lack of evidence « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tales of Bed Bug Woe

lack of evidence

(35 posts)

Tags:

evidence

Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Dec 4 2007 15:34:34
#

Login to Send PM

I am the unfortunate person who did not discover “evidence” until nearly five months after the onset of quintessential bed bug bites. And, I hate to too freak anyone out further, but that evidence turned out not to be a bedbug after all! I just found this out yesterday after our PCO came for the second visit. Turns out it is some type of bug that likes pet food more than human blood. Still, I am grateful for the sacrifice this harmless little bug made so I could get treated. Apparently you need that here (i.e., evidence) which makes me laugh because I only had to say I had evidence on the phone and the PCO came out ready to treat. Had I known that 5 months ago… He didn’t even take a look until I asked him if he wanted to see the “bedbug.” He took a split second, bleary-eyed look and said, “yeah, that’s a bedbug.” He then proceeded to treat the house. This was on his first visit. A week later, I found another one of these little bugs, but on our freezing cold porch by the cat food?! Hm, doesn’t seem very bedbug like to me (though I know they can bite pets, why bother when they have us? And in a nice warm bed to boot?). I showed this bug to the PCO on his second, more clear-eyed visit and he proclaimed it, “definitely not a bedbug.” However, he doesn’t doubt we have them, especially given how old our house is and all the natural hiding spots they could have. And there’s that small matter of the relentless bites.

Okay, so I am not sure what my point is… I didn’t write this to freak anyone out, trust me. But, it is perplexing, to say the least, that we still have never, ever seen a live or dead bbug and very little other evidence over a six-month time frame, despite exhaustive searches. Of course, I am sure there are things we could have done better or differently in our searches, and I may start too given some of the very clever suggestions on this site, but even our PCO couldn't find anything (though I am not sure how hard he tried). Nor does he think it is that unusual to not have evidence this far down the line. Hmmm. My guess is they are behind the baseboards and wall (and admittedly, our search did not include removing the 100-year old baseboards or tearing down the wall, though I wanted too!).
goawaybugs

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 126

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Dec 4 2007 15:51:21
#

Login to Send PM

Hi Kit,

Do you feel like your bites have started to taper off since the treatments? I think you mentioned in a previous post that your allergic reaction decreased after a while--do you remember how long that took?

Glad you were able to finally get treatment and hope you're resting easier!
Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Dec 4 2007 16:40:39
#

Login to Send PM

Hi Goawaybugs,

Thanks for your supportive words. I will try to answer your questions as best as I can.

We just had our second treatment yesterday so not sure I can speak to the longer term yet. I can say that after our first treatment my pinprick sensations during the day went way down... Unfortunately, such sweet relief really didn't last long because they picked back up again nearing second treatment. All along, I was still getting bitten too, but that relief in the day was very helpful and I did count it as a small success. As mentioned we just had our second treatment yesterday. Unfortunately, I woke up with about 4 new bites today (from what I can see), but really, I am not that surprised given how much I've read that it usually takes a minimum of three treatments. The fact that we are getting treated at all gives me great peace of mind even if I am not sure it is the best treatment, etc. I am sure the next several days will be critical, though I try not to put too much emphasis on it in order to maintain my sanity.

Now, prior to any treatment, my allergic reaction did taper off after the first few weeks of bites. Then I went through a blissful stage of only getting bit every 10 or 11 days, I think, and it was not as itchy or swollen. However, the bites started to pick up about a month or so ago to where I get bitten almost nightly. I don't itch as much and most are very tiny, like a pin prick, and that is how they feel--like someone literally jabbed a pin in me, and then they might itch a little bit, but not much. Ha, I don't know which is worse, really because the original bites didn't hurt, they just itched and looked worse, but these hurt more, if that makes sense.

Hope that helps. I am in the middle of preparing to defend my thesis so am not altogether focused... Let me know if you need more info though as I am happy to help (and it's a great way to procrastinate ;)! Take care.
lieutenantdan

oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 1,162

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Dec 4 2007 16:56:37
#

Login to Send PM

Kit,
Can you find out what the bug that eats pet food is? What is the name?
I suffer from an occassional pin prick skin reaction and I do have pet food. Do you think that the you could as well have skin reaction from the pesticides and/or stress? Did the PCO use Suspend SC?
Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Dec 4 2007 17:09:32
#

Login to Send PM

Hi Lt.Dan,

I'll give our PCO a shout and see. I think he said it liked human food too and may have come in on some groceries or something?

Also, our PCO used Dragnet spray and a powder (didn't get the name). He only used the powder on the first visit though and it remains on our floors and in our electrical sockets. I was orginally told they sprayed Tempo, but when he showed up, he said it was up to the individual PCO and he was a big fan of Dragnet for bedbugs. I called quite a few places here in Calgary, Canada and no one named Suspend so maybe it is a U.S. thing? I will try to let people know how Dragnet is faring for us once a few more days have elapsed.

I would love to think my reactions are due to the pesticide but I had these same reactions prior to spraying... I don't have particularly sensitive skin either. But, who's to say for sure that it isn't related. On the stress questions, I don't know either. I guess it could be, but I am not sold on that either. Don't get me wrong,I am certainly susceptible to stress, but usually it's not my skin that reflects this.

Hope that helps. I will try the PCO now about the pet food bug but might not hear back until tomorrow.

Take care.
itchyincharmcity

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 262

Posted 2 years ago
Tue Dec 4 2007 18:04:09
#

Login to Send PM

OK, a little research says Dragnet is permethrin, Suspend is deltamethrin. Both are pyrethroids, so same family.
lieutenantdan

oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 1,162

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 10:24:04
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks Kit and best of luck with your battle.
Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 12:37:52
#

Login to Send PM

Hi Lt.Dan,

After a bit of phone tag, my PCO left a message this a.m. saying he thought it was a "small kind of pantry beetle." Um, I don't think so. I looked up pantry beetles and it doesn't really look like one to me... In all due respect to the experience of our PCO, I wouldn't put my weight behind this one (remember, he ID-ed it as a bedbug that first time!). Anyway, I'll hang on to it for the next visit and maybe he'll come up with a new ID! Sorry that wasn't more helpful. Thanks for the words of encouragement re our battle. Take care.
victory

newbite
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 23

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 13:17:00
#

Login to Send PM

Kit,

I too have found pantry OR carpet beetles (the larvae look similar). Actually we've found only the larvae and the eco skeletons of them, not the actual full grown beetle. We've found about 8 of them and 4 of them were living.
itchyincharmcity

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 262

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 13:58:46
#

Login to Send PM

Kit, take it to your local extension office, mail it to Harvard, do whatever you can to get an honest-to-God entomologist to look at your sample. You will either have the proof you need to get your PCO in gear, or proof that he is possibly not cluesless after all.
lieutenantdan

oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 1,162

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 14:57:56
#

Login to Send PM

Kit,
Get as many samples as you can to a respected entomology department and get the results in an email. Most PCOs are not trained to give a definite ID, an entomologist with a microscope can.
Read my post
Info of my experience to pass on.
I found bugs I thought that could be bb nymphs and they were not. I do not think pantry beetles or carpet beetle bite humans.
I think that I once read that carpet beetles can cause a rash on some people if they crawl on you and some may develop a rash due to dead beetles or molts.
Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 15:17:09
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks for the helpful suggestions everyone. Just to clarify, we are being treated, despite lack of any real evidence (although I now have a bloodspot to add to my non-existant collection). The main problem was having to wait so long to get treated due to lack of evidence, which, ironically, turned out to not be evidence anyway... But, like I said, I am glad we are being treated as I am 100% certain we have bbugs. I know, I know, bites are not enough to go on, but given how long this has gone on and all my research and the very old house wood house with original fir floors, well, you get the pic.

However, it sure as heck would be nice to have evidence if this treatment round fails and we need to call in another PCO. My back-up company seems quite adamant about needing evidence too. In the meantime, the mystery bug isn't bothering me that much but just to be safe, I will heed your advice and get an expert ID. I'll report back when I have one.

Speaking of a back-up company, what is the opinion of switching PCOs who then might use different chemicals and methods? Feel free to redirect me to another thread if this has already been discussed. Many thanks everyone!
itchyincharmcity

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 262

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 16:46:11
#

Login to Send PM

Well, you could just catch some other bugs and show them to your PCO, if they are close enough he might misidentify them. It seems that's what mine did, I think I may have actually showed him a 12-piece collection of spider hatchlings.

NO, I am not seriously recommending that you con your PCO.

As for switching ... you have been treated twice, right? Well if three times won't do it, or if you have bites but can't finagle a thrid treatment, then I say call a competitor. A number of people have done so. Perhaps your population is resistant to the treatment PCO #1 is using. A different protocol might be in order. Ithink this has been discussed a lot.
goawaybugs

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 126

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 17:10:55
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks Kit, for sharing your experiences! The 10 - 11 day gap between bites worries me, since I thought they feed every 5 days or so, and that a longer gap might suggest any skin reaction wasn't bugs! I guess there is no definitive answer when it comes to this.

I think you need to give enough time for one regime to work, although you should talk to your PCO if you think it's not helping. If you've paid for a 90-day guarantee or something, might be worth seeing if they would switch the chemicals around or take other steps. If you don't think the PCO is doing a good job, though, or it's been a number of treatments and they're just not getting the job done, I think another PCO makes sense. Others probably have more experience with this, though.
Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 17:12:17
#

Login to Send PM

I am laughing about duping the PCO. Not that he needs it as he seems ready to retreat. It's just that I am not sure I want to go with the same company. Very nice guy and earnest, but not quite sure the expertise is there for a number of reasons, not the least being he told us to go ahead and self-treat with some DYI chemicals I bought at the start of this adventure (but never used thanks to finding this site). Anyway, his enthusiasm over said chemicals and their "'weekly'" use by us set the red flags a raising with me. I emailed the ever helpful Sean at another bedbug site and he put the big nixnay on that idea (the spraying weekly part). Now I just have to talk down Rambo (i.e., the husband) because he was over the moon about finally getting to use the chemicals I spent way too much money on.

In the meantime, I might have to go with Orkin just because of their gaurantee. They are the ones being adamant about evidence. But, then, so was the company we are currently using, at least, over the phone. The minute I said, "got one!" they sent out the PCO and he barely looked at my mystery bug before pulling out the chemicals.

But, perhaps I am putting the cart before the horse and this second treatment will work (why do I hear snickering in the background? ;). Seriously, I do need to give it a few more days, I would think, before making any more decisions. Thanks again for the comments!
currentinsomniac

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 121

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 17:17:58
#

Login to Send PM

I'm having the same problems it seems. I have found some sort of black pantry beetle...in our couch, box springs....but no bed bugs. I have read that mites associated with some pantry beetles will bite people, but I don't think that's our problem. I'm pretty sure they are BBs because we feel them crawling on us occasionally in the wee hours of the morning...with new bites to prove it....spots on our sheets, clothes, and mattresses...and though they got away before catching them, saw two recently fed ones (some in-between stage). But the problem I'm having is that my PCO has come three times and we are still getting bit the same. We had a few days in a row where we didn't notice any bites, but now they are the same as before. This morning my hubby and I had 9 bites between the two of us. My PCO probably thinks we are just delusional (and really....who knows) and is concerned he's not finding physical bugs and evidence, but it's getting really frustrating. Our PCO has used Tempo SC Ultra on the baseboards, couches, bed frames, and ALL over the mattresses and box springs. It's supposed to have a residual as I understand, but you'd think it would kill the bugs coming after us if the whole mattresses was treated. We even treated our carpets with DE. (And two days after is the time we noticed no new bites). But they are in full force and I can't decide what steps to take next. You think I should call a new PCO (that uses Gentrol and Suspend all over the carpets?) or should I see if the first PCO could come again? And maybe use a different product?
Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 17:33:59
#

Login to Send PM

Hi Currentinsomniac,

Hmmm, this is not what I wanted to hear because I need to cling to my oh so very fragile hope that the 3rd time's a charm. Honestly, I am so sorry the bites have not let up. You mention that you did have spots on "sheets, clothes and mattress..." Wouldn't the PCO still consider that evidence? I wish I could offer more suggestions... I guess I would probably be inclined to try someone else. I also hear you on the mattress question: if they sprayed the whole mattress, then shouldn't the bbugs succumb because of coming in contact with your mattress? We had our whole mattress sprayed and we are still getting bit too, but again, I need to give it a bit more time. Good luck and I am sure other more knowledgeable buggers will chime in.
itchyincharmcity

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 262

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 17:38:40
#

Login to Send PM

Aw, current, I wish that after three times you had seen some improvement. Hang in there!

Is your PCO using only Tempo? I think it is common practice these days for PCOs to use more than one tool. Tempo is a residual killer, some PCOs like to use residuals along with IGR or dusts or whatever. Can your guy explain to you why he is using the protocol he's chosen, and is he willing to mix it up a bit?

My guy used Gentrol and Suspend, not all over the carpets I don't think. I can't say whether it is a better or worse treatment, I have an atypical situation. I just mention it so you know it is not an unheard-of treatment.
currentinsomniac

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 121

Posted 2 years ago
Wed Dec 5 2007 18:02:13
#

Login to Send PM

Yeah, I think he is only using Tempo. But we've been using a DE/pyrethrin dust to supplement his work (which he said was fine). Our current PCO will stay with us a year and do follow up sprays (more if needed), but he says he's never had bugs last after the third spraying. The other PCO we considered would only do two treatments (and said that usually the first treatment took care of the problem). I suppose I could ask our current PCO to use something different? Pay a little more to him if he doesn't have the chemicals needed on hand? (It would probably be cheaper than hiring a new PCO altogether).

Itchy, may I ask what has been atypical with your situation? What have you noticed with the Gentrol/Suspend treatment?
itchyincharmcity

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 262

Posted 2 years ago
Thu Dec 6 2007 13:20:25
#

Login to Send PM

Hi currentinsomniac. My situation is atypical because very litle evidence pointed to BBs in my home. But I wa sbitten twice, the building had BBs in the past and I did find live bugs that the PCO identified as juvenile bedbugs. So we went with the treatment and all is well after only one visit. However, I was suspiciosly bite-free for a long time and the samples I sent to Harvard were not bedbugs.

A rational person would say what I had was a false alarm. But nobody is rational when it comes to BBs. I just can't get past the bites, both times it was three in row, the classic B-L-D configuration. So I watch and wait.

I will say that I have seen no live bugs of any type in my home, so the Suspend/Gentrol treatment likely killed whatever else was around. And I think this PCO is not bad, he successfully eradicated a pretty bad infestation on the upper floors last year with the same stuff. My info comes from the building manager, who said they had a real problem in a couple of units and went through 2 other clueless PCOs before this guy came in and treated all the adjacent units. So it seems to be one example of succcess using Suspend/Gentrol.
bummedindenver

junior member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 83

Posted 2 years ago
Thu Dec 6 2007 15:52:46
#

Login to Send PM

Wow. I can´t believe I´ve missed this thread!

I will be following your progress Kit. It sounds like we have VERY similar circumstances....I live in a very (nearly 100 years old) old house, with TONS of cracks and crevices. Not once have we seen a bug. But bite pattern and travel history (not to mention husband got bit by bb while traveling this summer) all pointed to bbs.

The PCO confirmed presence of bbs based on cast skeletons and trails he found on one futon. That was the only pre-treatment evidence, but it sounds like more than what you have.

I hate to tell you that after 3 treatments, no relief. But I think our PCO did a bad job.

After first treatment, there WAS a drop in bites, but they did not disappear. We found one blood spot on mattress encasement after treatment 1 (more evidence). Then the PCO left his job and we got a new guy for treatment 2. He used less than 1/2 the amount of chemical (Suspend SC, and just that one chemical) that the first guy did. Treatment 2 did not do much, and we even found blood spots on the sheet between treatment 2 and 3, but we were hopeful that treatment 3 would do the job. It did not.

After I called the owner of company to tell her the third treatment failed, suddenly, our bites were not due to bbs because of "lack of evidence". The PCO saw no evidence his last two visits.

Anyhow, interestingly, I just found out that a friend who was undergoing treatment at the same time as us, same PCO, who lives in a teeny 1-bdrm apartment, had inspections and treatment that took the same amount of time as the inspection and treatment our entire 2-level, 2,000 square foot house got. And, for her 2nd treatment, her itsy bitsy apartment was sprayed with 10 oz Suspend SC, EXACTLY the same amount used on our entire house. So, according to this PCO, one can inspect and treat a teeny 1-bdrm apartment and use the same amount of chemical (and time) as needed for a house with 3 bedrooms, family room, dining room, living room, 2 bathrooms....large storage rooms.....

Hmmmm. Needless to say, we are not happy campers. Can't say I want these people back. Will be looking for a new PCO pronto.

And, I will be filing a complaint.

Good luck! And please keep posting!
Kit

junior member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 56

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 13:16:44
#

Login to Send PM

Hi Bummed,

I apologize in advance that this will have to be brief as I am on a deadline today, but at least wanted to say hi and thanks for your post. It's always nice to find someone in the what does indeed sound like a very similar boat, though I am very sorry you are in that boat! Our PCO spent only an hour as well, though our house is just over 1,000 sq.ft. Still, seems not nearly long enough, but he assured me it was. Well, I am still getting bites although the intensity of the bite has lessened somewhat. I'd love to think they are old bites or just a skin reaction, but there is the matter of the little pinprick mark, plus, I just have to err on the side of caution and consider them bites. Anyway, I will keep you posted and please do the same. Take care.

Oh, good for your for filing a complaint!
bummedindenver

junior member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 83

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 15:46:15
#

Login to Send PM

In response to the letter I sent to my PCO outlining all the ways I was dissatisfied with service, I received a message back saying, "good luck resolving your skin disorder". She also reiterated that we must not have BBs because we have not found any stuck to our double sided sticky tape.

I then sent her a link to the blog where NotSoSnug describes hunting and catching MANY bed bugs yet never finding one stuck to the double sided sticky tape.

Good luck to you too. Take care....
pleasehelp

member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 301

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 15:55:45
#

Login to Send PM

Hi Bummed, do you mind posting name of this PCO? We can help each other by exposing the bad/ignorant/inexperienced ones... thanks!
bummedindenver

junior member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 83

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 16:41:21
#

Login to Send PM

The company is Envirotech in the Denver, Colorado area.

The truly awful thing is that this was one of the BEST companies I could find. They checked out really well with Better Business Bureau, National Pest Management Association, Tom Martino (consumer advocate)....Right away they said they did 3 treatments spaced 2 weeks apart. They had a 30 day warranty following treatment. They said all the right things.

I should add....I received a second message from the owner of the company saying that she had not been able to read my entire letter (due to computer issues....), but now that she has been able to read it fully, she would like to send out her "Senior Technician" to inspect my house.

I haven't decided what to do yet. My faith in the company went down the drain when the PCO the owner called "their best" for BBs told me that bites on my face were inconsistent with BBs and the owner later argued with me that I didn't have BBs citing her PCO's opinion that my bites were inconsistent with bed bugs. They apparently do not consider blood on sheets or mattress encasements "evidence" either. They were willing to treat in the absence of an actual bug, but now say it would be "irresponsible" to treat again if I can't produce a bug. And the fact that they use the same amount of time and insecticide on my house and my friend's teeny apartment--all these things add up to me not wanting to do business with them again.

I don't trust them. But I don't know what to do or who to turn to for help. Like I said, they were the best company I could find.

Just to clarify: I sent the owner of Envirotech the link to the blog about NotSoSnug AND to the forum thread about the efficacy of double sided sticky tape...
Nobugsonme

your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 6,135

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 18:04:30
#

Login to Send PM

"now that she has been able to read it fully, she would like to send out her "Senior Technician" to inspect my house."

Bummed, FWIW, lots of people have had success with such circumstances. It is likely that you have a particularly tricky case and if the company wants to send you their best, I'd go for it.
bummedindenver

junior member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 83

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 18:55:52
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks Nobugsonme.

The thing is, earlier the owner told me that OUR PCO was "the best" for BBs. So, I'm curious who the "senior technician" is....

thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.
Nobugsonme

your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 6,135

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 19:53:10
#

Login to Send PM

I see. Well, I have learned from others' experiences that even good companies can have techs that aren't doing the best job. Another factor is sometimes the receptionist does not really know what's going on. Going to a manager is the best thing. It sounds like you've done that. I am not saying they can solve your problem, but the senior tech does sound like an improvement.

It sounds like you might need to employ some of NotSoSnug's late night, red-LED-light, bed bug hunting methods. Which is a darn shame, but that may be the only way. Would they accept proof that comes from you, or do they have to see one for themselves?
NotSoSnug

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 152

Posted 2 years ago
Fri Dec 7 2007 22:45:40
#

Login to Send PM

Sticky, clear packing tape and the red LED light. The Bed Bug hunter's best friends.

Lie prone on your isolated bait bed near to your harborages. When you wake up in the middle of the night to pee, scan the harborage with your red LED. Be patient. A sudden movement may scare them. If you spot one, you have your ready-made 2"x2" sticky tape patch prepared, and you move slowly, stalking the Bed Bug. Slowly inching your way nearer suddenly you leap and... miss and the tape goes awry, the bedbug scurries away for another time. Such is bedbug hunting...

But don't dismay, he will sneak out very soon for he is on the hunt for you and impatient for the life blood that flows within you. Lie prone and still...
bummedindenver

junior member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 83

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 9 2007 12:41:37
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks for the tips NotSoSnug :)

The only problem I see is that our bed is isolated and RAISED, so it is not nearly as easy to sneak up on a bug, since we'd have to jump off the bed. But we'll see what we can do.

I can only imagine the sense of power your hunting must give you, in a situation that can make us feel so generally powerless much of the time.
pleasehelp

member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 301

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 9 2007 17:31:57
#

Login to Send PM

NotSoSnug, Since your bed is isolated, I'm wondering why your bugs are still coming out at night... Are you also able to also do successful hunting during the day?
NotSoSnug

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 152

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Dec 10 2007 0:50:16
#

Login to Send PM

The bugs were harboring in a tongue-in-groove murphy bed I slept in. The first week before treatment and for a week after they would sneak out at night looking for me. I was sleeping isolated on the floor a few feet from the murphy bed, now retracted into its closet. But the face of the retracted bed/closet IS the bed frame and the main harborage with all its grooves and hidey-places. They would venture on the tile floor but rarely at least when I was looking for them, preferring to eyeball me from the wood. Thats where I caught the bulk of them, when they were out from the grooves 'smelling' my CO2 and licking their mouth parts in apprehensive gluttony for my warm blood.

I only ever saw two live bugs out during the day on the tile floor and none on the wood.

Now it's been 3 weeks since treatment and for the past two weeks all I've found is two dead 3rd instar nymphs on the tile floor near the bed and no visible nightime or daytime live bug activity (though I admit the 1st instar nymphs are so very hard to see). My allergies at previous bite sites act up often so I wonder if its the dead bugs or live ones I'm reacting to. Wary, wary is I.
Nobugsonme

your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 6,135

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Dec 10 2007 1:36:39
#

Login to Send PM

pleasehelp and bummed,

Bed bugs WILL still come out even if your bed is completely isolated. If this were not so, we would never recommend it as an option. Bed bugs must come out to try and bite you in order to cross poison and die.

This is why people must not move to stay in another room or bed or even stay with friends--because if you are not in the home, why would they leave their cracks and crevices and cross the poison?

bummed is right that they won't get onto the bed proper, and it would surely be easier to lean over and nab one like NotSoSnug does, from the floor (if you can bear to sleep on the floor). but people do report seeing bed bugs at night if they get up.
pleasehelp

member
Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 301

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Dec 10 2007 1:55:21
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks nobugs & notsosnug!
itchyincharmcity

member
Joined: Nov '07
Posts: 262

Posted 2 years ago
Mon Dec 10 2007 16:32:59
#

Login to Send PM

Is Envirotech a national chain? Their name is familiar to me...