Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Bed Bugs or Fleas? PLEASE HELP!
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lfama
newbite
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 4offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Nov 9 2010 22:29:55
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...the more I read up on both, the more confused I am!
About two weeks ago, I noticed mosquito-type bites on my arms. Within a 4-5 day period, I had a total of ten itchy bites. Some of them scabbed and I still have them. I generally noticed these bites in the late afternoon. Two of the bites I noticed in the early evening after a nap in my bed with the lights on. My husband has no bites. I constantly feel itchy, even in places with no bites (my bites however no longer itch). My husband is bite free. We have a dog who sleeps in the bed with us, and I have not noticed him . We were inspected for bed bugs and the PCO said he found one dead in our bed. No other signs of bed bugs whatsoever, and believe me, I look in every crack every change I get! The only thing I ever see are small, flat black specs that look kind of like pepper on our bed and couch and sometimes on the floor. I even saw a couple of these on the fabric of the box spring when we were searching for bedbugs. Is it possible this is fleas and not bed bugs? Would I react to bites from fleas in that way? Would my dog not be scratching excessively? I really need some guidance, as I have temporarily moved in with my parents to avoid the bed bugs I am not 100% positive I have, I just spent $450 on treatment for bed bugs and I have yet to even see one or any sign of one, I did not trust the PCO who did the inspection (I was not present, but my husband said he looked around for 15 min and only checked the bed area, did not check the walls, closet, nightstand, cracks, etc. and stated we did not need treatment just to vacuum and buy casing for the mattress and box spring so who knows if he could even properly identify a bed bug)...I feel quite like I am losing my sanity and I am hoping that someone will finally respond to a thread I post with some insight, as I cannot seem to find the answers to my questions anywhere. Thank you.
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nycyn
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 701offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Nov 10 2010 2:49:57
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I've been picking up little black crunchy (ground peppercorn sized) things out of my bed for a month or two now. Every day. The dog sleeps in my bed and I'm all over her checking with my untrained eyes and have yet to see a "flea." ? Have the fleas fled? No bites lately. I don't know anything about anything anymore--at least anything that has more than four legs.
(DE on dog; dog bedding. Borax around dog bedding and favorite spots.)
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spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 3,201offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Nov 10 2010 3:10:52
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Got a flea comb? Comb near the base of the tail and on the neck behind the ears. On a cat if they have fleas you will find some in those spots.
Jim
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nycyn
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 701offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Nov 10 2010 3:31:50
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I'm off to do the blood test. Thing is--whatever those black things are--they seem to be the size of what I would think fleas would be.
Off to do a search on peroxide. There's something about peroxide?
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nycyn
senior member
Joined: Sep '10
Posts: 701offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Nov 10 2010 3:41:30
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OK. Still looking around. Meanwhile:
WTH is a fungus gnat? !!
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loubugs
old timer
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 1,642offline
Posted 2 years ago
Wed Nov 10 2010 13:41:31
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phenolphthalein and hydrogen peroxide are required for a presumptive blood test not just HP alone.
Fungus gnat actually refers to light-bodied, sort of mosquito-like flies, that breed in organic soils and feed on decaying plants and fungus. The larval form feeds on these items. Many times breeding areas are over watered potted plants, sometimes are drains filled with organic debris and sludge.
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