Nothing but bites, how can I tell? « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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Nothing but bites, how can I tell?

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Bitandrun @UofT

newbite
Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 3

Posted 1 year ago
Wed Nov 5 2008 22:57:55
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So, I moved out of a horribly infested apartment, and I took insane precautions, but there were some ways a determined few bedbugs could have come along.

Anyway, two weeks into my new apartment I started getting bitten again, and assumed they were back, but at four weeks in I have yet to see a single sign of them, and things don't seem to match up.

The facts:

Bites are almost always on the shins and ankles - the exception being two on the chest. The bites are like mosquito bites, and I can never find anything on me when they start itching. The bites show up every couple days - the number of bites and the frequency both vary, but there's never been more than 3 that start itching in 24 hours.

There are no signs of blood spots or faecal matter on my sheets, mattress, or boxspring. Inspection of the mattress/box spring turn up nothing; I've done all I can there short of rip the bottom off the boxspring.

I've put down an entire roll of carpet tape, without catching anything, and DE/laundering don't make an impact on how often I get bitten.

Basically, I've found absolutely nothing. All I've got to go on are generic bites.

So, should I treat for BBs, possibly spending most of the money I have (ramen-diet student)? I can stand the bites, but I want to know what the problem is, and if it's BBs, I want to avoid letting them spread to other apts. at any cost.

Does this sound enough like fleas that I should get a flea-light to find out? Do fleas hide well?

I'm definitely getting bitten at home, and I don't have any pets.

Speaking of cost:
Minimum charge for bringing in a BB dog: $250 (quoted)
High quality mattress encasement: $80 + $30 (boxspring)
New carpet (mine is rolled up with a carpet tape moat around it): $40
Steamer machine: $100+ (Apparently)
It is required that all such lists end with: Priceless

Disposable income: ~$58.75
Pending pay: $78.20 (Friday; no cashback)
bitten123

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Joined: Sep '08
Posts: 343

Posted 1 year ago
Thu Nov 6 2008 15:04:39
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bitandrun, I'm sorry you are here. I would not think bites alone are enough, but since you have been through an infestation you have a good idea what to look for. Can you get a PCO to come do an inspection for free? Some will come out and inspect before they give a price, so you could at least do that for peace of mind.

Have you talked to the college for advice? Since these are becoming a problem on university and college campuses, I would talk to them for advice. I would then ask the landlord of apartment to have your apt inspected for bugs.

Those flea light contraptions you plug in and they light up and have sticky stuff to catch the fleas are great. They are about $20 or so...

If you can even get a cheap walmart vinyl zipper cover to get your mattress covered and then duct tape up the zipper, I would think that would be a good step.