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Parents blowing off bedbugs
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curnan
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
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Posted 10 months ago
Mon Jul 9 2012 5:20:25
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We've had bedbugs since May. To put it shortly, the beds were thrown out (before I realized that was a huge mistake) and my father and I now sleep in the living room. I have no doubt that they were and are bedbugs. I've seen them and examined the little monsters and they have all the characteristics.
Because my mother and father don't get allergic reactions to the bites, they are not nearly as hysterical as I am when I wake up with giant welts. They are also painfully laid-back about the idea of having bedbugs in the house, and seem to merely disregard anything I say when I tell them the bedbug infestation is a large problem and must be dealt with.
Quite frankly, it's almost as if they're in denial. I found a nymph on the wall upon leaving the shower today. I trapped it and showed it to my father, once more explaining that in our two months of doing nothing, that the bugs are multiplying. He merely sighed and said "I don't have time for this." I tell the same thing to my mother, and she shrugs and says "they left the bedroom?" after telling both of them this for months. Before that, I found a spider that had gotten 3 pill-sized bedbugs in its web, twice in a row. I showed my parents--my dad said "cool" and my mother didn't see it because the spider ate them by the time she came back.
What do I do? I don't have any support from my parents on getting rid of the pests. I'm a jobless college student, and if there's anyone that can't afford an exterminator, it's me. Is there a surefire way to get rid of them in this situation? I've heard of using DE and a mattress casing, but now everyone sleeps on airbeds. Would it even work?
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oldtimer
Joined: Nov '11
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Posted 10 months ago
Mon Jul 9 2012 9:16:56
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Dear curnan,
While it may sound as if your parents are in need of head transplants it seems that you're going to have to fend for yourself.
Given your limited financial resources it appears that you're going to have to take up arms against the bed bugs as best you can. All is not lost however and you can be successful against bed bugs if you're willing to do the work needed.
One strategy that may be of use to you is that you isolate yourself which will allow the bed bugs to feed on your non-reactive parents while you are doing your best to render your home bed bug free.
Some low cost methodologies to consider:
> Read as much bed bug control related information as you can.
> Thorough vacuuming.
> Use of strategically placed dual sided tape.
> Use of climb up blockers. (If you're on an air matress, try to get it up off the floor onto a cot frame such that you can place blockers under the legs.)
> Application of DE.Let us know if any additional questions.
Hope this helps, good luck ! paul b.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,692offline
Posted 10 months ago
Mon Jul 9 2012 12:41:17
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I strongly feel your parents should take responsibility for treatment. One thing which might help are providing fact sheets and articles about the prevalence of the problem in your city. You can search the site for articles about your city and print the corresponding articles. Most states have a university extension fact sheet on bed bugs. Google your city or state and bed bugs to find resources.
Ones which clarify that many people don't react, which show what signs look like, and which note how much more expensive problems become after being allowed to grow should help.
Also keep in mind if your family rents, it may be the landlord's responsibility to treat for bed bugs.
In regard to Paul's advice, I think you need to do research before applying DE since most seem
to misapply or overapply it. The FAQ on DE here is a start.Finally, many if not most people misidentifying other pests as bed bugs. If you see one, please post a photo here so an expert can confirm the ID.
If things get bad, can you talk to your college about getting a cheap room on campus? There may be financial aid to help. I know that's a costly proposition but it's good to have a backup plan if things get bad at home.
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toronto_lady_m
newbite
Joined: Jun '12
Posts: 33offline
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jul 12 2012 4:51:45
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Hey Curnan,
I feel exactly the same way as you do. My mom and her b/f just don't give a ****, if you know what I mean by those stars! They're not reacting to the bites if they are getting bit, just like your parents, and I swear to goodness that I could drop a bucket full of bugs and dirt in front of the tv in the living room, and they would just go "meh.. oh well I guess we have to live with it". It is increadibly frustrating when you are basically held captive where you live because it truly feels like a cage. You are definately not alone living with unresponsive apathetic family. I am in the exact same situation, except to confound things further, I haven't had one single positive ID for BBs in the month or so that this has been happening.
It is very easy to feel helpless, but we're smart people, and we'll figure something out! The fact that we're on this site is proof of that already.
Good luck
Hugs!
M -
curnan
newbite
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 2offline
Posted 1 month ago
Wed Apr 3 2013 22:38:45
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Thanks everyone for the help and support. As winter started rolling by, they seemed to have all but disappeared. I stopped getting bites, and my family pretty much thought it was over.
Of course, as we know, that's BS, and now that it's starting to heat up, the bites are returning.@Nobugsonme and @ PBello: I managed to catch a bedbug at one point during the year, and put her into a shot glass. I noticed a week or two into doing so that she hatched a bunch of eggs in the corner. Eventually, those eggs hatched and the tiny monsters started crawling around in it. Before I knew it, the children had fed on its mother and they all died in a matter of weeks.
I'm pretty sure they were bedbugs; the mother was fully grown and had the characteristic apple-seed shape, six legs, the whole shebang. I didn't think of taking a picture, though; I was a bit too disgusted, at that point. I would definitely consider getting a dorm room, but sadly, my financial aid doesn't allow much leeway or enough money. I do on the side art commissions for work until I can find an actual job, but I still can't afford a PCO, at this rate.
I was thinking of sticking two-sided tape all along the small crevices of the walls and ceilings, under bedframes, etc. The fact that a lot of the house is carpet also poses a bit of a challenge, but I was thinking of renting a steam cleaner and trying to get them out of the carpet, that way. I wanted to try DE, but I'm very sensitive to powders and I know so because I get allergic reactions to the fine dust spread by the soft pastels (I'm an Art major). I don't know if in that case, DE would screw me over because of the fine dust, even if I were to wear a respirator. Still, I'll see if I can sprinkle DE beneath everything possible. Would DE work on carpet as a barrier for the stragglers (if any) that will remain after the steam cleaning?
@ Toronto_lady_m: Ahh, that makes me feel a lot better. I thought I was the only one with this sort of problem. It just irks me that my family is in utter denial of the problem; they act as if wishing it away or pretending they don't exist will fix everything, but it won't! And the attitude just drives me insane. I think if I did the same approach with the bucket of bugs, they wouldn't care, either! And I've shown them ample proof.
And oh no, I'm sorry about that! Have you called someone over to scope the place out? I'd pretty much be borderline insane if I was in your situation--then again, I'm sure my family would think I'm insane whether or not I had proof of bedbugs in the home. But yes, it's very much like living in a cage! If my financial aid allowed it, I'd start living in a dorm room.
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cilecto
oldtimer
Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 3,850offline
Posted 1 month ago
Thu Apr 4 2013 9:27:24
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As far as I know, bed bugs don't go away for the winter. So, your bites stopping is likely due to other reasons, such as:
- It's possible that you were reacting to bed bug bites outside the home and that source went away (because they got rid of their bed bugs or because you stopped going there) and has now returned.
- You continue to be getting bed bug bites, but your reaction is changing. After 8 months, an unchecked bed bug infestation will normally be very obvious, with bugs crawling around wholesale and shells and traces all over. What steps are you or your family taking to reduce the bed bugs in your home?
- Something is happening or is being done in your home that's knocking down the bed bugs.
- Your bite reactions are to something other than bed bugs.
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loubugs
old timer
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 1,633offline
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Apr 5 2013 7:51:13
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"I managed to catch a bedbug at one point during the year, and put her into a shot glass. I noticed a week or two into doing so that she hatched a bunch of eggs in the corner. Eventually, those eggs hatched and the tiny monsters started crawling around in it. Before I knew it, the children had fed on its mother and they all died in a matter of weeks."
This is quite an interesting post. Why do you think the children had fed on the female bug? Were the young bugs plump from feeding? When you said all died, did you include the mother, too, or just the young ones died? -
your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 13,692offline
Posted 1 month ago
Fri Apr 5 2013 21:47:41
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If they seemed to go away and now seem to be coming back, then it sounds like it might be something else.
If you find another bug you think is a bed bug, please post a photo or ask Loubugs if you can mail it in for an expert ID.
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