Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe
Do bed bugs feed in groups or do i have just one bug?
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paranoia agent
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 3offline
Posted 2 years ago
Thu Apr 21 2011 22:24:44
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Do bed bugs eat as a group I get bit in different places but not often. example; I wake ip monday with 3 cluster on arm and 2side of stomach. Than next monday 1 on leg and 2 on neck. I never accumulated more bites during the week. I tried to see if they "got the family together and went on a picnic", or is this just one really hungry (hopefully male) bug?I have not seen anymore signs of bedbugs. I am kind of hoping I got a hitchhiker from my job. (I work at a thrift store).
If there was one bb would it bite so far apart, stomach to arm. or do they dine together ?
over a month should I see more? I keep my window open so it is kind of chilly (45-55F) could the eggs(if female) survive and if yes how long can they survive as eggs?
Here is my situation. I am paranoid person. Not the "somebody is tapping my phone" paranoid, but the "does this mole look bigger than it did yesterday" paranoid. Almost 2 months ago I was put on adhd medicine. I was doing okay, but the price of the med was too much, switced to another generic version. I started getting "hives". told the doctor. switched back to other med and same thing. I then thought it was my anxiety mixed w/ the stimation of the med causing the hives. I was told to stop until next visit with doc. almost 2 week goes buy and no "hives" Than the day before appointment I get the "hives again. my doc said in probably wasn't the meds and suggested that it could be bedbugs. I dismissed it at first. I started looking at pictures of bed bug bites and thought it was plausable. 3 days ago I was getting dressed(7am) and moved a trash bag of dirty clothes that I sat on top of my boots the night before and I seen what I concluded was a bed bug. I have looked at every picture of one before and after seeing it. luckily it was slow so i killed it, but I didn't get a chance to preserve it for ID sake. Ever since than everything I see looks like a bed bug. I slept in the front room because I was scared to set foot in my room. I can't sleep or concentrate on my finals exams. I did manage to come in my room, armed with a spray bottle of 91 proof iso alcohol(wish it was drinkable) and trash bags to bag everything. I don't know what to do. If they are bb bites and not hives than I can't cut that out of my diet. I get a really bad reaction from them. I got a bite in the back of my leg and I thought I was a body builder it was hard as a rock an they leave marks after they "heal". I also don't want to pass them on/have somebody see them on me.
sorry for the long post
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,682offline
Posted 2 years ago
Fri Apr 22 2011 19:43:21
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We have heard that two or three bites in a row may occur from one single bug if bed bugs are disturbed during feeding and stop and start again (and I suspect it would not take much to disturb them).
No one can say if two bites on your neck came from one bed bug or two. As for a bite on your leg the same day, I would guess that if these are bed bug bites, based on what you've described you have at least two bed bugs. However, I'm not an expert on this.
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paranoia agent
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 3offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Apr 23 2011 3:00:19
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Thanks for the fast reply.
I can't really say that's good news, but I am still going to be hopefull. I would like to think I had a delay reaction, but if that's the case then a it still could be two + feeding on different nights.:( I should say that I have not gotten bitten (as far as I can tell) yesterday. Tuesday I found the adult starving bug, slept on bed,Wed. starting thinking and freeking out more slept on couch(in "clean clothes"), Thurs. slept in room again, doused in 91% alc., tonight or this morning rather, I will attemp to sleep in my room again.
I really don't want to sleep in here, but I feel it's my responsibility to feed my "guests" or they will find a better "host". I was thinking of bundling up so I won't get bitten, but I can't leave my face as the main course. I got bit in the face and now (2weeks later) the skin is dry a rough to the touch, and is still somewhat swollen . I have to put vasoline on the area or it will look like a dry patch.
Another 2am + night were I am stalking them waiting to see one. About two weeks since last bites. I hope that's a good sign, or could be the chilling weather keeping them quiet for now.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,682offline
Posted 2 years ago
Sat Apr 23 2011 19:51:28
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My response above was based on an assumption that you had bed bugs -- and if you did, then being bitten at certain intervals suggested at least two bed bugs were to blame.
That's a big "if," though. Most people these days who think they have bed bugs, don't.
Therefore, I suggest taking a step back. If you do not have a definitive positive identification of bed bugs, then you can't assume they're the cause of these skin reactions. Detecting a sample and having it identified by someone knowledgeable is important.
You said you keep finding things which all look like bed bugs (since the first one). Can you take a photo of one and post it online, posting a link here for us to ID it? Lots of bugs are mistaken for bed bugs, and perhaps you're seeing some of them.
The FAQ on detection gives some options for nabbing a sample -- the passive monitors are the least expensive.
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paranoia agent
newbite
Joined: Apr '11
Posts: 3offline
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Apr 26 2011 2:34:01
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I don't have the little critter anymore. as I was cleaning I got rid of it. I know that was stupid, but I wasn't thinking at the time. I haven't seen anything lately, but didn't sleep in my room yesterday or the day before that either. I will attempt to sleep before 3am in my bed to see if I get any bites. I am also going to keep the lights on for a little while to see if I see anything crawling or flying(mosquito's). I keep tape handy , as to not destroy the evidence. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to war, armed with a tape gun stuffed in my belt, sterifab in my holster, a couple of DE grenades and a pack of cigarettes. It's true that I can't be 100% sure of what kind of but it was, I swear it looked just like the bb photos I seen online(not the carpet beetles lol).
I will lay low and see if anything develops anytime soon. If I see anything I will take a picture and post it.
Thanks again for you replies and for this forum in general. a lot of people drop off furniture at my job knowing they have bed bugs (you can see them crawling on it) I use a lot of the information from this forum to inform my coworkers about bed bugs and their habits. I also started changing my clothes and bagging them as soon as I get home from work instead of possibly contaminating anything just in case.
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