doing anything (steaming or vacuuming or mopping or anything) in the rooms he put phantom. Could steaming in an untreated room somehow mess up what he has done in the treated rooms? Note: the office and bedroom share one wall which i could avoid steaming. I do not want to mess up his work, obviously, but also do not want to keep getting bitten in my office (i spend alot of time in there because i am currently working from home). I'll definitely steam all the furniture in there myself (fun weekend ahead) but what about the baseboards?</p> <p>Question 2 - he used phantom at .125% (i know because he left a list of what was done and where). But everything I've read on here seems to imply it should be .5%? Should i worry it is such a low concentration? Ask him why it is so low? (I don't want to anger him by asking too many questions)</p> <p>PCO's manager said i should schedule next treatment in 10 days, my PCO says 14 is better. I'm assuming he (PCO) is right, but let me know because I'm the one who schedules the next (final) treatment and i want to get it right (though they'll come back for a month after second treatment if there is evidence - i bought some climbups).</p> <p>Thank you thank you thank you in advance for answering -this site is so incredibly helpful. Killer Queen, if you read this -please consider cloning yourself and sending a clone to Chicago. Or --maybe a road trip? Soon? :) I'll pay for an inspection, treatment, AND treat you to all the deep dish chicago pizza you could eat (and no snarky comments on chicago vs new york pizza please. :) all pizza is good-- they are just different. three cheers for pizza diversity!) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/search-function-not-working-for-me#post-62714 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:29:30 +0000 delorac 62714@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi. New poster here. </p> <p>I can't seem to make the site's search function work.<br /> I can type my search word in the box but don't get a reaction when I click the magnifying glass symbol. Is this a glitch or am I doing something wrong?</p> <p>Thanks for reading. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/happy-thanksgivingor-not#post-62618 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:48:17 +0000 mojo 62618@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Now this is the dilema...I don't have bed bugs but my 26yr. old nephew and neice have them. The scenerio is neice went to a motel with friends got them in her brothers home. she noticed the bites and bugs and talked to my daughter who works in an apartment complex with issues in some of those units. she went out and bought the bags for her beds and decided to move out and into her boyfriends house. Now for treatment...really nothing besides vacuuming. They have the attitude if I ignore them they will go away, out of site out of mind! Now I'm having thanksgiving dinner and they are coming...what are the risks of them infesting my house and what can do to limit the spread? What can be done on their part to keep my home bug free?<br /> Any input would be great! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/murphys-floor-cleaner#post-62729 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:52:16 +0000 BettyV4 62729@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>How long after treatment can I use Murphys Floor Cleaner? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/shared-laundry-facilities-need-advice#post-62399 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:42:29 +0000 bugbuster 62399@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>The people in our building who have bedbugs are using the laundry facilities in our basement.</p> <p>Is there a danger of others picking up bedbugs from using the same machines? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bedbug-or-not-pics-inside#post-62715 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:41:06 +0000 bugged09 62715@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Starting early this week I've been a bit more itchy than usual, then noticed what I assumed were black droppings on my bed, so I started looking around. I found these two buggers in the dust under my bed. I've looked all through my mattress and clothes and didn't find any other evidence. I talked to my landlord (I rent) and he said they didn't look like bedbugs (he saw the real bugs, not these magnified images), but he sprayed HotShot and is having an inspector come on Monday. </p> <p>I've never had any kind of problem like this before, so I'm getting really scared. I bought some ziplock XL bags, am washing some clothes right now, and bought a bedbug-proof mattress cover.</p> <p>Are these bedbugs? If not, what bugs are they? Thanks a ton!</p> <p><a href="http://img694.imageshack.us/i/bug1bottomz.jpg/">Bug 1, Bottom</a><br /> <a href="http://img94.imageshack.us/i/bug1top.jpg/">Bug 1, Top</a></p> <p><a href="http://img193.imageshack.us/i/bugtop.jpg/">Bug 2, Top</a><br /> <a href="http://img694.imageshack.us/i/bugbottom.jpg/">Bug 2, Bottom</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/dr-oz-segment-on-bbs-fri-nov-20#post-62620 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:59:26 +0000 CookEmDanno 62620@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>"How to tell if you've got them." That's one of the issues he'll tackle, hopefully shaking many people out of their dangerous denial. Stay tuned. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-or-what#post-62273 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:05:16 +0000 noway 62273@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I’m new here, but I’ve been reading everything on this site for almost a month now. I know that almost everything I say will sound familiar because it sounds familiar to me. Some of my questions have been answered; I’ve learned a lot, but I still don’t know if we have bed bugs!<br /> My husband and I live in a single family home in a rural area. We haven’t traveled or had anyone visit or stay with us. We did buy a new mattress in August, about a month before the first bites appeared. (Who knows where that delivery truck had been….and I gave away my old mattress to a friend who is not having any trouble.)<br /> The first bites were in late September and we just assumed it was mosquitoes. I don’t recall any intense itching or long lasting bites, but we both woke up itchy in the morning. We had no more bites for a week or more. Then we started getting bitten a couple days in a row. It’s hard to pinpoint because we both usually have delayed reactions; occasionally we wake up with fresh, new bites. My bites are intensely itchy and continue to itch for a week. I still have noticeable red spots from the original bites a month ago. We both sleep in socks, sweats, and long sleeves. Neither of us has ever been bitten on exposed skin. (Thinking of sleeping nude on top of the sheets, just to see what happens.) My husband mostly gets bitten on his feet and lower legs. I get bitten mostly on my forearms and upper thighs. The frequency of bites ranges from neither of us getting bitten for 2 days in a row to both of us getting several bites every night. We haven’t had the “3 in a row,” but we both get 2-5 bites in a small area. (From 1 bug?)<br /> I have pulled my whole house apart, vacuuming, cleaning, washing. I have not seen a single bug, egg, skin, feces, blood spot etc. I can’t afford a PCO and have doubts about the local company being experts on bed bugs. We also have kittens and birds and don’t have anywhere to keep them if the whole house had to be sprayed. I’ve thought about just paying for an inspection to see if they find anything. All I’ve done is spray OHDM around the perimeter of the bedroom and dust the whole floor with DE. (Windows open and the room vacant for the rest of the day.) We’ve both gotten new bites since I did that a week ago. The only thing that seems to fend them off for more than a day is washing the sheets very other day.<br /> I don’t know if we have bed bugs or something else. It’s not fleas. We had those in a farmhouse and the whole experience was different. Carpet beetles? We have all bare hardwood floors with just one area rug in the den. Rat mites? We do get mice in the attic and have a backyard filled with squirrels.<br /> I’d appreciate any suggestions anyone has. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bites-but-no-signs-of-bugs-help-andor-thoughts-please#post-62530 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:19:02 +0000 eclaire 62530@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Long story short....</p> <p>We've been in our house for over a year with no signs of any bugs other than the occasional spider.</p> <p>September 27 – 3 bites just down from my armpit<br /> October 3 – 2 bites on my left leg<br /> October 11 – 1 bite on my right hand<br /> October 17 – 3 bites on my right leg<br /> PCO investigated our house – inspected the mattress, drawers, etc. Ran the CDC 3000 for 10 hours and no signs of anything. Put down glue pads all around our bedroom and the only bug we caught were silver fish.<br /> November 11 – 6 bites on my left lower back</p> <p>Still no sign of feces, blood stains, bugs, nymphs, nothing. On November 11 we put clean white sheets/pillowcases on our bed and havent changed them to date with the hopes that something will show up. Its been a week and NO signs anywhere. We inspect the bed every morning and night.</p> <p>Made a flea trap and caught no fleas. Checked the dog and cat extensively for fleas, and found no fleas anywhere. When we called PCO again after the last round of bites, they said they thought it was fleas. </p> <p>Does ANYONE have ANY advice? I feel like I am going nuts. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/off-topic-sort-of#post-62704 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:31:37 +0000 soscared 62704@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>It suddenly occurred to me to read about carpet beetles, since they are mentioned here pretty often. When I googled-imaged it, I realized that the pretty but menacing looking bug I killed a couple of months ago actually definitely WAS a beetle bug. 100%. I remember it very well bc it was unlike any other bug I have ever seen inside, and we have seen many kind of insects here due to living on the ground floor, having no basement, and having a backyard. The bug was the spotted kind, not the black kind.<br /> So - is it the kind of thing where if I saw one, then there are more? I know we also have/had begbugs since 2 separate dogs identified them, but is it possible we continue to get skin reactions to carpet beetles rather than bedbugs? Do carpet beetles affect everyone? In other words, if that's what it was, my husband would have a reaction too? (He has no skin reactions at all through all this, to bedbugs or anything else). What are carpet beetles skin reactions typically like?</p> <p>Thanks very much to anyone who can help. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/on-reclaiming-my-normal-life#post-62541 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:41:07 +0000 nycbedbug 62541@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My apartment was inspected and cleared by a certified bedbug dog in September and my belongings that were bagged up pre-treatment have now been bagged for over 3 months. I am ready to return to normal life, even though I am still hypervigilant and my skin is still very sensitive and often I have random itches (no clear bites like I had for the two weeks that I had bedbugs, though). </p> <p>I have begun Packtiting everything and am slowly unpacking, essentially moving back into my apartment. While I'm feeling pretty good, I would really like my apartment and the two on either side of mine to be inspected (theirs never were, which was upsetting although I'm 99% sure that I brought them back with me from a trip and caught them within about 10 days, so chances are fairly low that they spread). My PCO has tried calling my landlords to suggest these inspections and they have not responded. They are the type of people that are willing to do just enough to keep them from being sued, but wouldn't go out of their way because of the kindness in their hearts. Does anyone have suggestions about how to get them to pay for the dog inspection of the three apartments? It seems like such a small price to pay in order to have peace of mind and know for sure that the building is clear. If they say no, should I just pay? While I had thought about moving, I'm leaning towards staying now. My lease is up at the end of June. By then it will have been nearly a year since my bedbug experience. If the apartments were not inspected by then, would it be safe to say that if my neighbors have not noticed anything, we're all clear? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/best-contact-cleaners-and-what-kills-eggs#post-62601 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:12:49 +0000 BettyV4 62601@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>One question - without hearing be careful, follow directions, etc. I know this stuff having been battling for 2 years - is there something that kills the eggs? Contact chemicals are not the issue. Although what's the best? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bug-k9-faq-comments-welcomed#post-62374 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:56:49 +0000 Nobugsonme 62374@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am moving this conversation to avoid further distraction on an advice thread.</p> <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/cancel-second-treatment-by-nybedbug-dog-what-to-do-next?quote=62373#post-62373">Here</a>, in response to a discussion, I said this:</p> <p>How does this serve us as <strong>a bed bug k9 FAQ</strong>? </p> <p><blockquote>My understanding is that there are two main trainers of bed bug k9s in the USA (Pepe Peruyero and Bill Whitstine), that they have differing approaches, and that Bedbugger readers have at time praised dogs from each trainer. (There are also independent trainers.)</p> <p>I believe there are dogs from various trainers which are effective, and there are both <a href="http://www.nesdca.com/">NESDCA certified</a> and <a href="http://www.ifedca.com/">IFEDCA certified</a> bed bug k9 teams which are effective, and where the handler searches for the bed bug the dog has alerted to. (There may also be "uncertified" k9 teams which are as effective.)</p> <p>On the other hand, people have had issues with bed bug k9 inspections, for example, where a dog alerted but the sample was not confirmed, and then an "all clear" was given and LATER it became apparent that there were bed bugs. It happens, presumably even to the most effective dogs and teams.</p> <p>To the customer, this means a great deal of frustration. I have seen some Bedbugger Forum readers hire one dog after another, getting different results from each.</p> <p>Your best bet may be a handler who searches for a visual confirmation of any dog alert.</p> <p>If you're reading recommendations about particular dogs on the forums, do remember that people who work in the bed bug k9 industry may not be unbiased in this matter. PCOs who have a connection with a particular handler may not be biased. And many customers aren't either.</p> <p>Imagine a dog did correctly assess whether or not you have bed bugs. You go and post a review of your great dog team! A dog team that is only 50% accurate will have 5 happy customers and 5 who may be happy for a while, or not.</p> <p>You have no way of knowing if reviews are coming from a happy customer whose dog team was 50% accurate, or one which was 95% accurate. </p> <p>If your handler visually tries to confirm an alert, you may still not have a definitive answer whether you have bed bugs or not. However, it is arguably better to be unsure whether you have bed bugs than to get an "all clear" in error.<br /> </blockquote></p> <p>Comments welcome from Bedbuggers, bed bug PMPs, and/or dog trainers and handlers.</p> <p>Note: to those in the industry: the FAQ will not state that only NESDCA certified (or NESDCA uncertified) dogs are reliable and equally effective, or that all NESDCA certified dogs are reliable and equally effective.</p> <p>My understanding is this is not necessarily true, since training must be maintained by the handler even after certification tests are passed. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bugs-in-bookshelves-and-desk#post-62654 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:04:43 +0000 BoomBoom93 62654@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have an infestation in my couch and my bed (I made the mistake of moving to sleep in the couch a couple weeks ago and I guess the bugs moved with me. It's only been a couple of months since these ferocious beasties came to join me,(I only have little bites on my arms, but annoying) and I'm wondering how BAD it can get in relation to the approximately two thousand books I have on shelves halfway across the room from the couch, and in the stacks of papers in my VERY heavy and substantial desk flat up against the back of the couch(the back of the desk is solid wood, no chinks anywhere that they could move from the couch INTO the desk)..I'm willing to get treat or get rid of the desk essentiials on TOP of my desk, and get rid of SOME papers but I'm a published author and I cnt just TRASH all my years and years of manuscrits,) nor do I want to get rid of so many books! The Orkin guy that's coming to treat on Wednesdy said to take the books off the floor and I guess I have to EMPTY the desk (OMG THIS IS ALL SUCH A FREAKING CHORE IM TRYING TO WRITE A BOOK ON DEADLINE HERE ARRRGH!), but is there ANYThing I can use to treat the paper???? And no way can I just go oh well I'll get rid of the desk--it was my great-grandfather's from his law office and is a VERY valuable antique (as is my bedroom furniture)...Together the furniture is worth around ten grand.<br /> The couch and the bed, so I'll buy new, no big deal) butI need SOMETHING to treat paper and the books from the floor...My boyfriend wont even come over (he has OCD, can't blme him) until after I treat the place. Someone help? I know I sound freaked, but I AM!</p> <p>Boom </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/poppy-seed-poop-found-on-my-bed-and-bites-everywhere-1#post-62681 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:56:04 +0000 IdontKNOWwhatitis 62681@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Ok, i know its been a while since the last post on this, but i have to tell you im also going crazy. I've got bites everywhereeeeeee and i found at least 3 of these poppy seeds things, one about 2 weeks ago, one 3 days ago, and one now.<br /> The first two were on my bed, and the other one i found on small couch next to my bed. Today my mom cleaned out my whole room and vacuumed and did the whole bunch, and i came in later in the day and sprayed the room up and down with rubbing alcohol...you know just in case lol. I just want to know if anyone else is experiencing this, and if they've got an idea to what it could be? i mean im super itchy and i have bites everywhere and i dont really wanna spend the money to go and see a dermatologist.. please help :( </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/need-moving-tips-please#post-30113 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:18:36 +0000 jmastersherm 30113@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I think I might just move. Throw out a lot of stuff and put antiques in cool storage. Just take my couch, clothes and dump old t.v and PC and buy new ones. My questions are:</p> <p>1) Can I buy a couch encasement?</p> <p>2) Will 1 year storage be good enough for furniture. </p> <p>3) Will suits and other clothes difficult to seal be dry cleaned and hung up away from walls and still be safe?</p> <p>4) How long does it take to suffocate these things if they are indeed in my couch and it's sealed.</p> <p>I know there's a lot here but I'd appreciate any feedback I can get.</p> <p>Thanks </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/preparation-for-exterminators#post-54404 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:39:51 +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/can-bed-bugs-be-different-colors-are-there-different-types-of-bb#post-62564 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:59:17 +0000 bugcrazylady 62564@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi, I am wondering if it is possible for Bed Bugs to be different colors/shapes, or if there are different types of bed bugs that look different (and I don't just mean different ages, i'm thinking more like different species?)</p> <p>Like, can they also have greyish(i think it was grey) bodies with red heads? I found a bug in my apartment looking like this, but I threw it out because I didn't think it looked like a typical bed bug. it also had more of a perfect oval shaped body (almost like a rolly-polly beettle but with a red head at one end). </p> <p>i posted a pic before of a tiny version of this that I found, and people said it was not a bed bug, but now that I found a larger version of this bug (much larger) i got worried again. I wish I had kept the larger one to show a pic... </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/boflo-powder-propoxur#post-62253 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:59:34 +0000 belum2aj 62253@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi<br /> I've red that propoxur may be used to kill BB.<br /> Our PCO is scheduled to come in two weeks (he treated our house two weeks ago)<br /> I'm wondering If I it's wise to use this Bolfo powder on my bedspring (under mattress)<br /> and maybe puff it into cracks and crevices...<br /> Thank you for your reply.</p> <p>Standa from Czech Republic </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/do-you-have-severe-reactions-to-bites#post-54084 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:17:21 +0000 Kimberleena 54084@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My life has basically been a living hell for the last 4 months. Short version... I lost my job, home, and car and was forced to move out of state (in with my boyfriend who was originally supposed to sell the house and move in with me) with few of my belongings and have been unemployed ever since. </p> <p>About a week after I moved in I started to find little red bumps... they were very little in the beginning, but they were also itchy. The bumps just got worse and worse. After about three weeks about 50% of my body was covered in the red itchy spots and rash. And of course my boyfriend had NOTHING. So the general consensus was that I was having a psychosomatic response to unhappiness about my life... well 10 weeks and 2 doctor visits later, nothing had changed. I'd been trying to self treat the "beasties" as I called them... which was hard because I couldn't find anything to let me know what they were. We bombed for fleas and mites. I also did a LOT of cleaning. I thought they were in the living room, because that was where I would discover new bumps. It took a couple months before my boyfriend realized his TINY red bumps could be the same as mine. </p> <p>It was about a month ago when I was in another cleaning frenzy that I finally SAW the bed bugs in our bed room. We called a PCO and started doing all the things we could find recommended to us. The good news is that things got better... for a bit. We aren't completely bug free, and I have the bumps to show for it.</p> <p>Here's the root of my question: How severe are some reactions? My bites swell up into VERY itchy, fluid filled blisters. If the blisters pop, they inevitably become scabs or infected sores (thanks to my poor immune system running out of energy after months of this.) I've noticed that sometimes the blisters will spread. One blister will turn into a patch of blisters. I've also recently started to have rashes without bumps that spread if scratched. UGH! It's very difficult to get jobs when you covered in sores and rashes. </p> <p>Has anyone else experienced this? Is this a higher allergic response? Is there any chance that I could be developing some kind of secondary infection or reaction? Being unemployed I have been relying on visits to a nurse practitioner at the health department. They don't actually test for things... so every time I visit they give me some new pills or creams and we basically hope it works. I'd love to go back in a couple weeks with some new ideas. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-does-one-do-should-a-harborage-be-discovered#post-62579 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:54:38 +0000 samson 62579@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A lot of posts go through the procedure of inspecting and then discovering a harborage of bb's. These posts always sort of stop short right then and there usually expressing disgust and plans to get a PCO.<br /> If one or two are found the poster often says they just squish them. I'm wondering what to have handy IF and when I should encounter a harborage of several during an inspection. I can't imagine just<br /> recoiing in horror and then letting them stew for days on end until a PCO can accomodate an appointment. That and the fact that if I have disturbed them during an inspectin they may also scatter. Vacuum them up? Spray them? Any ideas please?! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/perspective#post-62621 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:04:34 +0000 soscared 62621@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I am sad to see so many posts about people freaking out. I mean, I did it too, hence my name on here - "soscared". But look, even if what you have is bedbugs, it's not the end of the world. It's not. You or a loved one can get some disease tomorrow and die. All sorts of things can happen. Yes, bed bugs suck, but it will pass. Work on it, and it WILL go away. </p> <p>Right now I am in the waiting stage, my baby and I still get the odd bite-like mark every once in a while, after 3 PCO treatments. But I am over it. I am working on it, of course - vacuuming, hot washing and drying, packtiting stuff, etc. And I am patiently waiting to see if I can find some evidence or a bug - so far nothing, or if the pattern of "bites" changes. We HAVE had blood stains on our bedding, but my husband and I are both bleeding out of various scratched up bites or stress hives. I can't exclude the possibility that the blood stains are from that.</p> <p>But I am emotionally just done with it. I am not crying anymore. It WILL end eventually. They are not allmighty and supernatural. Life goes on. It's not the end of the world to make sure you're wearing stuff straight out of the dryer when you go to people's houses. It's not the end of the world to check and repowder the climbups every once in a while. The upside is - I got rid of a lot of crap I've been meaning to discard for years, and my house is cleaner than it has ever been. </p> <p>Be strong, everyone. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/pcos-will-not-believe-me#post-62452 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:59:18 +0000 jasmine311 62452@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My co-worker told me she had bedbugs and we shared a hotel room for 3 days so when I started getting bit and saw the little black dots all over my mattress and pillow I knew what I had right away even though I never saw an actual adult bedbug.</p> <p>I was so freaked out I threw out my mattress right away and mopped and cleaned every trace out of my house. I guess that was a bad idea because the PCO said he couldn't find any trace of bedbugs and he didn't think I had any. He sprayed a little bit with Talstar and Gentrol but he won't come back. He says my problem is in my head--he says there is a technical word for it.</p> <p>Now I'm on my own with DE and Bedlam. What should I do? He left some glue traps but they don't go in the traps. The pesticide got rid of the adults but I have a million tiny nymphs that crawl on me every chance they get. I isolated an airbed but I'm still afraid to go to sleep. Any ideas will be appreciated. They're not in my head. They follow me everywhere I go and have kept me awake many nights. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-bed-bug-report-in-toronto-not-good-news#post-61939 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:02:03 +0000 Nobugsonme 61939@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>But what do you expect? <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/11/09/bed-bugs-are-back-and-were-not-ready-sean-meagher-tells-toronto/">Links to articles and video here.</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/faqs-about-bed-bugs-for-bedbugger-forum-users#post-40530 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:46:09 +0000 Nobugsonme 40530@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Forum "newbites" (Bedbugger newbies) often have trouble navigating the <a href="http://bedbugger.com/faqs/">FAQs</a>. And yet so many of the questions people have can be partly answered by FAQs. (And then the person can come to the forums for more infomation or specific help.) I have tried to pull out the most relevant ones below. I encourage you to read them and to point others to them (here). </p> <p><strong>Please note:</strong> I try to update them as I can, but the FAQs may be dated. It simply isn't possible to go over them all regularly, so please let me know when something needs to be updated to reflect the most current information. If you wish to suggest changes to an actual FAQ, please leave a comment on the specific FAQ in question. This will help me make the changes more quickly.</p> <p>Please comment below if a FAQ is missing that you feel should be here. </p> <p>If you have new questions or problems, or want to tell us your story, please do NOT post them in this thread. Instead, go to <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/" rel="nofollow">http://bedbugger.com/forum/</a> and click "Add New" to start a new thread.</p> <p>Thanks!</p> <p><strong>Think you have bed bugs? You must read these <em>Bed Bugs 101</em> FAQs:</strong></p> <p><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/01/20/faq-think-you-have-bed-bugs-some-dos-and-donts/"> Dos and Don'ts if you think you have bed bugs</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/10/22/faq-what-are-bed-bugs-do-i-have-them-what-else-could-be-causing-this/"> Do I have bed bugs? What else could be causing this?</a></li><br /> <strong>Identifying a bed bug problem</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/photos-of-bed-bugs-and-signs-of-bed-bugs/"> What do bed bugs and their signs (feces, eggs, cast skins) look like?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/05/05/what-do-cast-skins-look-like/">What do cast skins look like (comparison photos with other insect cast skins)</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/bed-bug-bites-photos/"> What do bed bug bites look like? (includes many photos)</a></li><br /> See also: <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bite-primer-information-on-bites-and-reactions">Bed Bug Bite Primer and Reactions</a><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/04/faq-is-this-a-bed-bug-photos-of-creatures-mistaken-for-bed-bugs/"> What insects are mistaken for bed bugs?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2008/02/18/how-to-catch-a-bed-bug-how-to-detect-bed-bugs/"> How can I catch a sample bed bug?</a></li><br /> <strong>Getting proper bed bug treatment</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/10/22/faq-tenants-landlords-owners-and-bedbugs/"> Who pays for bed bug treatment in a rental situation?</a></li><li><br /> <a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/12/07/faq-advice-on-getting-treatment-to-eliminate-your-bed-bugs/"> Choosing a PCO, questions to ask them</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/27/faq-how-do-i-prepare-for-pest-control-treatment/"> Should I put everything in bags?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/03/faq-do-i-have-to-tell-my-landlord-co-op-board-condo-association-residents-of-attached-house-next-door/"> Do I have to tell the neighbors? Do neighbors need treatment?</a></li></p> <p><strong>Methods of killing bed bugs</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/01/08/faq-should-i-do-my-own-pest-control/"> Should I do my own pest control?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/faqs/pestcontrol/faq-killing-bed-bugs-with-steam/"> What about steam?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/05/30/bombs-dont-work-on-bed-bugs-citation-anyone/"> Why don't I (or my landlord/PCO) just set off a bug bomb?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/30/faqde/"> What is diatomaceous earth (DE)?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/04/06/vikane-gas-fumigation/">What is vikane gas (sulfuryl flouride) fumigation?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/11/lavenderoil/"> Aren't there any natural remedies for bed bugs? Will lavender oil, tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, sweet rice, thyme, talcum powder, or boric acid kill bed bugs, repel them, or keep them from biting me?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/19/faq-is-there-an-insect-that-will-eat-bed-bugs/ ">Is there an insect that will eat bed bugs?</a></li></p> <p><strong>Getting bed bugs out of your stuff</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/03/29/what-is-a-packtite/">What is a Packtite?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/11/08/updated-118-faq-how-do-i-deal-with-clothing-during-treatment-for-bed-bugs-and-for-a-while-later/"> What about clothing?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/05/18/dryer/"> To get bed bugs out of your stuff using heat, try the dryer FAQ</a>.</li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/faqs/pestcontrol/faq-killing-bed-bugs-with-steam/">Steam may be useful for some items.</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/06/26/dry-cleaners-and-bed-bugs/"> What you need to know about dry cleaning.</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/04/faq-leaving-stuff-out-to-freeze-walk-in-freezers-etc-how-cold-and-how-long/"> What about cold? Can I just put things outside? In the freezer? (It's more complicated than you might think.)</a></li><br /> <strong>Keeping bed bugs out of your mattress or bed</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/encasements/"> Read about and find out how to purchase good mattress encasements. Some with a discount for readers!</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/11/02/faq-how-do-i-protect-my-bed-from-bed-bugs-part-i/"> What does it mean to "isolate" or "protect" a bed, and how do I do these things?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/01/06/faq-how-do-i-protect-my-bed-from-bed-bugs-part-iii-avoiding-things-that-can-go-wrong/"> If I "isolate" the bed, what can go wrong?</a></li><br /> <strong>Where can I buy diatomaceous earth, a White Wing steamer, an Aerobed, or a respirator mask?</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/usefulstuff/"> For these and other items, try the Useful Stuff page.</a><a href="http://bedbugger.com/encasements/">(For encasements, click here.)</a></li></p> <p><strong>Skin snd bites</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/bed-bug-bites-photos/"> What do bed bug bites look like? (includes many photos)</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/05/12/faq-bed-bugs-are-crawling-on-me-all-the-time-i-am-being-bitten-all-day-long/"> Bed bugs are crawling on me all the time, everywhere I go. I'm being bitten all day long! What do I do?</a></li><br /> <a href="http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bite-primer-information-on-bites-and-reactions">Bed Bug Bite Primer and Reactions</a></p> <p><strong>Travel and bed bugs</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/11/02/faq-how-can-i-avoid-spreading-bedbugs-to-others-when-i-visit-their-homes/""> How can I travel or visit others (or go to work!) when I have bed bugs, and not spread them?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/10/19/faq-how-can-i-avoid-bedbugs-while-traveling/"> How do I avoid picking up bed bugs when I travel?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/08/05/faq-i-stayed-somewhere-that-had-bed-bugs-what-do-i-do-to-keep-from-taking-them-home/"> I picked up bed bugs somewhere. Now what do I do?</a></li></p> <p><strong>Legal issues</strong><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2006/10/22/faq-tenants-landlords-owners-and-bedbugs/"> Who pays for bed bug treatment in a rental situation?</a></li><li><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2007/03/17/faq-where-can-i-read-about-bed-bug-lawsuits-can-you-help-me-find-a-lawyer/">I want to sue somebody. Where can I read about bed bug lawsuits? Can you help me find a bed bug lawyer?</a></li> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/black-poppy-seed-like-thing#post-61221 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:43:17 +0000 soscared 61221@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have taken to running into my baby's room with a flashlight in the middle of the night to see if I can catch anything mid-feed. So far I have caught nothing, and nothing has been trapped in the climbup interceptors. However, last night, I did find a single poppy seed-like thing on the back of my baby's shirt right at her neck. I picked it up - it didn't crumble, was very hard and black, and if i'd had poppy-seed anything in the house, I'd think it was definitely a poppy seed. I doused it in hydrogen peroxide - nothing. It's now been in hydrogen peroxide for 18 hours, and has not bled or smeared at all. What could this be? Is this bed bug poop?</p> <p>I have read many of the posts on this forum tagged with "poppy" but am still not sure about the answer to my question. </p> <p>Thank you very much. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/got-bugs-for-a-hotel-room-think-we-left-them-there#post-59657 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:13:44 +0000 bugged_in_WI 59657@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>About 1 1/2 weeks ago my husband, son and I stayed in a hotel for a wedding and woke to bed bugs. Lucky we saw signs (blood smeers in the bed - moving dots). The manger, after comp-ing the room, gave as info on how to make sure they didn't follow us home. We stripped on the patio, tooks showers and then took everything we could to the laundry mat, washed and dryed the heck out of it and bagged and/or froze everything else. At that time we didn't have any signs of bites. About two days ago, in a hot shower, the bites appeared. I haven't slept since that morning at the hotel. I feel itchy and crawly all the time. I have spent many sleepless nights pouring over bedbed sites and now know more than I care to about the nasty critters. Even though we haven't had any signs (I check the bed and matteress every morning and night) I want to get an exterminator. My hasband wants to wait and see if we have signs. He has been layed off - on and off - since Last Nov. and money is really tight. Staying is the hotel (a cheap one) was the only "extravigant" thing we have done in months - now I wish we had driven home! Not sure what I am looking for here, just can't sleep (again) and a wits end about this. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/can-i-donate-clothes-post-treatment#post-61234 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:46:09 +0000 nervousaboutbedbugs 61234@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>We had 2 thermal treatments about two months ago. Never saw a bug, but had other signs including blood on the sheets. Our house was cleared by dogs a week after the treatment, but we continue to see comet-like stains on the sheets. Have tried to write them off as bleeding scabs, marks left by the dogs or cat, etc. , but suspect there may still be a problem.</p> <p>In the meantime, we had a baby boy. Our older kids are girls so we have BINS AND BINS of beautiful baby girl clothes we don't need any more.</p> <p>What can I do with these in good conscience? If dried and bagged, would it be safe to donate them, or should they be thrown away? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/new-here-going-nuts#post-62385 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:10:09 +0000 itchy21 62385@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi im new here as my title already tells you,and like everyone else bedbugs have given me paranoia!<br /> .Basically i live with my parents and nephew we have had them for about 4 months.My nephew went on a camping trip and brought them back with him.Now i did not know we had them until weeks later as my parents decided not to inform on this.It was only when i discovered one on my pilliow shook it of and splattered it on my wooded floor and blood came out that i became curious.I ignored this not knowing what a bedbug was at the time .A few days later i went in my nephews room(his room is next to mine dam it) and notcied that all over his bunk bed were loads!of black dots and i mean loads.I asked my mom and them she told me that he had a few bedbugs.i put two and two together with what i had found in my room but didnt freak out because i hadnt been bitten yet.few weeks later i was waking up with bits big sore ones on my arms and elbow some were appearing when i was at work.To cut a long story short my parents are not willing to do anything about because they thing its not that much of a big deal what should i do!!!i didnt find any for ages but over the last few months i have discovered 8 in my room in total.I have a natrual unvarnished door and that is where 5 out of the 8 have been found.two were on the wall and only one on the planks of wood that the mattress lies on.heres a few facts:<br /> i steam my room regularly like crazy and check my door and wood where the mattress all the time.<br /> my mattress is foam and has no box spring,seam,creviceand has a zip at the bottom that is secure<br /> My furniture is all coated and really smoth (not natrual wood)<br /> i have plastered walls and wooden floor<br /> my bedroom is very decluttered and easy to move things if i have to.<br /> Also i vacuum like mad.<br /> All in all my questions are can i get rid of them in my room with my nephews room being infested next door?and is my natrual pine door the bigest problem as this is where i have found most of them.PLS HELP!!!!!!!!!<br /> p.s sorry tried to keep it short. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/precautions-when-moving#post-61944 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:27:31 +0000 sorsha 61944@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Backstory: Back in March, my husband and I realized we had bedbugs in our apartment. Mostly in the boxspring and on an item stored under the bed, although we think they were likely in the sofa as well (a couple times we saw a bug on us while sitting there, though it's possible we carried them from the bedroom). The apartment management arranged two rounds of treatment in April. Mattress, boxspring, sofa, and armchair were sprayed, baseboards and bed frame were dusted, etc. We also took steps on our own like getting sealed covers for the mattress, boxspring, and pillows, getting rid of rugs and other unnecessary fabric items, and keeping our clothing in plastic boxes and bags (after washing it all).</p> <p>Since the second treatment, neither of us has seen a single bug. I have not been bitten once. My husband thinks he may have been bitten a few times while sitting on the sofa late at night, but he's never been able to show me the bites so I'm not sure if it's just psychological. But it's a big building and they've had problems with bugs for the last year and a half, so I doubt the entire building is free of them.</p> <p>Now we're looking at buying our first house and moving there. I would hate to bring bugs with us. We're planning on throwing out our mattress, box spring, sofa, and arm chair when we move and buying new ones for the house. I'm going to encase the new mattress and box spring right from the start. Our other furniture is either metal (bed frame, some shelves, desks, base of computer chairs), which seems safe enough, or wood (dresser, bookshelves). I know the bugs can theoretically live in/on wood but we've never seen any sign that the ones in our apartment were anywhere except in/under the bed and possibly the sofa. I'm also hoping it'll help that we'll be moving in the winter (likely January) and the bugs seem to be inactive during that time even when they are around (e.g., last year I was getting bit in October after we moved in, didn't realize why, then stopped getting bites all the way until March).</p> <p>Question: What precautions would people recommend for moving in this situation? Given that we haven't seen bugs or signs of bugs in eight months, and we're leaving behind any furniture that's been suspected of having the bugs in it, how worried should we be? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-in-literature#post-37404 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:31:46 +0000 bugbattler 37404@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>This is a somewhat pointless story, but I really wanted to share it anyway. During the time that I suspected I had bedbugs, but was still afraid to check I was reading a book. The book was called <u>Child of Darkness</u>. It was a diary written by a single mother who lived during the 50's in the slums of Brazil. I found her diary to be fascinating, because despite the many, many differences I (a middle-class(ish), suburan chik from the United States in the year 2008) and this woman, Maria (an extrememly impoverished woman, living in unthinkable conditions in Brazil in the 1950s) there are so many issues which are universal for single women and for single mothers. She'd written so many thoughts about relationships and child rearing, etc which I've written in my own diary. Amazing....</p> <p>What else we had in common which I didn't know at the time, was the bedbugs. She wrote often about trying to rest, but the bugs were bothering her. Despite all her hardship (no food, running water, etc) she devoted a good deal of her writing to complaining about the bedbugs. Now I understand why.</p> <p>When her book was published, she made a great deal of money and was able to move into a house in the city. I told my PCO that I really need to find her diary from after she moved, because I want to know now if she brought the bed bugs with her. I certainly hope she didn't. Maybe the follow up diary has some BB eradication tips - lol </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-in-nyc-access-a-ride-offices-for-over-a-year#post-62598 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:55:54 +0000 Nobugsonme 62598@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/11/19/access-a-ride-offices-in-long-island-city-infested-with-bed-bugs/">This story is breaking today.</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/what-do-to-after-extermination-of-my-dorm-room#post-62255 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:26:28 +0000 ohmyhagaren 62255@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My suite had a bed bug infestation and they made us move out for a little over two weeks. They've exterminated the whole place and now, they're giving us the OK to move back in.</p> <p>Is there any precautions i should take? They said they exterminated the bugs...but i'm afraid to move back in if they come back. I've been bite-free for the two weeks i've been not living in my room and I'm not really looking forward to going back. I had slept at my desk in my room for over a week before I finally informed someone and they finally took action. But they were around I think since I moved into the dorms [early september]</p> <p>They also said that I should wash any other clothing/cloth-like items i left in my room during the extermination. What should I do with my foam mattress pad then? I can't possibly fit it in a dryer/washer, and I'm not sure if they treated it or if they did anything to it. I'm a poor college student that can't really afford to replace it, if need be. Should I just throw it away and call it a loss? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/line-of-three-bites-but-no-other-bug-signs-please-help#post-58766 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:25:13 +0000 zebrasweater 58766@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello everyone, please give me the benefit of your knowledge!!!</p> <p>I've recently found two lines of three bites on my inner arm, connected so they make a T-shape.. they didn't itch at all, but seemed a bit inflamed a few days ago. I mentioned it to my room mate who said she had also had a line of three bites on the back of her leg a week or so ago. Image is here: <a href="http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/628/090922105018.jpg">bites</a></p> <p>Showed the bites to a friend of mine who was sure they were bed bug bites.. being me I then freaked out and checked mattress and box spring, but can't see any blood stains, fecal spots, or other signs... the only strange thing is two small perfectly round brown stains on one pillow, about quarter inch in diameter... they were very hard and did not break down with scratching, only with washing on hot cycle. Do these sound like fecal stains? Image is here: <a href="http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2469/090922105042.jpg">stains</a></p> <p>Our landlord has said he will not treat without evidence, but I am worried things might get worse quickly if we don't confirm whether or not it is bedbugs. So if there is any chance, or anything else we could do, I would love to know, so we can work on beating them!! Honestly it's driving me crazy already...</p> <p>Any help you can give would be very much appreciated!! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/how-to-deal-with-mite-bites-or-post-bb-mystery-bites#post-46439 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:37:18 +0000 sickandtired 46439@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Ok, I know most people on here are stressing and freaking about BBs, which I understand.</p> <p>But I'm in the post-BB phase that seems never-ending, and I could really use some insight on how to deal with possible mites or the "post-BB mystery bite". I've been in my new place 6-8 months, I'm now 99.9 % sure I have no BBs that I moved with me (thanks to dog inspection). But still I keep getting these strange hive-like red marks or "bites" on my chest &#38; back a few times a week or more. In the evenings especially, I get the crawly feelings while I'm working at my computer. Today in particular, it was a rainy humid morning, and I've got 3-4 large red marks on my chest upon waking. </p> <p>I've been taking Claritin daily for about a month, I've got a cream from the derm, I shower twice daily, sprinkle menthol talc on my skin, am still vacuuming/laundering a LOT especially my bedding/bed clothes. Etc Etc. </p> <p>But I'm just wondering if it is some kind of mite-- whether it's a dust mite allergy, or some computer- related mites that I've seen mentioned on here-- what is the best way to eliminate them? Would an alcohol/DE/Dawn soap mix work on them? Should I spray a mixture around my desk area/baseboards? Will washing floors with Murphy's Oil help for mites? </p> <p>Any suggestions and helpful ideas are most appreciated!! Thanks. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/tiniest-ever-pin-prick-red-bites-is-it-beds-bugs-going-crazy#post-62549 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:04:39 +0000 bugcrazylady 62549@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have searched my apt for bed bugs, and had an exterminator come twice, but still found nothing resembling a bed bug. Yet, I still seem to have some kind of bite. However, they look different from most bed bug bite photos I've seen. I'm trying to figure out what this is before I go crazy!</p> <p>I don't have a photo right now, but here are the symptoms... it looks like a tiny itty-bity red pin prick. Some are so small, I almost can't see them. And it isn't raised on a bump at all- the skin around the red dot is flat, but I can see that the red dot is actually a little hole, like a bite. </p> <p>They don't usually come in clusters grouped together. I will find one single one on my thigh and one on my arm, or stomach, or calf. I don't always get them late at night. I can get them while I am sitting on the couch eating dinner. But I do also see to get them when I am under my covers asleep. </p> <p>But I never find a bed bug! What could be biting me?! I am feeling so crazy, and everyone thinks I am crazy!</p> <p>Thanks to anyone who responds!</p> <p>Danielle </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/no-signs-of-bb-but-i-have-over-100-mystery-bites-bb-or-something-else#post-58478 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:10:25 +0000 chompedinLA 58478@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hello all,</p> <p>I need help! (okay, I know you've heard that before from other forum visitors...)</p> <p>I first noticed bites evening of 8/25. I hadn't seen/felt anything, but when I changed out of my clothes after work, I had about 15-20 red bites, all on my butt. </p> <p>For the next 5-10 days, I'd get a few more bites each night, always still concentrated on my butt and backs of my thighs. I checked my clothes, I washed my sheets, nothing helped.</p> <p>I was out of town for Labor day from 9/4-9/7, and received NO new bites. Returned on 9/7, and attacked my apt with a vengeance, flea spraying and raid, along vacuuming, washing drying sheets on high, spraying and vacuuming my Living room couch as well. I got 1 bite in the midst of all that.</p> <p>for the next week, I slept on the couch in my office room on clean/dried sheets. No new bites. I was hopeful the problem was gone. Went away last weekend, 9/12 &#38;13, and received no bites while away.</p> <p>I got back the evening of 9/13, and had 4-8 bites on me before I even went to sleep that night. I slept in the office again, got a handful more. On monday 9/14, I decided to bite the bullet and sleep in my actual bed. What a mistake. I've had 70-80 new bites appear between Tuesday morning to Wed morning, and now they are biting my stomach as well as butt and legs. Needless to say, i didn't sleep on the bed again, and returned to office couch. I currently have over 80 that are new just from this week, as well as the cluster of old ones from prior 2 weeks.</p> <p>Today, pest control came over. they found NO signs of BB, and could only set bug monitors. I have not seen any actual bugs, casings, etc in the meantime. </p> <p>I do have 3 cats, and they are all on Revolution. No signs of excessive scratching or bites on them.</p> <p>The bites are red, smallish (compared to the welts/lesions I typically get from a flea or spider bite. They are not that itchy at all. they tend to have a darker red dot in the center that is raised up. Some of them are definitely in a line. The odd thing is, if it's a bed bug, why is it choosing the LEAST reachable/convenient parts of my body to bite? My arms, legs, face, neck are all exposed way more than stomach, butt and backs of legs.</p> <p>here are some photos of the bites: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/42665487@N02/3932869148/in/photostream/">bites from w/o 9/14</a></p> <p>Do these look like they could be bedbugs? or should I be looking into mites etc?? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/where-to-buy-diatomaceous-earth#post-50809 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:01:26 +0000 Scared and Frustrated 50809@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hi,<br /> I was wondering where I can buy DE and something to apply it with in CANADA. I have called the hardware stores but they don't seem to carry pure DE, just some insecticides which contain some DE.</p> <p>I also looked on Amazon, but the Canadian site didn't seem to have any DE. I suppose I could order it from the States? Any Canadians here find a good place to get BB fighting tools?! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/treating-for-carpet-beetles-how-long-until-i-can-assume-no-bedbugs#post-56869 Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:14:03 +0000 badbadbedbugs 56869@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Okay, as I posted in the other thread, we KNOW we have carpet beetles (I've seen one adult and enough larvae to know without a doubt that they are there.)</p> <p>We've boraxed the bedroom, let it sit for 48 hrs, vacuumed within an inch of our lives, washed and changed the sheets, gotten rid of the bed skirt and matress cover (which was really thin). We now have white sheets on the bed.</p> <p>In the past 3 nights (since the cleaning started) NO BITES!!!!! We keep inspecting for bugs (with flashlight) and we've found a lot of really scary looking lint and a few dead carpet beetle larvae but no bug casings, no feces, no live bed bugs (we have never found casings, feces or a live bed bug. The PCO also did not find any of these but thought we had BB because of the bites and 2 'eggs' he found. He did not do anything about those eggs. They could have been carpet beetle eggs right?). How long until I can stop going crazy thinking we have bed bugs as well as carpet beetles? How long would it take for bed bugs to really make an appearance?</p> <p>And most importantly would the aggressive cleaning we've done slow down bed bugs or would I still be getting bites at night? (of course, I'm the only one getting bites. My partner, the baby and the 4 yr old are bite free and have been all along. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bites-come-and-go-look-differentlyi-need-to-believe-im-overreacting#post-62556 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:12:54 +0000 dreamyingreen 62556@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Oh, where to start...</p> <p>I have been reading BedBugger.com for many months now and finally came to the point when I need some extra support. I have been fighting this problem for 6 months and I think most friends, family, etc. have run out of genuine empathy :( </p> <p>A little background: My infestation began in June when someone in my building brought in the bed bugs. By the time we realized what was happening much of the building was severely infested. I had 3 professional exterminations and was extremely vigilant/borderline OCD about preparations and aftercare. I moved to a new apartment in August and just held my breath waiting for them to reappear. I had about 2 months of peace and only a few questionable bites (versus the undeniable mosquito-bite-like ITCHY welts that occurred before), and then I woke up one morning with the familiar old bite.</p> <p>Since then I have been getting 1-2 bites per week, some pimple-like, some splotchy red marks, some very slight welts that go away within a day or two. Sometimes I'll go a week or two with no marks at all! No bites have been undeniable except for the first one, and NONE itch (which is very unlike my previous reactions). Every time I start to feel hope begin to creep in, I get a new bite and I feel like giving up altogether.</p> <p>So...1) Is there ANY explanation apart from still having bed bugs (I know there are no fleas, mosquitos, or a significant spider infestation)? 2) Why does my skin suddenly react so differently to the bites now that I am in my new apartment? 3) Wouldn't I be getting more and more bites each week if the problem were bed bugs? 4) Am I just going to stop reacting altogether (or has this possibly started) and I am potentially covered in bites I don't know about?!</p> <p>Thank you ahead of time for any thoughts, advice, or support. </p> <p>P.S. I have been applying Diatect Results indoor insect killer for the past 4 weeks with no significant results, and have found no evidence of bed bugs during my application of the dust. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/action-pest-control-nj-%e2%80%94-treatment#post-60001 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:13:56 +0000 petong 60001@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>My landlady has made an appointment with Action Pest Control of New Jersey (www.actionpestcontrol.com) to come and do a K9 inspection of our entire house on Wednesday. I'm having a visual inspection of my apartment tomorrow because it's free. I have found 3 bug samples, 2 or which have been positively ID's as BBs by the company that's doing my free visual inspection, Pest Control Systems of NY (www.pestcontrolsystemsofny.com). I feel good about having two different opinions, and about have both a K9 and visual inspection—and, frankly, about not having to pay for the K9 inspection myself. </p> <p>But my question is: What are people's experiences with Action's TREATMENT methods. Everything that I've found on the forums so far seems to focus on their K9 inspections methods and not on their actual treatment. There's a thread in which someone from Action even seems to have recommended FOGGING, which is the exact opposite of everything I've read here and everywhere else. </p> <p>Does anyone have any Action success stories? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/exhausting-all-money-for-treatments-now-what#post-62497 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:47:54 +0000 BettyV4 62497@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Those of us that have been through hell and back and then back again and again have spent (in my case) thousands and now suffer greatly with that loss of money so we're unable to secure new, expensive means of extermination. When people come to this site with new ideas, whether they work or not - whether we try them or not - they deserve a lot of credit for without these people there would be nothing. I don't know if you're like me, but if you've had to use many different companies and bbs still haunt you; there's no money left for professional thermal treatments, etc., we should be saying thank you to all who at least have the courage to try new things. If those PCO's out there with a real desire to help people, companies that offer new treatments that want to help people with no money, well do it!!!! Of course you wouldn't make money, but you'd sure help lives. Particularly people who have been infested for long periods of time and own their own homes or apartments and can't move.<strong> <u>I also, however, stress checking on this site or with a PCO what you are using and exactly how to use it. It's not worth it if it will be used incorrectly or make you sick</u>.</strong> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/cold-and-flu-stops-the-bites#post-60036 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:29:58 +0000 stevebeast 60036@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I got 2 weeks bite free! I got the swine flu and the bites tapered off as i got sick, i was thinking my rusults was getting some results, the whole time i was sick i didnt get bit, I didnt itch, my skin was starting to heal and I thought life was going to be good again but as soon as i got better they hit me hard too many bites to count, the swine flu is bad but i might be down to get it again </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/fecal-matter-dry-ice-home-made-interceptors-and-aerobeds#post-62544 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:56:41 +0000 samson 62544@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A few questions, please respond even if you know the solution to just even one of my questions</p> <p>How sticky is the BB fecal matter? I see a few dark specks on my linens but they are very easily swept away. Not sticky at all. Should I rule out BB's because of this fact? Perhaps another insect, ash or specks of dirt?</p> <p>Has anyone used dray ice as a detector? This being the theory of BB's being attracted to carbon dioxide. Anyone know of any dry ice suppliers in NYC?</p> <p>I would like to buy the inteceptors for the legs of my bed but the bedframe legs are much, much larger<br /> than the ones advertised. Any homegrown solutions?</p> <p>I see many posters seeking temporary refuge before/between treatments on an areobed. What makes it so magic? Is it jus because it is removed from a bedbug harborage? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/is-just-drying-effective#post-59826 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:32:56 +0000 petong 59826@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I have some clothes that I'm hesitant to wash in hot water for fear of shrinkage and whatnot. So my question is: Is it effective to put dry, already clean clothes in the dryer on the highest setting without having washed them? My thinking is that this has to kill the BBs, because it's basically the same treatment that is recommended for pillows, stuffed animals, etc. </p> <p>Also, suggestions for leather items and shoes? I really like my clothes and don't want to ruin them :) </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/do-fleas-walk#post-62475 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:43:02 +0000 bitebedbugsback 62475@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>If not, I found a bb on my kitchen faucet! When I went to trap it, it quickly scurried into a crack where the faucet lever turns. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vaccuuming#post-59761 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:38:06 +0000 soscared 59761@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Can I use a vaccuum that a dog had alerted to for vaccuuming mattress seams, carpets, etc? If not, how do I debug it? </p> <p>Also, will a flea collar or no-pest strips work if put into an airtight bag with the vaccuum?</p> <p>Thanks a lot! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/opening-bags-post-treatment-to-packtite-treat#post-60532 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:45:09 +0000 tinyvampire 60532@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi, folks:</p> <p>we had our second professional (suspend) treatment 5 days ago, and we're getting our Packtite in *three days* (my heart is pounding).</p> <p>in any event, if we start to open the gigantic clear can liners we have most of our stuff in -- in order to put manageable piles into the Packtite, do we risk making things worse for ourselves before they get better? </p> <p>because i'm still being bitten, although i haven't seen any BB evidence lately (though our floors and rugs are reds and browns, so they've always been difficult to see -- perhaps nymphs are getting me?), i'm thinking of scheduling another treatment. </p> <p>should we not open any bags until after that? </p> <p>any advice is appreciated.</p> <p>thank you,<br /> -tinyvampire </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/howwhen-should-bites-increase-if-it-really-is-bed-bugs#post-59326 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:59:16 +0000 apm 59326@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I've been getting 1-2 bites/week for about 4-5 weeks now. For the past 2 weeks there has been 7 days between bites. If it is bed bugs, should I be seeing some sort of increase in the number of bites? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/bed-bugs-on-dr-oz-this-friday#post-62524 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:16:21 +0000 Nobugsonme 62524@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p><a href="http://bedbugger.com/2009/11/18/bed-bugs-on-dr-oz-this-friday/">More here.</a> </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/feces-rubbing-out#post-62444 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:50:06 +0000 maybecrazygirl 62444@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>hi,</p> <p>sorry if this question has been addressed specifically, but i couldn't find the precise answer...</p> <p>i found a suspicious (granted, i'm in a new apartment 6 months after an infestation and have been completely paranoid ever since) spot on my sheets. It was a tiny dark spot (couldn't really tell you if it was blackish or reddish, since it was so small). I wiped at it with my finger (and some spit) and it pretty much disappeared. could fecal material rub out this easily?? </p> <p>i haven't had any other signs, but i truly think my past infestation made me lose my mind...thanks for any help! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/vent-pco-instructions-exactly-opposite-how-bad-is-this#post-62512 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:40:00 +0000 wchicago 62512@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>VENT VENT VENT</p> <p>Ok, so I"m cruising into treatment #3 this monday (yes, so 6 weeks since the PCO started coming and i began the zip loc lifestyle) and i'm speaking to the manager of the company and she says "have you been vaccuming every day?" and i say "No, my tech told me not to vacuum where the pesticides were" and SHE said "Thats just for the first 4 hours after application, after that you should be vacuuming every day"</p> <p>Ok, these folks didn't give me a prep sheet (I had to call and have them read it to me on the phone), and said NOTHING in the sheet they left after each treatment about daily vaccuuming (their sheet only listed pesticides used and where they used them) AND their tech told me SPECIFICALLY not to vacuum where the pesticides were being placed. And he obviously didn't mean until 4 hours after application, because he made me stay out of the house for 4 hours after application. And now i learn i should be vacuuming every day as part of the treatment. REALLY? Would have been NICE to know that 6 weeks ago!</p> <p>So, this means for 6 weeks i have been remiss in daily vacuuming. I even bought a bagged vacuum at the start of all this because i assumed i would be vacuuming - but then after speaking to my tech about vacuuming during treatment 1, was told not to vacuum the bedroom, living room, and back room &lt;where he treated&gt;. ARGH. Keep in mind, i don't ever see the bugs wandering about (have only seen 2 adults on my bedframe when i took it apart for steaming, and one nymph in the whole time i've had them, and only the nymph was a wanderer - wandered onto my leg, in fact)</p> <p>How bad is this do you think? How much does the lack of vacuuming really hinder bb eradication efforts? They are using Phantom &lt;if that helps anyone&gt; but only at .125 dilution (when everything i've read says it should be .5 for bedbugs -this is ALSO confusing).<br /> I'm really getting frustrated with the lack of communication and worse, the mixed/opposite communication, and am still being bitten &lt;though not nearly as much as 6 weeks ago&gt;. The PCo is one i hired myself and is crazy expensive and has a 60 day contract. </p> <p>So, enough venting -the question is -does anyone know how important the vacuuming is for successful bb eradication? Because i failed to do this, have i made the problem worse, or maybe just prolonged the final eradication? </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/latest-information-from-the-bug-off-seminar-with-drs-potter-and-miller#post-62297 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:40:22 +0000 jeffklein 62297@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Just a quick report on some of the things we learned at the bug off seminar this week. I think one of the most surprising things was the fact that bed bugs no longer live for a year and a half without a blood meal. They're now saying based on lab studies that it's only several months. How things change. The most disturbing facts to come out of the seminar was how poorly our liquid pesticides are working. And unfortunately there doesn't look to any wonderful products coming down the pike any time soon. A couple of bright spots with product is Phantom insecticide, Transport insecticide and Temprid insecticide as well as the dusts. Gentrol wasn't mentioned much so I am assuming that based on increased egg production as well as increased mortality it's a wash. Temprid is not labeled for use in New York but Transport and Phantom are. The main issue is Phantom's long period of time before control is achieved. In several studies it shows it can take up to several months. The dusts on the other hand are where I believe we should be focusing our attention. There wasn't much difference in mortality rates and times between Drione, DE, and Tempo 1% dust. Aside from chemical there were three other methods mentioned one was heat, one was fumigation, and one was freezing. Both doctors agreed that heat and fumigation were the most effective and that cryonite is a tool although it has no penetration ability. I think everybody here knows that I am partial to heat. Dr. Potter stated that there's less than 1% of companies in the country that are currently using these methods. I think another fact that it makes the bed bug scenario nightmarish is that they are stating that 28% of people that are infested have no clue that they actually are. One of the things that Dr. Potter mentioned is how people are amazed at how after 50 years bed bugs are back with a vengeance. Dr. Potter is amazed that for the last 50 years bed bugs have not been problem. I think that is the most telling statement of all. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/help-with-bed-bugs-in-small-car#post-62084 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:25:12 +0000 BuggyinLA 62084@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>We've heat treated the apartment and are currently receiving no bites or sightings in the home (fingers-crossed); HOWEVER, we have been bitten numerous times in the car as well. </p> <p>We already tried driving the car out on a hot day to a sunny place and leaving it there to get up to temp., but we're in the middle of November, and even in SoCal, it just doesn't get that sunny or hot at this time of year. </p> <p>We spoke with our landlord about this, and he suggested fogging and vaccumming the car. I know full well that fogging doesn't kill eggs, and that it usually only serves to drive them deeper into the infested items. For some reason -- stress? -- I decided to let him do it anyway. </p> <p>Now we're still getting bites in the car and have isolated it, meaning we never put anything in the car without PackTiting it and we always change clothing after riding in it. </p> <p>Where do we go from here? Thermal? Vikane? Crazy? We're a one car family and really need the car back and functional and bug-free! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/looking-for-opinions-do-you-think-we-ever-had-them#post-62501 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:12:12 +0000 bleh bug 62501@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>In early September, around Labor Day, my daughter had a few nights of getting bad bites - she would wake up in agony around 3AM and the bites lasted about a week. They looked just like mosquito bites (she reacts badly to them), but I was suspicious because she had a cluster of them around her knees (though she also had bites on other parts of her body). I searched her room but found nothing.</p> <p>I called in a (certified) K9 to inspect, and unfortunately went with a company (M&#38;M in NYC) that does not follow up "hits" with manual inspection. In my bedroom, the dog hit on a basket of blankets (I immediately sealed up on site and disposed of it) and on our mattress (we immediately encased both mattress and boxspring in protect-a-bed, sprayed the frame and floor with Sterifab, and caulked every hole and crack in the bed). In our daughter's bedroom, the dog hit on a spot on some shelves, the baseboard near her closet, and the baseboard by her door. We Sterifab-ed the heck out of everything, caulked, encased her mattress and then dusted both bedrooms with DE. Still, in all the searching and cleaning process, we never saw a bug, egg, casing, nada.</p> <p>Several weeks passed with no bites, then she got a bunch of bites one night, but there was a mosquito in her bed. She hasn't had any bites since (that was over 7 weeks ago). Then a few nights ago, I woke up with about 6 bites, but I had killed a mosquito in the apartment just the day before.</p> <p>Do you think that the dog was wrong and we never had them, or do you think it's possible that we only had a few bugs and managed to kill them? Or do you think it's possible that we still have them, but they're either only biting my husband, and he's not reacting, or they're just not biting, at least not on a regular basis? No one else in our co-op has them.</p> <p>Thanks for your opinions. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/odd-bites-wondering-what-else-it-could-be#post-62132 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:53 +0000 NewBlood 62132@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>Hey everyone,</p> <p>A very quick sum up of things to this moment. Back in August I suddenly began getting extremely itchy bites around my ankles/feet with a few bites on my upper legs as well. I thought they may have just been chigger bites due to walking around outside the day before in some grass.</p> <p>Called a bed bug exterminator who uses a dog team - the dog alerted to a few places. Another sweep with the same company, but different team confirmed the first and also showed them in other locations in my apartment. (No one ever found a live bug, egg, skin, or stains). I decided that I would be treated anyway. During this time I was receiving about 1 - 2 bites a day (occurring in the morning hours - roughly around 6:30am is when they would begin to itch and appear).</p> <p>A week after treatment the bites were continuing (showing between 3 - 4 a day) and showing up either at 6:30 - 7:00pm, 3:00-3:30am, or shortly upon waking (6:30am). I never saw anything bite me, never saw a live bug, no blood stains, no eggs. My apartment was again scanned and 0 alerts! </p> <p>For the next three weeks however the bites continued to show up - as above - right on schedule. 1 - 4 bites a day at the times posted above. It didn't seem to matter what I was doing, they would magically appear during those time intervals. Yesterday the company returned (so roughly a month after the first 0 alert scan) and scanned again with the dog team that alerted roughly 12 times before - and again there were 0 alerts/hits. This morning I awoke with another bite on my stomach, and another on my left forearm.</p> <p>So I was wondering since I haven't found a single bed bug, skin, egg, or stain what else could it be? The bites are usually singular and show up anywhere on me (legs, stomach, arms, etc) save for my face. They seem to always show up at certain times as well which is very odd. I did notice that I have carpet beetle larvae - but I have rubbed them on my skin and had no allergic reaction (I also would think that the allergies to them would appear all over me, and not as single bite like marks anyway). I've scoured my apartment with a flashlight/magnifying glass and found no trace of them. Anyone have any ideas what else it could be? </p> <p>My doctor gave me scabies medicine to use - and now that I am in the clear I intend to use it tonight (I have to remove the bed cover and clean it - something I was hesitant to do without having another 0 alert result). Oh - for that matter how does one clean a protect-a-bed cover? I was intending to put it in the wash/dryer, but I am worried that may not work. Anyway, thanks in advance for any responses! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/rest-easy#post-62492 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:09:31 +0000 cilecto 62492@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>A number of recent posts have mentioned a natural product called "Rest Easy". </p> <p>Here is a link to their "efficacy report".<br /> <a href="http://www.thermbgroup.com/resteasyefficacyreport.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.thermbgroup.com/resteasyefficacyreport.html</a></p> <p>Items to note.<br /> Testing is by the manufacturer.<br /> 100% contact kill.<br /> 0% residual on smooth surface.<br /> 1 out of 10 bugs die on wood surface after 4 hours.<br /> Repels 90%.<br /> No indication on how many times test was repeated and what was done to rule out anomalies. </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/you-want-your-bed-bugs-gone#post-62493 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:56 +0000 bedbugsallgone 62493@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>I really feel sorry for some of you still dealing with bed bugs...I myself went thru the infestation which was diagnosed on August 31, 2009. Truly I see many of you continuing to live with them and I say HOW? I certainly couldnt....I had to get a plan and figure this thing out... starting with NO experience on the subject it was tough but.....all worth it because now I have been living over a month with NO bed bugs....and when I tell you that I had at least 250 bites on my left arm alone, I am not exxagerating! My doctor had no clue what it was &#38; that only added to the time frame of these dirty little suckers being able to breed. During the process I learned alot and I am on this forum to help, if possible anyone else who wants to get rid of these and move on with their lives....This is what I did....First I contacted my local etemologist to hear from him who he would recommend for treatment &#38; when I tell you we have many pest companies, I ended up going with the most expensive one- the ONLY one who would give me a 100% guarantee...on a limited income, it was tough but I contacted my landlord &#38; he paid for 1/2 ....I then asked questions and learned....Terminix came in &#38; did several CO2 treatments &#38; I had to wait- almost a month for the eggs to hatch for another treatment....3 all together- before I could move anything out (yes, I moved) I got rid of every piece of furniture that I had &#38; the stuff I did bring was gone thru with a fine tooth comb----ALL clothes were washed and pics taken out of pic frames, etc....Yes, I had nice cherry &#38; oak furniture but I wanted this thing to be behind me &#38; yes, it is tough but I am now in a new place, yes I am sleeping on a queen air bed (instead of my nice pillowtop)and I have a loveseat instead of my sectional and....I know where THESE items came from as they are used----Big No No for me from now on! I am 43 &#38; feel like I am starting over, but hey, thats OK--- because I am Bug FREE! My life will never be the same as I check my bed ( air mattress)every night and am constantly aware of any bugs I see but I will chalk that up as a learning exp....Hopefully one day I wont feel the need to do that but for now I still am.... Hope this helps! </p> http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/humor-video-clip#post-62472 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:28:07 +0000 bitebedbugsback 62472@http://bedbugger.com/forum/ <p>This clip has to do with fleas, but it probably better fits bed bugs!</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7IsnS7csSQ" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7IsnS7csSQ</a> </p>