Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Bug ID request (tell me it's something else!)
(12 posts)-
freakinbugsfreakinmeout
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Joined: Oct '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 23:06:06
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Hi there,
Just moved into a brand-new apartment and found this guy hanging out on our temporary airbed. The previous night there was a similar, larger but flatter, creature hanging out on the wall. Both times around 11pm with the lights on. Both very stationary but with antennae moving about. There is nothing in our apartment except the air bed and our two bags as we just moved to the country and are yet to buy furniture (we actually bought some but put the delivery on hold because of this)
We've been through our bags, inspected all seams, etc. hit the laundromat about 5000 times, bought a vacuum; vacuumed about 5000 times. We've found nothing except these loners.
Can anyone tell us if this is this a bed bug?
Thanks!
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Picture is blury but it looks like a spider beetle.
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I forgot to say it is not a bed bug.
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mrwitz
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Joined: Sep '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 23:47:34
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I am not an expert so I am not going to try to ID that for you, but I will say that the experts here are probably going to ask for a better picture. From what I understand if you can get it on something flat next to coin or something else for size comparison that will be best.
It is the worst not knowing what something is and a good picture can help get something ID'd much quicker.
Hope this helps and whatever that is, I hope it isn't a bedbug. (Hey, at least you didn't get that furniture delivered)
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freakinbugsfreakinmeout
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 23:51:46
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We have a good camera, but apparently I suck with it! I'll see if my wife can get a better picture when she gets home. Thanks for the input guys.
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Wed Oct 5 2011 23:52:33
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Highly likely a spider beetle. Pic isn't good enough but like LVK9 said, not a BB
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freakinbugsfreakinmeout
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Joined: Oct '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Oct 6 2011 0:13:41
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spideyjg - 13 minutes ago »
Highly likely a spider beetle. Pic isn't good enough but like LVK9 said, not a BBThat's very comforting to hear. Is there something about its body shape / legs that rules out BB?
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spideyjg
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Oct 6 2011 0:44:10
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Shape, legs, and antenna all look like a spider beetle.
BBs have very specific antenna.
Jim
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oldtimer
Joined: Feb '09
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Oct 6 2011 2:14:19
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I confirm spider beetle
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jrbtnyc
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Joined: Sep '10
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Oct 6 2011 11:04:59
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Non-expert, inquiring whether the critter has six legs not eight? Making sure it might not be a tick. From certain angles in a blurry image a spider beetle's body shape might be slightly similar to a tick's; but the leg configuration is quite different from most angles, aside from the 6 vs. 8 difference. Anyway, the imminent better photo will likely permit a definitive ID.
Meanwhile to look at a whole bunch of photos, type « spider beetle » on Google and then click « Images » at the top which will give you:
Do any of those look like your specimen, thus confirming spideyjg's and EffeCi's ID?
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freakinbugsfreakinmeout
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Joined: Oct '11
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Oct 6 2011 20:56:25
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Yep it had six legs.
I wasn't able to get a better picture so I took the bug to a PCO on my way to work this morning (M&M in NYC) and they confirmed it was a shiny spider beetle. The guy said they get a lot of that, as I'm sure you do here, and that 90% of the bugs people bring to them are not bed bugs.
Thanks for all the input!
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cilecto
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Posted 1 year ago
Thu Oct 6 2011 22:29:49
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Spider beetles have rounded backs, kind of like a Volkswagen, or an apple seed. Unfed BB tend to be flat. The press often says that BB are the size of apple seeds, which probably confuses the heck out of a lot of people.
I see spider beetles at home and at my parents' often, including in the bedroom. I'm always relieved, but have the nagging feeling that too many people go into "bed bug treatment" mode when they actually have spider beetles.
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