Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Bug ID please
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lostinny
newbite
Joined: Dec '10
Posts: 7offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 14:36:16
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Haven't noticed any severe bites or nothing out of the ordinary. But, I saw this on an item of my clothing I was wearing last night and it looks all too familiar
I've not noticed any in ages and am finally relaxing after a bedbug issue a few years ago. Did I search and haven't found anything else. Just this one which was on my shirt. Oh, the stress!
If it is a bedbug and the only one I've seen within the apartment, can I spray a heavy spray (which I've already done twice) and wait to see if I notice any more? I can't imagine bagging everything up (again)! Thank you for your help in advance. Much appreciated!
Image 1: http://f.imgtmp.com/JTmn6.jpg
Image 2: http://f.imgtmp.com/JKWXr.jpg
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rs1971
senior member
Joined: Oct '10
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 15:00:57
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Yes, sorry I'm pretty sure that it's a bed bug. I think that it's a female though I get that wrong sometimes. Regarding the heavy spray, I'll leave that to the experts though generally people don't have great luck with DIY solutions.
-rs1971
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Joined: Mar '09
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 15:05:33
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Yes it is a bed bug. Get a proper inspection to figure out the extent of your problem and then and only then can a proper treatment be started
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lostinny
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Joined: Dec '10
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 15:06:48
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Thank you so much for your help. I just hope it's not a female and no eggs were laid around the couch and/ or rest of the apartment.
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 15:19:09
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Hi,
I would actually say its male and not fully adult, well fed though.
If you cant find any signs yourself then a thorough inspection may be called for unless you recently came into contact with a source such as travel , commute or public space.
If you were a bite responder last time there is a good chance you would have been this time so it may be that it only recently arrived.
Check with and educate neighbours and establish the extent of things before you turn your life upside down and into bags.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
loubugs
old timer
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 15:19:51
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Looks like an adult male, but finding one doesn't mean there aren't any more. Staying vigilant and knowing what to look for will help to locate early introductions or early infestations. A lone female will produce eggs if she has enough imbibed blood for egg production and enough imbibed blood to keep the sperm alive she receives during mating. Of course, it is possible that there is only one bed bug.
Just read David's post. If it's a male, then it's fully adult. A male 5th instar nymph would not be an adult, there wouldn't be wing pads, but on regular viewing, I don't know how to tell a female 5th instar nymph from a male 5th instar nymph -- they're not adults yet. A recently molted adult from the 5th instar nymph stage would be pale, a pharate insect until the skin components continue through some chemical changes. See this image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lou_bugs_pix/4784549187/in/photostream
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lostinny
newbite
Joined: Dec '10
Posts: 7offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 15:50:34
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Thank you both soo much! It's quite dark. I might have a mark here or there but I don't know if it's from something else or allergies, nor do they resemble the welts I'd experienced last time.
It's also very thin. I was wearing a white t-shirt and didn't see any signs of blood, etc. Also, I live a few floors up from ground level. Could bed bugs be coming in from the window? About a year ago, I found a dead beg bug near the window (which I had recently opened after keeping shut for about a year). Lately, the window's been open again... so, I'm wonder if there's any relation. So odd - I hadn't seen one of these in ages. I keep clean (although I know cleanliness isn't exactly related) and I'm just beginning to get into a routine and grow comfortable in my own apartment. For months I couldn't eat or sleep or even socialize because I feared these dreadful nightmares.
I pray that there's only one bug. I really can't take this stress another time (and the phantom itching that goes along with it). Any covers recommended for a leather couch? Which is the only place I sat when I came home last night before I discovered the bug. Again, thank you all so much! I've contacted my building to get an exterminator in ASAP.
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 17:36:37
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lostinny - 1 hour ago »
Could bed bugs be coming in from the window? About a year ago, I found a dead beg bug near the window (which I had recently opened after keeping shut for about a year). Lately, the window's been open again... so, I'm wonder if there's any relation. So odd - I hadn't seen one of these in ages. I keep clean (although I know cleanliness isn't exactly related) and I'm just beginning to get into a routine and grow comfortable in my own apartment. For months I couldn't eat or sleep or even socialize because I feared these dreadful nightmares.
.Hi,
Its highly unlikely that bedbugs would come through a window when spreading in buildings its usually within confined of the exterior walls such as cracks around pipe work and service conduits.
I would advise you if you still have the sample to either ask for an ID from someone with the view to confirming it as 100% definitely bedbugs and not bat or martin / swallow / swift bugs which are more likley to be found around windows.
Its also important to try and keep perspective and calm when dealing with bedbugs. Part of that is the assurance you can have that if you search and don't find any signs the risks of you transferring to others is low in my experience the spreading infestations have always been present for significant periods of time. I fully appreciate how anxious and stressful bedbugs can be but there is also a place for saying it needs to be kept into perspective and light is far easier to treat than someone who just wakes up to the reality one day that they may have been ignoring the issue for a little too long (I am sure the PCO's out there have enough after dinner speeches that testify to such cases).
I would clean the couch but outside of that its a wait for the professional assessment and confirmation before treatment scenario.
David
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lostinny
newbite
Joined: Dec '10
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 17:43:02
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Thank you so much. David. A university student already stressed as I fet ready for end year exams, isn't good. I'll do my best to take your advice and I do greatly appreciate the time you, and everyone has put into replying to this thread. I wish my building managers and neighbors were as kind and understanding as you all
I can't seem to find any pictures of the Chimney Swift - but from what I saw it looked similar and slightly differentiated from the bed bugs I remember in the fact that the bug I found is very thin, but it's still round/ somewhat oval similar to bed bugs. It'll probably take a few days - 2 weeks to get an exterminator to ID. I'll try to hold out that long.... Many thanks to you all - really, it is most appreciated.
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 17:56:47
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Hi,
It takes quite a skill to differentiate the closely related species and you need a good magnification to be able to do it. I suspect the difference in shape has more to do with the fact that most of the bedbug images out there are not very well fed ones so people tend to think of them as flat and round.
Its not one for the faint of heart but I did produce a public education short on the issue the other year, embedded below. I appologise about the sound effects that were added for humour and to try and encourage people to post a link to their friends to help spread the word.
Hope you keep calm and collected through this.
David
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lostinny
newbite
Joined: Dec '10
Posts: 7offline
Posted 1 year ago
Wed Apr 25 2012 18:01:23
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That was a great video! You're right - it seems like I'll need an in-person ID just to make sure it's not the Swift bug. The sound effects are hilarious! Makes it easier to watch
Thanks again and Cheers.
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