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Just when I thought they were gone, THERE BACK!
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Omega
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 15:38:20
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I just wrote about how I saw bites on my son's friends neck and how I thought for sure one his friends brought them into the house. His friend was here on Thursday, I freaked out, had them leave and last night I GOT BIT for the first time since June 19. Nearly 3 months, no signs, no bites. Im diligent with washing & bagging. Never letting my guard down. I even called the PCO to come and inspect again on Monday because I didnt trust my sons friends and his bookbag on the floor.
I work late. Its 2am. I get home and I sit in my bed with my laptop and a laptop desk on my legs. The laptop desk has a beanbag type bottom and a laminated cardboard type top. While reading bedbugger (can you believe it) I feel something on my thigh. Im look, I see nothing. A few minutes later, I feel an itch. I look I see nothing. Now Im getting the heebee geebees. Im sensing something is not right. I put the laptop down with the holder on a box on the floor. I put the ceiling light on now (just my bedside light was on, but its kinda brite 100 watt) and I pull the sheet up to start to inspect the bed. Ive been through this before. I then see a dark dot just about to go over the edge of the bed. I run over, grab the jewelers loop, and there it is!! Its lumbering away cause its engorged on MY blood. I wanted to capture it (to show the PCO), but my first instinct is to kill it now. I press on. Its still alive. I really sqwish it and it explodes like a balloon! Blood goes all the way through the top sheet, bottom sheet and onto the mattress protector. Im beside myself. I never got to sleep. I strip the bed and spray Steri Fab all over the bed, the frame, everywhere in case there is another live one. I take the mattress off, box spring, and with flashlight in hand Im on a rampage of inspecting. I cant find anything else.
On my leg was 4 bites in a semi circle right under where my laptop was on my legs. Perfect! Dark & warm. Obviously, I kept disrupting its feeding. Fortunately for me, because Im so highly allergic to the bites, I felt it immediately and that was my alert to look otherwise this SOB would be hiding and probably laying more eggs. One down, how many more to go, who knows.
When the day broke and the sun shone right through my window I took the computer desk holder to inspect it in full sunlight. Its black.I turn it over to inspect the material part and I then see a teensy transparent "thing" walking on the bottom. I get the loop to look and its a first instar nymph. Totally transparent. I kill it and I spray and bag the laptop holder and throw it out. OMG!
Now what to do with my laptop? I vacumn it. I remove the battery, inspect. Vacumn somemore. Its bagged. Im afraid to use it.
What have you all done with your computers that could possibly be harboring a BB?
MY BAD! Because out of all the fanatical things I did, I forgot to isolate my laptop and I use it while Im in bed. Like a dummy I kept it on the beanbag type desk and never inspected it. I kept it on a box away from the bed. I could kick myself. I am so PO at myself for this stupid oversite. Here we go again. Just when I thought I could sleep at night, NOT! Who knows if this bug is from the last minor infestation, or my sons friends who comer over and reinfested me. OR, could it have been when I sent that laptop out for repair in Early August to Texas that it picked up a BB laying in the shop..It was there for 2 weeks because there servers were down and they couldnt bill, etc. The answer will never be known. All I know is that I now have had a sleepless night and I am very very emotionally and mentally upset AGAIN. All day & afternoon is washing & bagging & vacumning. Im exhausted. I never hated anything or anyone. But I hate bedbugs with a passion. NYC better get a grip on educating everyone. I made a major complaint to my bldg mgmnt about the junk stored in basement and a mattress that was there for 2 weeks. I said, I guess you like all the money you are spending on treating my apt for bedbugs?I sure you will be spending alot more soon, there is a breeding fest going on in the basement. Today, I saw 2 men totally cleaning everything in the basement. I guess my statement hit home.
Thank Goodness the PCO is already alerted and will be here within a few days.
What do I do with my laptop computer. Im on my sons laptop which is only a week old. Im going to have to keep this bagged at night.
Also, question. I cannot find anyone to take my cat when they treat again. Can I leave him in the bathroom?
*SIGH* Im sick over this again.
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 16:05:26
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Omega
Sorry to hear that they are back.
There are a number of archives about decontaminating a computer. Click on one of the tags or use the search box to locate them.
One approach is to have the notebook carefully cleaned & blown out with compressed air.
Another is to have a PCO treat it with Vikane gas.
David Cain has a service in London can process a notebook PC, but I would email him first for details & prices. His website is http://www.bedbugs.co.uk I don't know of anyone in the US that has a similar service yet.
You might want to get a small plastic pet crate, so that you can take your cat with you when your PCO does the treatment.
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spideyjg
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 16:54:18
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AFAIK there is no good option for electronics other than Vikane, heat, or sealed storage. Bakedbedbugs here is a Thermapure licensee and said they do a chamber treatment and have not harmed computers.
A Imac, I looked it, up can be stored up to 185 my Dell can be stored to 140.
Most electronics have environmental storage condition listed on the box or in the specs and most I have seen, not 100% by any means, can endure at least 120.
See this thread about fumigating computers.
http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/fumigating-computers#post-29824
Also there is the luggage thingy that for electronics may provide another option however the maker would need more data on maximum temps produced and efficacy on electronics to validate it. I hope it makes the grade.
Jim
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Adele
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 16:59:24
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Jim - that product is Packtite - and I think Sean was testing it
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spideyjg
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 17:03:57
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Adele - 1 minute ago »
Jim - that product is Packtite - and I think Sean was testing itThanks Adele, the name was just slipping my mind. I know Sean is going to test it for efficacy at killing BBs but I don't know his protocol. I would surmise since it is being advertised for luggage that is what he will test it for.
If it can also kill them in electronics that would be great but max temps are a concern IMO.
Jim
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 17:24:39
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Jim
How hot does it get inside the case of a notebook typically while it is operating?Sometimes, my system gets hot to the touch. I would think at least 110 degrees.
Would it make sense to remove the hard drive before treatment?
I'm curious, at what temp does solder start to melt? Which components are the most heat sensitive?
I'm glad to hear that thermal treatment can be used successfully without destroying the system.
Omega
I would trust someone like Tony (BakeBedBugs) to treat your system with heat, but I am hesitant to suggest that people try it on their own. -
Adele
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 17:42:30
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Doug - I've asked that same question to my expert computer guy - and also KillerQueen who told me that he used to build ocmputers
Both men said the same thing - that desktop computers - when turned off - can withstand GREAT heat - like up to 190 f or so
but I would check with the manufacturer directly before undertaking something like that - otherwise wouldn't that be the same thing as sticking a notebook computer in an oven on low temps? It's the same thing and I don't see anyone advocating doing that
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spideyjg
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 17:51:37
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Most electronics solders melt around 350-450F.
In operation semiconductors, diodes, transistors and IC's, are the most sensitive. In storage batteries are first and then capacitors at 55C max in general. They can probably survive more for a short duration but using the storage maximums for the product is the safest bet. BBs will retreat for a cool spot and may find one in electronics. In a big piece of equipment under the large electrolytic capacitors may provide them refuge.
I would back up the hard drive in it's entirety using Ghost, Acronis or some other software that will back up and restore from a portable hard drive. If the internal dies you get a new one, use the emergency boot disk and restore everything.
Jim
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 19:07:43
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Jim & Adele
Thanks for your help.
How heat sensitive is the LCD screen?
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spideyjg
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 19:19:37
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Not much compared to other stuff. I googled a few and 60-80C was the storage temp. You got crispy BBs by then.
Old school tech trick on black and white LCD's with a characters still showing was to blast them with a heat gun till the went all black and it would sometimes reverse the leftover artifacts.
Google up a few laptops and see the storage temps. The Imac was 180F and many are 140 or more.
Jim
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Omega
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 19:35:53
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I will talk to my PCO. I wont hold my breathe either for what they can tell me about treating my laptop. I went to the site for bakedbedbugs listed but there is nothing on the east coast NYC.
Until I figure out how to fumigate that puppy, its in a double locked zip lock bag. I spent alot of money repairing it and I dont want to take it upon myself to heat it up. Ill leave it to a professional. I have been tempted to leave it in the car in full sun light but Im afraid that may not do the trick, or it could do damage to the computer.
Ill look up vikane gas for my area. Does anyone know of a treatment area in NYC for heat or vikane?
Thank you for your answers. I have to believe that the bug was either in the laptop or the laptop desk. OR, did an adult get onto my bed and crawled under my laptop while it was on my legs? My guess it was on the laptop holder or inside the laptop.
Im still questioning that if it was in the computer, how come it just bit me for the first time last night? And, what about that instar I saw. It had to be there to lay the egg/s. Doesnt matter at this point does it. Its all about treating and getting rid of them ASAP. Once again, it would be a small infestation and I know the PCO will find no harbourage because there has been no bites since June. Perhaps they went dormant?
Im on a desk in a different room with my sons new laptop. At night, its going into a ziplock bag.
My quality of life has been seriously effected by these horrible bugs.
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 19:35:55
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Jim
Thanks again
Sounds like heat is a good option.
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Omega
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 19:37:05
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BTW, I have an ACER laptop..
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Adele
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Posted 4 years ago
Sun Sep 14 2008 22:59:12
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omega - check with bed bugs & beyond they are in NYC
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spideyjg
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Posted 4 years ago
Mon Sep 15 2008 1:22:29
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Omega - 5 hours ago »
BTW, I have an ACER laptop..Go here,
For example the Acer Aspire 5315 has
"Temperature Operational/Non-Operational
+5ºC - +35ºC / -20ºC - +50ºC" 35C is 95F and 50C is 122F
In this case the "Non_Operational is the Storage temp and is what it can safely be taken up to without damage.
BBs die at 45C.
Jim
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spideyjg
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Posted 4 years ago
Mon Sep 15 2008 1:27:47
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DougSummersMS - 5 hours ago »
Jim
Thanks again
Sounds like heat is a good option.I believe so as well Doug however it is dicey since like the mentioned Acer laptop I picked can only be stored to 50C/122F as the max.
The heater to treat electronics would need to be tightly controlled to not exceed the safety of the device.
Jim
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Omega
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Posted 4 years ago
Mon Sep 15 2008 12:05:59
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Im going to call the Vikane Gas people and see what kind of dent in the pocketbook that will cost me. At the moment the computer is bagged and has been in full sunlight by the window. I have a great Southeast exposure with direct sun all morning into early afternoon. I keep looking through the plastic with a 30x jewelers loop to see if anything decides to crawl out. Nothing. But Im so leery now about everything and anything.
I hoping the baking in the full sun will help. I am really afraid to unbag it.
Oh I called my local govt rep in response to the prompt by BB.com on its front page.
Ill create a seperate post.Thanks for all your helpful responses, its appreciated.
Oh btw, I actually have 8 bites from that one BB. Today my leg looks like a leper. Huge welts with liquid tops that will eventually burst and leave a hole where it injected me. I have such a bad reaction to the bites and they really blow up huge. Itch is beyond words and I try not to scratch. I can see one welt with 2 holes. This bastard was on a feeding frenzy while I was totally awake and laptop on my legs. I disturbed it so much it took 8 bites. No wonder it exploded when I sqwashed it. ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
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