Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Am I infested or just bitten?
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Jan 17 2010 0:16:30
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Hello!
After a close call a few months ago (i actually had carpet beetles) I am now again, freaking out thinking I am infested. Please help me figure out what to do. This is what happened:
Saturday, Jan. 9 - traveling in mexico, awoke to a small, flat round bug crawling on my hostel bed. I crushed it and blood came out. This was my last night, and I flew back to Los Angeles later that day.
Sunday, Jan. 10 - washed all my clothes from my trip and put my backpack in the garage.
Thursday, Jan. 14 - Lower back itching like crazy. A doctor friend ID'd it as hives or contact dermatitis (rash).
Saturday, Jan. 16 - Got out of the shower and noticed about 10-15 large bites in rows and clusters on my back, in addition to the smaller rashy-hivey bumps. Googled and I'm sure they are bed bugs bites. Searched my bed and found no evidence of red splotches or casings, etc.
Questions: Is it possible that the bites from mexico are just now appearing? How long does it take for bedbugs to get into my mattress? Is there anything I can do now to nip it in the bud, or do I have an infestation here?
Agh! Thanks.
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your host
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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Jan 17 2010 10:04:15
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The literature tells us bed bug bites can take up to 9 days to appear, but a lot of people seem to react more quickly, and I would not assume that you have a 6 day delay. If the backpack was infested, putting it in the garage may not be enough. See the travel FAQs for precautions you can take (some may still be helpful at this point). Be very suspicious of anything which was on the trip and did not get washed/dried on hot upon return. Especially that backpack. Seal it in an airtight fashion in a thick (3mm) garbage bag (tie an airtight knot) until you are able to treat it somehow.
It may be too soon to see evidence in your bedroom. They hide well.
You might want to aggressively seal your bed linens in bags and wash/dry on hot, and even steam your mattress and bedroom if you have access to a dry vapor steamer. If it is one or two stragglers, it may be possible to kill them if they just came in and are hanging in the sheets or something.
Don't move anything from the bedroom around unless sealed in airtight bags, just in case they're in there.
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your host
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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Jan 17 2010 10:05:41
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You might also put some ClimbUp Interceptors under your bed legs -- which would trap them coming onto or going off of your bed.
If you want to be sure, some pest control firms have Nightwatch traps they can run, but this is likely much more costly.
Also see this FAQ on detection.
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Jan 17 2010 14:37:19
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OK, thanks. I am 99% sure that I was bitten in Mexico because there were a dozen brown flecks on my PJs. And I had no reaction up until this point. However, I guess they may still have hitchhiked here. Agh.
I am going to see if I can rent a steamer. I have a metal bed frame... can they climb up this?
thanks, again.
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your host
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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Jan 17 2010 23:15:21
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eyehatebug - 8 hours ago »
OK, thanks. I am 99% sure that I was bitten in Mexico because there were a dozen brown flecks on my PJs. And I had no reaction up until this point. However, I guess they may still have hitchhiked here. Agh.
I am going to see if I can rent a steamer. I have a metal bed frame... can they climb up this?
thanks, again.It sounds like you were probably bitten in Mexico.
Yes, they can climb up metal.
You should be able to use a contact killer spray to spray down the metal (it may work best if you disassemble it first) and you might want to steam the mattress (make sure it dries thoroughly to the core before putting any linens or covers on it). The FAQs should help.
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Jan 19 2010 13:13:55
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After vaccuming like a madwoman and washing EVERYTHING. I found a brown speck this morning on my sheets (and a couple more bites). Confirmed. They are in my apartment.
PLEASE recommend a good PCO in the LA area! What is the Best treatment? Thermal? Do I need to tell my landlord/neighbors?
I am such a hypochondriac. This is my worst nightmare!
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Jan 19 2010 14:24:13
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It's confirmed. I am infested. AGH. My worst nightmare.
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 0:10:45
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Update:
Washed everything on HOT. More bites. Brown specks on just cleaned sheets this morning. It's my worst nightmare
I told my landlord and he is very nonchalant about it - says it's probably fleas and he will try to have his PCO come out this week (which means probably next week and only if I bother him about it). I am too impatient though and have scheduled an inspection tomorrow with a company out of the Valley called Borite. I don't think I'll sleep tonight.
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upagain
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 0:20:43
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Why not post a pic of the specks? Do they look like bb fecal or just suspect?
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Louise
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 1:10:48
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eyehatebug - 59 minutes ago »
Update:
Washed everything on HOT. More bites. Brown specks on just cleaned sheets this morning. It's my worst nightmare
Do the specks brush away, or have they "soaked into" the sheets?
Louise
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wchicago
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 1:16:34
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hi eyehatebug
so so sorry to hear what you're going through. i agree with upagain -please post a pic if you can and one of the experts on here might be able to tell you if its bb related.
in the meantime, know you can vent here anytime (even if you're up alnight, lets face it - bedbuggers are probably some of the MORE likely insomniacs around - so you'll have sympathetic company)
best of luck with the inspection!
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 3:01:03
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My camera is not so great but here is what I could get of the brown speck. http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttascotch/4290150564/in/photostream/
Its like a smudge of marker (soaked-in, Louise). The same style that dotted my PJs and sleeping sack (the thing that was supposed to protect me from bedbugs while traveling, LOL).
Should I just take some Nyquil and sleep in my bed so I have more "evidence" in my bed? Or can I sleep on the sofa? I think I will take Nyquil regardless... ACK.
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upagain
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 11:59:58
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You might have to wait for the experts to chime in on the pics (if you can try and post a few more for them, as clear as you can). I would not move to a different bed, most people on this board advise against doing that, as if there is a problem, you risk spreading it.
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Louise
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 12:34:50
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eyehatebug - 9 hours ago »
Its like a smudge of marker (soaked-in, Louise). The same style that dotted my PJs and sleeping sack (the thing that was supposed to protect me from bedbugs while traveling, LOL).
Sigh. Sorry to hear that. It's always so much more hopeful when the specks just brush away.
I'm still hoping it's not bedbugs, though.
Louise
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 21:53:16
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PCO confirmed BB (AGH!) They are going to spray treat. My LL will pay for it only if its under the guise of a flea problem... and it does not include re-treatments. This seems shady to me --the PCO was clear that it was BB and I have no pets. I am unsure if the treatment is a BB & flea treatment or if they are spraying for BB only? I have a hunch that he is trying to CHA in case it doesn't work or spreads.
I'm trying to tell myself it's just bugs, and with the tragedy in Haiti, I am really not that bad off :/
However, my nyquil and valium cocktail didn't put me to sleep last night - I'm going to add some red wine to the mix... any other suggestions for getting and staying asleep when its almost certain that doing so will mean getting your blood sucked?
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marigold
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Joined: Jan '10
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 22:11:37
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eyehatebug - 14 minutes ago »
However, my nyquil and valium cocktail didn't put me to sleep last night - I'm going to add some red wine to the mix... any other suggestions for getting and staying asleep when its almost certain that doing so will mean getting your blood sucked?
I know what its like to not be able to sleep - I was clearly on here all night last night. I would caution against drugging yourself to sleep. It can become a habit. I'm sure you already know that and are an adult but I just wanted to put my 2 cents in. I am regularly an insomniac - usually what helps me is a very clean uncluttered environment, no electronics, a calming activity before bed and forcing myself to lie there. I'm sorry I know these things are harder or impossible with bb. I am taking benadryl when I get bites and that does have a drowsiness inducing effect. I'm not sure if its addictive I don't take it more than a couple times a week and I don't take more than one, an allergist recommended it.
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soscared
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 22:24:06
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What helps me sleep is a desk lamp with a dimmer. I keep it on, but super low. It makes me feel like if I were to wake up when bitten, i'd see a bedbug. It has not happened yet though. But I do feel more in control with it on on the dimmest setting.
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your host
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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Jan 20 2010 23:12:10
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eyehatebug,
If you (or anyone else is) looking for an LA PCO, there may be some relevant discussions here (posts tagged LA PCOs).
soscared,
Good tip -- the desk lamp with a dimmer switch.
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Jan 21 2010 2:57:37
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Yeah I looked at the LA PCOs and have made a couple calls. Seems like a one time or 30 day guaranteed "crack and crevice" treatment is between $400-650 and the heat treatment is about $1800-2500 on top of that. But why do I need the crack and crevice treatment if the heat is what will kill them? And if $600/mo for 6 months of this which seems usual timeframe based on what I've read on this site? That's like twice as much as the heat?!
I was JUST ABOUT to finish paying off my credit card debt. I just ordered $300 worth of plastic bags, protectors and those bed feet traps. $$$$$$
This is shiite. Thanks, universe!
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bait
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Jan 21 2010 9:22:29
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Good news: you have good credit. I hope the next post of yours is "How I got rid of my bed bugs using thermal with crack & crevice treatment".
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eyehatebug
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Posted 3 years ago
Fri Jan 22 2010 3:00:21
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So LL's PCO is coming out tomorrow AM, I just found out this evening. He left me a message that he's coming tomorrow. I won't be here. And I need to pack up my clothing and linens tonight. He did not give me any literature on exactly how to do this. Do I wash stuff first? Then Bag it. I just hope that he will be able to get to the bugs. 80% of my floor will be covered in black plastic bags. (I have a tiny one bedroom apt with 2 closets and 3 dressers of clothing). Any tips?
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wchicago
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Posted 3 years ago
Fri Jan 22 2010 3:44:09
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ooh, long night for you. good luck!
and yes, ideally wash/dry stuff (or just dry it) then put it in cleaned and sealed bags. make sure he has access to all your baseboards, even if that means you must pile bags into the middle of the floor. i promise this is the worst (the first big bed bug prep), it will start to get better, feel more manageable soon. hang in.
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