Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Do I have bed bugs?
(5 posts)-
JNYC82
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 3
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Oct 16 2009 10:25:29
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Office building recently sent a notice that the building might be infected, and i've grown concerned about them being in my apt. i've seen what could be tiny skin casts off on top of my living room rug. i also remember a day last summer where i noticed a blood spot on my sheet, but that was when i slept with the windows open and mosqioutos would get in. i have no bites and have seen no fecal matter on my mattress or furniture. should i be concerned enough to go through the whole bed bug cleaning process (which costs a lot of money from what i've been reading)?
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JNYC82
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 3
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Oct 16 2009 10:27:49
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in addition to not having bites or any other evidence, i've also been checking my bed just before dawn and have seen no bed bugs.
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BugsInTO
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Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 197
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Oct 16 2009 16:31:00
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Hi - I don't think that it is likely that the tiny cast off skins on your carpet are from bedbugs. Try gathering some up and looking at them with close magnification. Post a photo if you can.
From what I have read, if your infestation was bad enough that they were in your living room carpet and casting off their skins there, I think you would find more evidence, though, of course, anything is possible.
Did your office building give you any guidelines on how to protect yourself from bringing the infestation home? If you don't have bedbugs now - Yeah! but you will want to know how to take precautions to keep it that way. From other postings here, we are alway wondering if employees are given guidance in this area.
Consider buying encasements & passive monitors and study up on inspecting, and keep checking your sleeping area every couple of weeks.
Good luck.
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JNYC82
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 3
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Oct 16 2009 17:47:02
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They have not given us any suggestions at work. I've just been keeping my bag ontop of my desk as opposed to the floor. They have yet to confirm if there are actually bed bugs in the office or not. What kind of encasements would you suggest? I saw the plastic bed covers, but it doesn't seem like they'd be that comfortable.
Here's a picture of what I've been finding. I've seen a lost of posts about carpet beetles...could that be what these are from?
I'll definitely keep monitoring for the bed bugs, I've become super paranoid about it now.
http://community.webshots.com/album/575133277HEhQSw?vhost=community
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BugsInTO
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Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 197
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Oct 16 2009 18:37:17
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Hi - I'm not an expert - I hope other people will give you feedback too. The picture is blurry and doesn't give a sense of the scale, but it doesn't look like a bedbug casing to me. Bedbugs have horizontal segments along their abdomen. I think it's so they can expand and kind of accordion out their bodies when they feed. The photo you sent shows bug pieces that are smooth (I think.) Try comparing to some of the bedbug pictures on this site and see if that helps.
Thanks for the info that your office building has given you no instructions. Idiots. If you or your co-workers aren't educated, there is nothing to stop you from accidentally taking them home AND from bringing them right back again.
There isn't an FAQ on work/home protocols, but the travel protocols will work just the same.
Get some big ziploc bags. Zip all your stuff into it at work before you put it on your desk (XL, XXL ziplocs.)
Depending on how you have to dress for work, you can make some decisions on how you want to isolate other parts of your wardrobe. i.e. a set of shoes only worn at work - arrive, remove shoes and place in ziploc, then put on office shoes. Arrive home, remove all clothes immediately inside your door and ziploc for cleaning later etc.
Also, I recommend that you not bring any work home with you until you have more information (don't bring home binders or folders, work computer etc.)
And share what you learn with your co-workers.
As for encasements, there are some links here. There are specially made encasements that are coated fabric. They are more money than the vinyl ones, but much more resistant to tearing and their zippers have been tested. We had bedbugs (not just suspected) so I cleaned off the mattress (vacuum, steam (careful to let it dry fully) and then we encased it. The encasement has been on for a year now and it is still intact.
If you have an expensive mattress, it may be worth the investment of encasing just to protect it for the future. Encasement is less expensive than new mattress.
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