Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
how many days not bitten = No bed bugs?
(3 posts)-
I'm not certain that I have bed bugs (no sign other than a few mystery bites). I've pulled my bed away from the shelves I have as a "headboard" and have vacuumed around the bed and have laundered the sheets on Super Hot (153 F, 65 C). I do not think the bed counts as either protected or isolated as I have no mattress cover, and the sheets sometimes end up on the floor and the futon frame support has long wooden pieces that run the length along the floor instead of "feet". I haven't been bitten in a couple days and I want to know how many days should I go without bites before I can assume I was bitten by something other than bed bugs?
-
Bugbitten Meg
junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 59
Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 19 2009 9:40:19
#
Login to Send PM
There's no exact date count, unfortunately. As I understand it, any given bed bug will get hungry about every 5 to 7 days (roughly)... so if you have only a few bugs in the house, you may only get bitten a few times a week. On the other hand, they won't die from hunger for quite some time... several months for the little ones, or a year or a bit more for a full adult. Plus, any eggs may take 2 weeks to hatch and get into the game.
I wouldn't expect them to not be able to find you on your current bed setup, tho', so you don't actually have a watch time of a whole year. Keep a close watch for at least 2-3 weeks, but you are not necessarily in the clear for some time after that... 60 days seems to be the time people around here often declare 'bug-free success'-- on the theory, perhaps, that by then your problem will clearly be ramping up if you actually do have any bed bugs at 'day 0'. -
So I went 7 days without being bitten, then noticed a bite just an hour ago. I'm starting to think I'm being bitten in my home office, during the day, not at night in the bedroom. There is a guest futon bed/couch in the room. And obviously books, chairs, computers, desks, etc. And nightmare of nightmares if it's BBs, an exposed brick wall. What's the best place to put out tape in an environment like this?
Reply
You must log in to post.
