Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Passive monitoring questions...
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bostonette
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 9
Posted 1 month ago
Tue Oct 13 2009 17:05:25
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Hi all. I posted my original story on this forum and got some wonderful advice http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/please-help-9 but still have some questions. Basically, I went on vacation and discovered I was staying in a place with bedbugs. We did all things we were supposed to when we got home, according to the FAQs, immediately laundering all clothes, quarantining non-launderables, freezing some things, etc. Nine days after returning, I found 7 red itchy spots that could have been bed bug bites or not (mosquito bites - I was in Florida for a 4 days prior to the spots showing up and there were a lot of mosquitos). I immediately bought mattress encasements, white linens, isolated my bed and put the legs in bowls of soapy water (still waiting for my interceptors to be delivered - tomorrow I hope!) and have done and bagged all my laundry in my bedroom. The living room closets I have not yet gotten to. I also decluttered and cleaned. While I cleaned I found several carpet beetle larvae, even in the bed, under the bed, and around my bedroom.
Anyway, during this process I've been staying with my boyfriend, where I usually stay anyway. But if there are bedbugs, I don't want them to get hungry and go looking for other food or homes, so I've started staying at my place again. Tonight will be night #2. Last night, no bites and no bugs found in my soapy water bowls!
So, a few questions:
1. How do I use the interceptors with bed risers? I have the kind you get at Bed Bath and Beyond because my metal bedframe is so low to the floor otherwise. Would I put the interceptor on top of the riser and then the legs in the interceptor? Is this safe?2. How often do I have to stay at my own place in order for this passive monitoring thing to work? I usually stay at my boyfriends 6 out of 7 nights and that bedbugs like to feed every 5 nights or so, can I do every other night? Should I do 4 nights here and 2 there? Weird question I know, but I don't want all of this to be for nothing.
3. If I continue to have no bites and no bugs appear, how long until I can feel reasonably OK with going back to having my clothes in the bureaus instead of in giant Ziplock bags?
4. My living room has the 2 closets with most of my clothes and shoes. Should I do the same laundering (HOT HOT HOT) and bagging process for all those items too? The room is adjacent to my bedroom with no door in between, but again, all I've found is proof of carpet beetles so far... I'm not sure how crazy I should get with the cleaning at this point and if there are bed bugs, I don't want to drive them away.
I know, it's lots of questions, but any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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The Climb Up Interceptor needs to be on the floor to work... The bed bugs climb up the side of the device to try to reach the bait (you), but fall into the talc coated cups instead.
I can't tell you if it is safe... I don't know the size of the risers... You may be able to improvise a different material to serve as the riser, if your current ones don't fit inside the inner cup of the monitor or use a block of wood that fits inside the cup.
Bed bugs that are hungry will try to reach the bed and other furniture that you spend time on. I am not sure if there is an ideal pattern... I would direct that inquiry to Dr Susan McKnight... She developed the product & has conducted the research.
Keep in mind that food deprived bed bugs will not wait for a scheduled day to feed... I think your logic about 5 day cycles is a little flawed in this case... The five day feeding schedule is dependent on having an available host under ideal conditions... An unoccupied room will produce bed bugs that will try to feed when the opportunity presents itself.
Two months with no activity is the time period that is usually recognized as the point to start celebrating.
I would wait to see if you observe any actual activity before investing your time & money in isolating the contents of your closet. Florida has tons of mosquitos... I get bitten almost every day.
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bostonette
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 9
Posted 1 month ago
Tue Oct 13 2009 20:04:02
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Thank you so much for responding with your thoughts. I really appreciate the time and expertise you provide.
My bed risers are about 6 inches tall and plastic. I'll email Dr. McKnight and if she's able to respond, will share it with the forum. I don't want to remove them because then my bed will be so low to the ground I am certain it will compromise the isolation and maybe not show any bugs in the interceptors.
There's so much to think about! This site has been such a savior, as have all the people on it that have helped me with their thoughts, like you. Thanks.
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