Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
BBs again?
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WishBBsWereButterflies
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 15offline
Posted 11 months ago
Tue Jun 5 2012 16:32:53
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Roughly one year and a half ago, I battled (unsuccessfully) BBs at my place in Manhattan. After dealing with unconcerned management and their scared PCOs (the guy that came admitted to being scared of BBs), I decided to trash the contents of my apartment and start fresh. This meant uprooting my kindergartener.
We moved in with my mom and now I have found a new place in Brooklyn. I have been slowly furnishing it (WITH NEW FURNITURE) and only stay there on the weekends for now because my daughter needs to be close to school.
The apartment is in a gut-renovated building located across from a park and has a backyard. I’ve been finding tons of beetles, ants, etc. But on Sunday, I happened to look behind me on my sofa and saw what I believe is a BB.
I don’t have a picture, the first instinct was to smash it, but so far no bites on the nights I have stayed there. Is it possible this bug is another garden pest
And when I smashed it, it kind of went powdery and flaky on me. It was brownish-tan. No blood. Maybe it was hungry?
I can’t deal with this again….
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WishBBsWereButterflies
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 15offline
Posted 11 months ago
Wed Jun 6 2012 7:51:53
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Perhaps the question I should be asking is what happens to an unfed bed bug when you crush it with a tissue? Would it just break and flake apart?
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,722offline
Posted 11 months ago
Wed Jun 6 2012 9:51:50
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I have no experience of crushing an unfed bed bug.
I will suggest you look closely at these photos of bed bugs.. Only first instars which have never fed are really tan. They are also 1 mm (1/32") long. So you should think about the size also.
Lots of other bugs are mistaken for bed bugs. It's normal to be vigilant and a bit nervous after you've had a run-in with bed bugs before, but I would not panic in the absence of other signs. Look for fecal stains especially, which should be present if bed bugs are. The FAQ on identifying a bed bug problem here should help. Bed bug monitors may help also.
I suspect you're especially worried given how useless your last landlord and their PCO were. Try not to let that overwhelm you. IF you get bed bugs again (and that's still a big IF), your new landlord/PCO may do a much better job.
For what it's worth, I would not even be surprised if the last one is doing a better job now than it was. Consider that 18 months is a long time in terms of the bed bug struggle, and companies --both building management and PCOs-- may have come along a great deal during this time). They may not have yet, but they do have to learn eventually.
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WishBBsWereButterflies
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 15offline
Posted 11 months ago
Wed Jun 6 2012 10:15:39
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Nobugsonme,
Thanks for responding!
Everything you said is exactly right. My last experience was just awful. And I didn’t even mention the $1800 bill they tried to stick me with!
The situation took a particular emotional toll on me and I can’t imagine going through it again, let alone, dragging my child along with me.
I’ll be at the new place this weekend and plan to put climb ups under the sofa and bed. The mattress is already covered of course. After seeing that one bug, I tore the sofa apart and didn’t see anything. Nothing on the bed either. No bites.
It may also be time to seek some sort of PTSD treatment….
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 6,754offline
Posted 11 months ago
Wed Jun 6 2012 10:51:01
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WishBBsWereButterflies - 2 hours ago »
Perhaps the question I should be asking is what happens to an unfed bed bug when you crush it with a tissue? Would it just break and flake apart?Hi,
If a recently deceased bedbug is crushed it tends to remain intact other than the mechanical damage. However a long dead bedbug which has dried out will become very brittle and starts to fall apart into sections and segments if too much pressure is applied.
Hope that helps.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
WishBBsWereButterflies
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 15offline
Posted 11 months ago
Wed Jun 6 2012 11:16:32
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Thanks David,
This thing was definitely alive before I grabbed it up.
I may be overly panicked.
Either way, the passive monitors will be in place soon enough. We’ll see what happens.s. -
WishBBsWereButterflies
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 15offline
Posted 11 months ago
Tue Jun 12 2012 20:23:55
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I've completely inspected my couch and nothing to be seen so far. I' ve placed Climb Ups under the couch and bed and will be staying at the apartment this weekend. I guess now we wait and see. Landlord/building management has also scheduled monthly pest contol services and that puts me more at ease. I'll post any updates as they occur. Hopefully they don't!
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