Glueboards « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs

Glueboards

(6 posts)

Tags:

somewhatparanoid

newbite
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 9
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Feb 11 2011 1:11:18
#

Login to Send PM

Are they effective at identifying BBs?

So, I've suspected I had bed bugs before (since I used to live in Ohio, and heard many horror stories) and once I thought I had them after several bites and I called a pest control guy, and he told me a handy way to see what's biting you/roaming about while you're sleeping is to buy Glueboards (like Catchmaster, etc) and place several around/under where you sleep. Lo and behold, it was a false alarm that time, but the boards eventually did pick up several insects of various kinds.

Fast foward about a year or so now, I've moved to an entirely new location, and recently I've had bites on my arm (3 , which i developed an allergic reaction to, and had to go on medication) and neck (3) the past few days. Obviously I am expecting the worse. But before I want to go to the landlord of the complex i want to make sure its bed bugs before they get some pest control guy to come tear apart my room. So i got some glueboards again & placed them all around where I sleep. But does anyone else have any experience with how effective they are? I know if theres a regular blood meal (aka me) they'll seek it out and multiply rapidly, so theoretically at least one of them will eventually get caught for me to verify.

Thoughts? Really driving me insane. I've dreaded the day this would come.
cilecto

oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,869
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Feb 11 2011 8:52:32
#

Login to Send PM

Plain glue boards have not been the best BB detectors, but for a while, they were all that was available. Today, we have a variety of active and passive monitoring devices available. Even Catchmaster has a BB-specific glue trap that you insert between mattress and box or under couch cushions. And there's always diligent, regular manual inspection. Check out the State of Michigan guide on this site's Resources page, or Austin Frishman's video on YouTube (user "pestpro") for tips.
somewhatparanoid

newbite
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 9
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Feb 11 2011 13:22:35
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks for the advice cilecto. I purchased the Catchmaster in-between mattress trap as well as the Bed Bug Beacon (seemed to get lots of support on these threads) and the standard enclosure.
My Apt's PCO is coming on monday. In the meantime, the bites continue but nothing so far on the glueboards or through manual inspection, so i suspect its in the early stages and possibly inside the mattress.
cilecto

oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,869
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Feb 11 2011 13:52:08
#

Login to Send PM

As far as I understand, even the bed bug specific glue traps are a long shot. You place them in places that BB are likely to pass, but that does not mean they will do so or that they wil get trapped on one. The unit's instructions are to leave them in place for at least a month, then you open/inspect/replace with new ones. Finding them empty is not conclusive. Also, afaik, BB generally do not live inside undamaged "modern" mattresses. Frames, headboards and box springs are also very likely hiding places, afaik. Active Co2 monitors are best in unoccupied places, as people seem to be more attractive than traps. Two devices mentioned a lot on the forum are "climb up" coaster like things that you set bed legs in and they trap BB (without injury) coming and going. Also, the BB alert, which (according to it's inventor/promoter) if properly placed, offers BB an attractive place to nest, which you can then observe. Also, don't rule out other causes, or being bit by BB, but outside of your home.
somewhatparanoid

newbite
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 9
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Feb 11 2011 19:54:32
#

Login to Send PM

Hm. First of all I'm reasonably certain it's bed bugs now, unfortunately ruling out such other potential culprits as fleas. I talked to my landlord today, mentioning that 'something' was biting me and if they could contact the PCO for the complex, and lo and behold she said they were already coming monday, which is odd, because they usually send out a letter to everyone before the semi-annual checks. Then i went to the laundry room to launder my sheets/blankets/etc (in the small chance it was fleas, or something else) and the bulletin board for the building is filled with 4 differnet leaflets warning about bedbugs, from different PCOs and the DC govt. I had done laundry 2 week before and none of them were there. So i suspect I'm not the only one beginning to get bit in this building now.

And I'm also pretty sure I get bit at night and wake up w/new bites. So it has to be in my room.

I'm aware that the traps are not conclusive in and of themselves. I also checked out my mattress (which is new this year) and they probably arent inside it, like you said as well. I dont have a headboard or legs so I'm thinking about setting the entire mattress and box spring to the side against a wall and sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor, surrounded completely by glue traps (i bought a TON already before i began posting here). I know some places say they go 5-10 days between a meal but i've been getting bitten every night for several days now.

The thinking is they have to crawl to get to me, if i surround myself on the floor (no carpeting in my room) inside a ring of glueboards (i am aware how ridiculous this sounds) then some of them are bound to be stuck and at worse i can identify it for sure when i wake up and show the PCO some samples and hopefully i don't get bit for a night.

Sound strategy or... not so much?
horatio

newbite
Joined: Feb '11
Posts: 16
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Sat Feb 12 2011 19:44:31
#

Login to Send PM

the bugs might parachute from the ceiling though, so unfortunately it's not going to be conclusive. it is a great visual image though.