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Doubtful as to infestation - [a: larder beetle]
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sla3e
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jul 12 2012 11:30:26
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We recently had our apartment canine inspected for bedbugs after I got the idea into my head that we had them (this was not preceded by bites or visual indicators, just me being a paranoid alarmist). Our property management company arranged and paid for the inspection. The dog alerted in my bedroom at the foot of my bed. Upon insisting that there be visual confirmation before taking next steps a supervisor from the Pest Control company came and took apart my bed and inspected the area. He found nothing and noted that sans bites and any sort of visual indicator, we should assume we don't have bed bugs.
My property management company insisted we have a follow up canine inspection two weeks later. Upon the follow up canine inspection a different dog and handler alerted that there were bed bugs in my room near another spot on my bed and in my roommates room on her bed. Again we insisted that there be visual confirmation but the property management company declined to pay for another inspector to come over and is forcing us to go through with fumigation.
Neither my roommates nor I have exhibited any bite symptoms or seen signs of bedbugs (I take my sheets off my bed every day and inspect the mattress and box spring). I have researched bedbugs extensively and know what to look for at this point. We are still doubtful as to the presence of the bugs. Is anyone aware of a scent that may mislead dogs and cause false positives? Is it likely that two different canine inspections would result in false positives?
I realize not all infestations result in the resident seeing bugs however without any bites, no blood smears in sheets, no feces marks on beds/clothing/furniture it seems to me like we do not in fact have bed bugs.
Any insight into our situation is greatly appreciated!
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sla3e
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 17:31:54
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No one has any insight on this? We've begun the fumigation process (well the prep process). I have gotten through almost all of my clothing/linens and have yet to get a bite, see a bug, fecal stains or exoskeleton. At this point we are going through with fumigation but should I take solace in the fact that we may not even have them?
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 17:54:27
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I am not an expert on k9s, but one of them may be able to advise as to whether dogs may falsely alert due to certain odors.
That said, dogs do have false alerts. I have heard of some firms who use a second dog to confirm the first dog's assessment. So yes, there are some people out there who would listen to two dogs with the same alert, without a visual.
Most experts, however, don't seem to recommend this and instead call for visual confirmations.
I suspect your landlord is overreacting. You have no visual signs so you probably don't have bed bugs.
While you probably don't need treatment, you might say it is a good sign --in the long run-- that your landlord is responsive. It suggests that should an actual bed bug problem arise, you're in a good position. Some people have the opposite problem (obvious signs and landlord not forthcoming with treatment).
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 17:56:14
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By the way, a spray and dust treatment, assuming this is what you're getting, isn't fumigation. This words is commonly misapplied, but refers to a tenting and gassing treatment.
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rs1971
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 18:02:18
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Just based on your story, my gut feeling (I'm not a professional, just a long time lurker on this site with a layman's interest) is that you very probably don't have an infestation. Did the handlers even try to confirm the positives?
-rs1971
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sla3e
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 18:10:17
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Neither dog handler would attempt to confirm. However after the first dog alerted we did have a supervisor come and take apart my bed (which was the only one to cause an alert after the first inspection). He said no bugs. Two weeks later we had a follow up inspection (same company, different dog, different handler) and this time both my bed and my roommates bed (different room, we rarely spend time in each other's rooms and never take things from my room to hers). Again I asked for visual confirmation and again the dog handler declined, explaining he was not a PCO, just a dog handler. When I contacted my management company (who contracts the pest control company who did the inspections and will be treating the apartment this Friday) they insisted we fumigate and didn't care about visual confirmation. They also told me no one else in our building had reported bed bugs.
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sla3e
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 19:07:31
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Just found this while cleaning - looks like a bed bug to me but not sure the underside of my couch is a dirty place...
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sla3e
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 19:10:06
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Can anyone confirm that this is a bed bug? I realize its not the best quality...
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mindoverbbs
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 19:16:51
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Links are not working for me.
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sla3e
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 19:23:37
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Sorry - does this work?
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mindoverbbs
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 20:11:37
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It does work now. I am not by any means an expert so i don't tend to comment on any sort of ID. But I will go out on a limb here and say it doesn't look like a bedbug to me.
Please wait for someone more qualified to confirm though. Good luck to you. The uncertainty seems to be the worst part of all this. I hope you get sorted soon.
You might want to PM nobugsonme and ask her to add [Bug ID needed] to your post title. Many pros who specialize in IDs seem to scan for those.
-Mindover.
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sla3e
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 20:19:39
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I saw some wings on it a minute ago and jumped for joy. Thanks so much for your input!!!!
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 22:03:15
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Yes-- not a bed bug.
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old timer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 595offline
Posted 10 months ago
Tue Jul 17 2012 23:11:21
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Larder beetle
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