Carpet Beetles or Bed Bugs... Causing huge marital arguments!

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Carpet Beetles or Bed Bugs... Causing huge marital arguments!

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new2bb

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Posted 9 months ago
Fri Aug 3 2012 11:05:22
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Hello bedbuggers!

PLEASE HELP! Recently, I woke up with bites/rash on my stomach - that was a week and a half ago and it is now on my neck, back, and a few on my arms and legs. My first thought was bed bugs, but I have never known anyone to ever have them, and my husband is showing no signs of bites at all. I was disgusted, but not distressed until I started looking them up and seeing how much damage (especially financially!) they can cause! That sent me into OVERDRIVE! I tore apart my bed and found some black dots on the top of my bed skirt where the mattress had been knocked to the side a little, so this was left exposed. But my husband was convinced was dirt (and then swept onto the floor - YUCK!). I didn't find any stains on the mattress, box springs, mattress cover, sheets, headboard (cloth), etc - and of course I didn't find any bed bugs.

Of course, I wasn't satisfied. I grabbed a flashlight, took the bed apart, examined EVERYTHING, and then found a bug which I caught in clear packaging tape. That really set me off, so I spent the next few hours crawling all over the floor with the flashlight, catching bugs: one had crawled on my headboard, some were in a basket I keep by my bed with my migraine heating pads, in the carpet, etc. I also found the little skins they leave behind as they grow. All of these I caught with packaging tape. In all, I had a little over 20 bugs and I was determined that they were bed bugs.

I then thoroughly vacuumed my room, including my mattress, floors, headboard, etc. I dusted everything and polished the furniture. I washed our sheets, covers, pillows in hot water and dried them twice on the highest setting and the steam setting. I got the vacuum sealed bags and threw in our decorative pillows, our memory foam mattress pads and pillow, and our duvet, my pocket book, books that we keep on our nightstands, then sealed those bad boys up! All clothes that were in the bedroom (including 2 loads I had just washed, but didn't get a chance to fold because it had been a busy work week - ergh!) were then thoroughly washed, dried, and not brought back into the room. I even sent my husband's suites to the dry cleaners.

Two exterminators came to the house, literally spent maybe 20-30 minutes looking around, said they saw no signs of bed bugs, but the bugs I caught were carpet beetles. I was pretty insistent, so they even took them back to their offices and had it confirmed as carpet beetles. At first, I was ecstatic - a much more affordable bug to kill! But my bites were getting worse, so I went to the dr and explained that it was confirmed that we had carpet beetles, and from my hours of research online, it was common to have an allergic reaction to them. She was really concerned once she saw how bad it is, and prescribed me a pack of steroids to help fight the allergic reaction.

I am still not entirely convinced that we are bed bug free, but my husband said that I have lost my mind. He gets really angry when he comes in and finds me roaming the bedroom with a flashlight. I have seen 2 black dots that could possibly be bed bug feces, but no stains, except on my husband pillow. He wrote this off as a stain from when he scratched a scab on his upper chest and then hugged his pillow as he slept. He showed me the raw scab, and it yeah it is possible, but I am not sold on the idea. There are no blackish looking stains anywhere on my bed, I have not found any bed bug skin casts, live bugs, etc. I am so paranoid right now, I understand that it can be annoying , but I want to make sure we catch this early on if we actually do have them. I can't sleep well, every time I lay in my bed, I feel like bugs are crawling on my, and I sleep with the flashlight beside my bed. I even sit up and shine the flashlight around me when I feel like something crawled on me. I know that I could just have the heebie-jeebies and that can make you feel like something is crawling on you, but it is so UNCOMFORTABLE!

My husband is furious that I won't give this up, but I am terrified in my thorough cleaning I got rid of evidence. We are picking up our new puppy next Saturday and want to have this problem at least diagnosed before we pick him up, because that introduces a whole new element into the picture.

I guess my question is this - what can I do to give myself peace of mind? The exterminators say no, we do not have any of the canine sniffer dogs in our area, and I haven't found a live bug, which will be the only way to convince my husband we need to take the financial steps of ridding our home of bed bugs. Is there anything I can do to catch these things? I read about the dry ice/dog bowl contraption, but wasn't sure if that would work. ANY help woud be so very much appreciated!!! :(
bugsinbrooklyn13

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Posted 9 months ago
Fri Aug 3 2012 11:47:22
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I'm sorry about your stress! I just went through a confirmed bed bug adventure, and while every day I'm getting more comfortable, I'm still attacking lint.

Climb ups are a good passive monitor. Also, try to trust your PCO or ask another to do an ID. On the board, you can post a photo and one of the experts can try to ID (depending on the quality of the photo.)

Is your husband getting bites?
SemperPruritus

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Posted 9 months ago
Fri Aug 3 2012 14:08:01
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The fear of having bedbugs can be very stressful, it is something that can really make us reconsider our sanity because it lends itself very easily to obsessive behavior. I have had a similar experience as you: unexplained itching, skin irritations on myself and my children that seem to show up out of nowhere resembling insect bites. I've searched for bedbugs and found instead carpet beetles. However, I can't let it go, the thought occurs to me that they might still be there, hiding, waiting. It affects my sleep, it's really quite frustrating and the anxiety leads to depression. Here's a couple of things that I tell myself to help myself calm down once I get worked up:

- If there is no visible evidence, then that is a very good sign. On the chance that you do have bedbugs, the infestation level is low and therefore should be much easier to treat. If you know how to spot the signs (use this site and the FAQs herein), you will find them before they get to a full-blown infestation.

- If they are present, the bugs are probably not hiding in the closet down the hall. You don't need to be scanning the baseboards in the kitchen for bed bugs. Unless someone has set off a fogger or done something to disperse them, the bugs are probably seeking refuge in your bed (or couch if you spend a lot of time there.) More specifically toward the head of the bed, though they might be in a nightstand or hanging picture. Knowing what area to look in is empowering. I remember a time I smeared a black spot on the bathroom counter and nearly lost it, turned out to be a fleck of mascara from my wife's makeup. Now I'm a bit more circumspect, but if that was on a pillow I think I would still panic a bit, though the first thing I would do is order some Bed Bug Blue which can tell you if the spots are bb feces.

- There are professionals out there who can help you get rid of a bed bug problem. It might not require thousands of dollars in heat treatment, especially if you catch them early. You can use this forum and the FAQ's to figure out the best company in your area to choose should you need to.

- Bed bugs are not generally a threat to physical health though I predict that in a few years the psychology community will have a category for bed bug related PTSD. For those of us seeking an answer to strange bite marks and itching, we often find all sorts of awful possibilities from searching the web. If you read the posts on this forum, there are many of us who are convinced we have bedbugs despite an absence of concrete evidence or who have had bedbugs in the past and afraid of their return. However, this forum has the benefit of some very rational entomologists and bed bug experts who are very good at responding to specific questions. If you find confirming signs, you can feel confident that there are people here who will help you make the best possible decisions working through the ordeal. Now that you've found this site, I recommend not googling bed bugs or bites anymore, especially not google images.

- You can take steps to prevent an infestation from progressing. Things you probably know about, get a box spring encasement, get a passive alert monitor (and possibly climb-ups for the furniture legs). It can provide some comfort in knowing that you have a plan and schedule for inspections. Get the monitors in place, but don't check them everyday. Maybe at first check them after three or four days but after that, weekly at most (based on David Cain's instructions if I remember correctly). If nothing shows up, consider monthly inspections and stick to them. By having a schedule, you can compartmentalize your anxiety a little bit, keeping you from constantly thinking you should go hunt them down while you're trying to enjoy time with your family.

Remember that you're not alone in your ordeal, and if you do find the bugs present, you are dealing with an issue faced by mankind for eons and you have the most advanced tools ever developed for this problem at your disposal. It is something you would pull through eventually, though it might be very taxing. Good luck, and keep in mind that the signs you describe at the moment would suggest that you probably don't have bed bugs.
new2bb

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Posted 9 months ago
Fri Aug 3 2012 16:19:39
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Thanks so much for your responses!! It is so nice that I am not the only one these little things drive crazy!

Bugsinbrooklyn, I am the only one with bites so far and they are pretty nasty. But I guess it is a good sign that he is bite free!

Thanks so much for the encouraging responses, I wil try not let it drive me so crazy - but I am still keeping an eye out! I think I am going to try the dog bowl/dry ice trap, as well as the climb ups and let you know if I find anything!
rs1971

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Posted 9 months ago
Fri Aug 3 2012 16:28:46
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You can't catch what you don't have. You might want to research passive monitors and install them for piece of mind.

-rs1971
hgube2

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Posted 8 months ago
Tue Sep 18 2012 23:16:26
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I too, have been waking up with extremely itchy bites every morning. My arms, shoulders, even fingers are particularly bad. Oddly, my husband doesnt have a single bite.
I have found 3 carpet beetles in my bed, but no sign of bedbugs. I spent hours researching one day and read that the little "hairs" on carpet beetle larvae can can fall off them and prick human skin, time and time again as you roll over it in bed, even through clothing. Some people are sensitive and can have a reaction. I have stripped my bed and washed everything on it, flipped the mattress, and I'm hoping for the best.
I wish I bookmarked that info about the allergic reaction to carpet beetle larvae to copy here, but alas, I did not. I will keep you posted if I am successful.
bedbug_OCD

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Posted 8 months ago
Tue Sep 18 2012 23:51:59
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SemperPruritus - 1 month ago »
The fear of having bedbugs can be very stressful, it is something that can really make us reconsider our sanity because it lends itself very easily to obsessive behavior. I have had a similar experience as you: unexplained itching, skin irritations on myself and my children that seem to show up out of nowhere resembling insect bites. I've searched for bedbugs and found instead carpet beetles. However, I can't let it go, the thought occurs to me that they might still be there, hiding, waiting. It affects my sleep, it's really quite frustrating and the anxiety leads to depression. Here's a couple of things that I tell myself to help myself calm down once I get worked up:
- If there is no visible evidence, then that is a very good sign. On the chance that you do have bedbugs, the infestation level is low and therefore should be much easier to treat. If you know how to spot the signs (use this site and the FAQs herein), you will find them before they get to a full-blown infestation.
- If they are present, the bugs are probably not hiding in the closet down the hall. You don't need to be scanning the baseboards in the kitchen for bed bugs. Unless someone has set off a fogger or done something to disperse them, the bugs are probably seeking refuge in your bed (or couch if you spend a lot of time there.) More specifically toward the head of the bed, though they might be in a nightstand or hanging picture. Knowing what area to look in is empowering. I remember a time I smeared a black spot on the bathroom counter and nearly lost it, turned out to be a fleck of mascara from my wife's makeup. Now I'm a bit more circumspect, but if that was on a pillow I think I would still panic a bit, though the first thing I would do is order some Bed Bug Blue which can tell you if the spots are bb feces.
- There are professionals out there who can help you get rid of a bed bug problem. It might not require thousands of dollars in heat treatment, especially if you catch them early. You can use this forum and the FAQ's to figure out the best company in your area to choose should you need to.
- Bed bugs are not generally a threat to physical health though I predict that in a few years the psychology community will have a category for bed bug related PTSD. For those of us seeking an answer to strange bite marks and itching, we often find all sorts of awful possibilities from searching the web. If you read the posts on this forum, there are many of us who are convinced we have bedbugs despite an absence of concrete evidence or who have had bedbugs in the past and afraid of their return. However, this forum has the benefit of some very rational entomologists and bed bug experts who are very good at responding to specific questions. If you find confirming signs, you can feel confident that there are people here who will help you make the best possible decisions working through the ordeal. Now that you've found this site, I recommend not googling bed bugs or bites anymore, especially not google images.
- You can take steps to prevent an infestation from progressing. Things you probably know about, get a box spring encasement, get a passive alert monitor (and possibly climb-ups for the furniture legs). It can provide some comfort in knowing that you have a plan and schedule for inspections. Get the monitors in place, but don't check them everyday. Maybe at first check them after three or four days but after that, weekly at most (based on David Cain's instructions if I remember correctly). If nothing shows up, consider monthly inspections and stick to them. By having a schedule, you can compartmentalize your anxiety a little bit, keeping you from constantly thinking you should go hunt them down while you're trying to enjoy time with your family.
Remember that you're not alone in your ordeal, and if you do find the bugs present, you are dealing with an issue faced by mankind for eons and you have the most advanced tools ever developed for this problem at your disposal. It is something you would pull through eventually, though it might be very taxing. Good luck, and keep in mind that the signs you describe at the moment would suggest that you probably don't have bed bugs.

I have to say, these are really comforting word ! Im on a rampage with these things, I think I have them but everyone is saying no and not much of "signs". And plenty of arguments with my husband especIally after spending a pretty penny on a bed bug dog inspection that of course came up NEGATIVE. But something we need to all remember if any of us indeed have them this is not the end of the world, it's something that can be taken care of. Although pricey, it's possible.
mass_hopingforcarpetbeetles

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Posted 7 months ago
Mon Sep 24 2012 15:41:03
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"I wish I bookmarked that info about the allergic reaction to carpet beetle larvae to copy here, but alas, I did not. I will keep you posted if I am successful."

I was just reading an article about the hairs on the carpet beetle larvae causing allergic reactions that look a lot like bites:
http://blog.epa.gov/greeningtheapple/2012/05/carpet-beetles-are-welcome-in-my-house-if-it-means-not-having-bed-bugs/

I've been in obsessive mode for a few days now. My therapist is alarmed! But I wish I'd started obsessing when the "bites" first started because now it might be way worse. What makes me hopeful that it's carpet beetles in my house is that almost all my bites are through my clothes. So either my clothes are infested and somehow bed bugs (which I haven't I found yet) have survived the dryer treatment (maybe it was too short or not hot enough), or it's something that doesn't respond to just drying, or it's carpet beetles. I have brown and white berber carpeting, which if I were a carpet beetle I would definitely burrow into.

Also, no streaking lines on the mattress encasing, hardly any possible fecal and exoskeletal debry and what I have found are 2 thin larvae, yellowish things moving on the mattress encasing. I'm the only one getting welts.

It was only one or two bites a night, only every few nights. Now I've sprinkled Diatomaceous Earth on the carpet close to my bed, in the seams of the encasements on the box springs and mattress, and along nearby baseboards. I haven't had a "bite" for a week since I did that.

My BIG MISTAKE:
I didn't use even a mask or gloves while handling DE around my bed and that was stupid enough. But then I thought I saw a bug on my hand while sitting on the couch, went into a panic, and without consulting with my husband or reading enough, went wild with the DE on the underside of the couch, the cushions, rubbed it in by hand, no protective gear. My eyes, nostrils and throat were irritated the next day, and my hands feel like I sand papered them with very fine sand, which in fact is about what I did. It was only after that that I read on this blog about the precautions needed when handling DE (yes it is food grade, pure, "organic" made for pets; no the container nor the pet store did not advise protective gear; yes it's my responsibility to find out).

Then I spent hours trying to find out what the problem DE can cause in vacuums because I have a high end SEBO which filters dust mites, so it won't spread the DE from the exhaust, but I don't want to ruin it. A call to the vac store reassured me that there is an intake filter, so the vacuum mechanism won't be ruined, but the filter will get covered. It's time to replace it anyway, so today I get a new filter, vacuum up the DE from the couch and a few other places I sprinkled it in a panic, with at least a dust mask on. And hope I haven't made it worse.

A PCO is coming in a few days, maybe a bed bug tracking dog. So I'm going to calm down and let the pros take over now.

I appreciate the perspective members on this blog provide. Keep keeping the big picture in sight.
dinnerfor3

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Posted 7 months ago
Mon Sep 24 2012 16:03:05
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I bought sticky traps from buggybeds.com. They're good for detecting the presence of bed bugs.
Your husband sounds so un-supportive. My bed bugs caused me panic attacks.
Koebner

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Posted 7 months ago
Mon Sep 24 2012 20:05:27
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DE is a dessicant, lots of vacuuming dries the atmosphere & increases static. Dry air & high static seem to make it more likely that carpet beetle larvae hairs are attracted to your body. Try increasing the humidity in your home a little. Assuming there's no more DE on the floors, going barefoot may also help.

If there's any more DE to clean up, cleaning it up wet is best - it can't rise into the air that way. Get it good & wet with a plant mister before you start & rinse your cloths/ mop head between each pass.
bittenbitter

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Posted 7 months ago
Tue Oct 2 2012 3:22:30
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Lots of DE actually deters bedbugs from crawling across the stuff. You only need a very very fine layer. People have advised putting some in a thin sock and then dabbing it in the areas you are dusting. It will work only if the bed bugs mistake it for a fine layer of dust or whatnot.

Secondly, what you found on your sheets was not fecal matter if your husband brushed it off.

Lastly, if you found two thin yellow larvae on your bed, they may be spider beetle larvae, but I can't be sure without a picture... Could also be carpet beetle larvae, although they're not generally too thin from what I know. But I do know LOTS of people have rea ctions to spider beetles that make them positively certain that the things are biting them.

My husband isn't very supportive when it comes to our infestation either, so I feel for you. It may be bc he has no idea how to reassure you when your dead-certain that its bed bugs. Dontfreak yet, ok? Just be on the look-out. You've taken all the right steps so far, so just relax. Passive monitors are a good idea to set your mind at ease.
bittenbitter

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Posted 7 months ago
Tue Oct 2 2012 3:24:19
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Sorry, I meant the climb-up interceptors...