Does my plan make sense? Please help! « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » General Topics

Does my plan make sense? Please help!

(4 posts)

Tags:

phillybugger

newbite
Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 2
offline

Posted 1 year ago
Mon Dec 19 2011 20:26:12
#

Login to Send PM

I am still in the early phases of trying to figure out whether or not I have a BB infestation. I had bed bugs in college and it was a horrific experience so I'm on high alert.

The evidence (nothing firm so far):
* My boyfriend who visits my house complained of a few bites a two months ago. They were arranged in a line (1-2-3) on his wrist and ankle.
* About one month ago, I got a few big angry bites on areas exposed while sleeping. I freaked out and called a PCO. A dog came. The dog alerted consistently to an area on my mattress. By consistently I mean that I had the trainer take him out of the room and walk him back through and he alerted to the same spot 5 of 7 times. But no evidence of bugs (no bugs, no stains) were discovered. I threw out the mattress (it needed to go anyway) and bought a new one I promptly put in an encasement. I sprayed my bed.
* I haven't had any bites since, BUT a week ago my daughter complained of a "rash" on her leg. I looked and there were two clusters of 3-4 bites on her legs. Complicating matters is the fact I have a dog who seems itchy all the time and I keep wondering could it be fleas? But he's been to the vet twice, and no fleas.

So here's my plan:
I want to know FOR SURE what it is I have before I take action. If I bomb for fleas that will make the BBs worse (by dispersing them) right?

1) The dog got a flea bath tonight and his flea preventative put on a week early (vet ok'ed this).

2) I purchased Climb Ups, 2 Active Monitors and 2 Passive Monitors. Since I don't know whether the bugs are in the mattress/bed or somewhere nearby I figured I would put climb ups on the bedposts and then Passive Monitors on the mattresses at the head of the bed. My rationale is that if they harbor outside the bed they will attempt to get onto the bed and be caught in the Climb Ups. If they are harboring in the bed the Climb Ups will not affect them but they may start harboring in the Passive Monitor. I don't see any point to using the active monitor while I sleep in the bed since I am probably a lot more attractive than a heat pack... I'm saving that for a night I know I won't be sleeping at home.

Anyway, I read elsewhere that it was not recommended to "isolate" the bed with Climb Ups and try to use passive monitors at the same time. Why is this? Please, anyone who understands BB behavior better than me please let me know why this won't work. I am afraid of just using Climb Ups if they are already in the bed itself and then having no evidence they exist.

Thanks in advance!
P Bello

oldtimer
Joined: Nov '11
Posts: 2,497
online

Posted 1 year ago
Mon Dec 19 2011 21:27:09
#

Login to Send PM

OK, here's some answers for you to consider:

1. Be sure it's fleas or not fleas. Make a feal trap. You can go online to see how but here's how in summary:
Parts: 8 x 12 shallow baking dish, water, dish soap, desk lamp
Assemble: place baking dish on floor in room where dog usually is and/or where you think flea bites occur. Place about 3/4 inch water into dish. Put about one teaspoon liquid dish into water. Curve desk lamp over pan such that it shines down toward the water from about 8 to 10 inches above. Lamp heats water, fleas attracted to light & heat. Jump into water. Soap makes them sink into water. Leave this trap going for three or four days. Check for fleas daily. Replenish water & soap daily or as needed.

2. Bed isolation is of concern to some pros because we don't want to cause BBs to move to other food sources however, this is more likely to happens when isolation is done for extended periods in absence of comprehensive control work. My preference for isolation is to prevent additional bites to the host immediately (i.e. tonight).

For isolation to work, prevent BB bites from occurring, the bed must be 100% remediated(i.e. 100% of the BBs present must be eliminated).

Your strategy seems fairly sound thus far due to your previous experience.

I'm sorry that you are going through this again.

I wish i could provide more informationbut I need to leave for my game.

Let me know if any other questions and I'll answer when I return late tonight.

Best of luck ! paul b.
phillybugger

newbite
Joined: Dec '11
Posts: 2
offline

Posted 1 year ago
Mon Dec 19 2011 23:18:11
#

Login to Send PM

Well, after all that when getting out of the shower tonight and wrapping a towel around my head I felt something on my face. I looked into the mirror and saw a small bug. I had a ziploc handy and was able to save it right away. So I guess I'll call the PCO in the morning and see if they can take a look at it. Strange that it was on a towel, but then I guess sometimes I toss towels onto the bed so maybe that's how it got there. Ugh.
P Bello

oldtimer
Joined: Nov '11
Posts: 2,497
online

Posted 1 year ago
Tue Dec 20 2011 2:07:07
#

Login to Send PM

What did this ting on your face look like? What color? How long & wide? Can you post a photo of it?

Do NOT use foggers for BBs they are inefeective.

paul b.