Identify this bug! Newbie living halfway around the world

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Identify this bug! Newbie living halfway around the world

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rsg

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Oct 21 2009 20:34:30
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I'm currently living in Guangzhou, China. We seem to have a new bug infestation of some variety; my partner and I are waking up with fresh bites all over our legs/feet. I went to a doctor and she concluded the bites are from bugs and we don't have scabies or some bizarre disease. Also, recently traveled to Taiwan, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The bug bites are new upon returning from Vietnam, and started appearing about 5-6 days after return. That was approximately 10 days ago now.

We have washed/steamed a good majority of fabrics in our house but the process is ongoing. Obviously, we are going to have a PCO come but I am suspect of their experience with bed bugs.

I have checked our (very new) bed entirely and found zero evidence of bugs--no eggs, feces, blood, etc, even in the small cracks. I steamed the bedframe in an effort to drive out a few bugs but no such luck. The rest of the bedroom also appears clean so I'm starting to suspect our sofa.

Regardless, the image below is the only insect we have found:

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfx2258b_352g57f4cc5

Anyone know what that is? I don't think it's a bed bug, but I could be wrong. That coin is a 5 Hong Kong Dollar piece--it is roughly the size circumference of a U.S. quarter though twice as thick.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

-RSG
LVK9

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Oct 21 2009 21:18:00
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Not a bed bug, looks like a beetle maybe a narrow waisted beetle? but not a bed bug
Blue_Ox

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Oct 21 2009 21:33:09
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Looks like a grain weevil to me. (I am not a pest expert.) Grain weevils are very common; they infest grains and other food items in the pantry. They have a long needle-nose that can drill into grains. That's where they lay the eggs. Also the needle nose means that they can easily get into and out of plastic bags, even ones that are sealed (like zip locks). They don't bite humans.

Again, I'm not an expert... but google them and see for yourself if you think it matches.
thebedbugresource

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Oct 21 2009 21:45:37
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There is no question this is a weevil (type of beetle).

Sincerely,

Sean
Blue_Ox

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Oct 21 2009 21:54:47
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I also wanted to mention that even if you found the weevil in the bedroom, it could still be infesting your grain in the pantry. Sometimes a lone one will make its way to another part of the apartment. Make sure you go through your cabinets to see if you can find more of them, maybe in a bag of rice, cereal, or dry beans.

Then you still have to figure out what is causing the bites/rash. Hope it's not bedbugs.
cilecto

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Oct 21 2009 22:59:17
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I've long wanted to point this out...suppose you're getting "bites". You find insects in your home. ID them and they're not BB (I feel better about all this seeing how many ID requests on this board get the "not a BB" respose). But, those are not necessarily the bugs that are biting. BB hide well and you might get lulled into a false sense of "all clear" by the negative ID of the bugs you've seen.

If you're experiencing "bites", be vigilant, regardless of the bugs you see and ID.
rsg

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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Oct 22 2009 0:07:01
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Thank you all for the help! This is an extremely useful website with very helpful people.

We found this guy in the bathroom--the sink, no less. I will definitely check the pantries and also show this critter to our PCO.

We still have mystery bites though. Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this. The bites have subsided since we started steaming/washing everything, but I recognize that serious diligence is required to defeat bedbugs.
ruthven78

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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Oct 22 2009 2:03:24
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at first glance I almost thought assassin bug but I would have to concure that its a grain weevil

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&um=1&sa=1&q=grain+weevil&aq=f&oq=&aqi=&start=0

they look really cool under an electron microscope