Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Reader questions (do not fit into other categories)
Can you determine the degree/level/size of infestation? Or at least estimate?
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BuggedInSomerville
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Joined: Aug '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 22:51:11
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BBsonme
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Joined: May '09
Posts: 55offline
Posted 3 years ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 23:32:51
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Bugged, I am absolutely no expert. Repeat NO EXPERT. I'm not even sure I even actually have bed bugs at this point. What I learned from my research is that no one reacts the same to bites. I'm wondering if you were getting bit before you even knew they were bites. With the amount of fecal matter, live bugs and described areas on your box spring I would think they'd been nesting for some time. If the research I've done is accurrate, the fecal matter comes after a blood meal, which means they've not been starving in your bed.
In addition, since the bugs are nocturnal creatures and you're seeing them in the day time I would venture to say they are pretty active, which leads me to believe the level of infestation might be on the high side.
Since you've spotted live bugs I would say the first step (identification) is already well taken care of and now you should proceed to the second step...decluttering and removing their hiding spots. Launder ALL of your belongings on hot and dry past dry on high heat to destroy any eggs. I know you discarded the box spring, but encase your mattress to keep whatever is in in and whatever is out out. I think everyone one the site agrees that a level of caulking is needed to keep new bugs from visiting from adjoining homes.
What has not been resolved is the PCO vs. self treat topic. In today's ecomony many don't have the money to hire a reputable PCO and definitely don't have the money to waste on a PCO that is long on promises but very short on results. A good PCO will come out and inspect your property for free (at least mine did). This could help in determine how vast and wide the problem has spread. IMO a heavy infestation should not be treated alone and requires the help of a qualified PCO. In the case of Jason1, who found great success in self treatment, he hired a PCO first with little to no results.
In any case, I'm sorry that you are suffering and I wish you peace of mind though at times it will seem like you're going insane.
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BuggedInSomerville
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Joined: Aug '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Aug 8 2009 23:53:08
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Thanks, BBsonme. I've been agonizing over how much the infestation could have spread. Do you know how much of an infestation is contained in the mattress/box spring, versus how much of the population spreads from those closest areas?
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BBsonme
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Joined: May '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Aug 9 2009 0:15:36
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Again, I'm no expert but according to my PCO (I had two visits-- the first I considered a marketing engineer) the second one I trusted -- 70% of the bed bug population is in your bed. However, in your case it sounds like they've moved beyond your bed.
You would do well to do more research on this site and others and then interview a PCO. You can ask him lots of questions and one worth his/her weight in gold will take the time to answer and not just hem and haw (that's what the first one did).
I forgot to mention bagging. Once you've laundered your clothes keep them in ziplock bags. The last thing you want to do is put your clothes back in your drawers/closet and have things reinfested.
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Aug 10 2009 12:40:55
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Oddly enough I updated this the other day and put it up online:
http://www.bed-bugs.co.uk/PCONotes/ScalesofBedBuginfestationsreleasecopy.pdf
This is how we scale infestations and hope that the rest of the world starts to use a similar system soon. Otherwise we are just comparing apples with snake oil, you need a basis of understanding in order to compare different cases and this is about as good as we could come up with after 10,500 cases, its stil valid today though.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited
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