Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
Please ID. [a: dermacentor tick]
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Thu Jun 21 2012 21:24:18
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A few things first:
1. I know how out of focus these pictures are. I used the macro setting on my camera and everything, but.. obviously it doesn't work that well. Because of that, here is some more information:
2. The color in the picture is pretty much the same as in real life.
3. There are NO horizontal striations along the body (which is why I'm pretty certain it's not a bedbug, but need a second/third/etc. opinion).
4. I'm not certain how many legs there were. They were broken off the body, but I counted 5 or 6 that broke off, with 1 or 2 remaining (but possible that the broken off ones were not whole?).
5. Embarrassing: I found this in my comb right after brushing my hair before my shower. :/ It was dead. My hair is super thick!
6. Neither my son nor I have any bites. I don't see any signs of bedbugs in/around my bed. I have been bedbug free for over 2.5 years, and just recently bought a brand new bed (checked thoroughly when they delivered it - no signs anywhere).By a quick google search for "flat bugs," it sort of looks like a tick? But yesterday morning I was in a pool, took a shower, came right home and haven't left the house since (it's almost 100 degrees here right now!). Again, I'm sorry for the crappy pictures, but I really just need some reassurance! It's next to a bobby pin for scale.
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Thu Jun 21 2012 21:26:32
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For the record, I hope it was just a spider or something. And mostly, I'm just kind of horrified that I'm wishing that it was a spider that was in my hair!
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blargg
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Posted 12 months ago
Thu Jun 21 2012 22:06:04
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Could you take a pic of the other side too, please?
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Thu Jun 21 2012 22:17:23
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Here are two more pictures. They're better quality. I'm fairly certain that they're opposite sides (but they look the same, and the bug got thrown around between shots). In these photos you can see a few of the legs that broke off.
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 0:39:56
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I am NOT an expert and though I think it isn't a bed bug, it's not super clear. I am going to leave this to the experts to confirm and suggest what it might be. You will probably get a response tomorrow -- experts more plentiful in daylight. Do not panic!
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 0:42:27
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Thank you so much. Maybe I can get some sleep now!
Also, I'm willing to mail it to someone if necessary for a positive ID. (I've seen requests for it, so just throwing that out there!)
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 6,831online
Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 6:06:31
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Hi,
Sorry not in enough focus for me to be certain either way.
Its OK to take a pic from a little further back so long as its in focus and you upload the highest possible resolution.
If you can post again I will happily keep an eye out.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 6:14:00
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Hi David!
Did you see the photos here?: http://imgur.com/a/KTT04 The first one is much better focus than any of the other ones that were posted in the first post. (I wish I could edit my first post to include the link, but it's not an option!)
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 6:21:35
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I also took another one just now. Hopefully it's better (and in natural light since it's finally daytime!): http://oi46.tinypic.com/4h5xf4.jpg
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 6:45:48
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Hi,
The head and body junction does not look right for bedbugs.
I would save the sample to show to an entomologist for correct identification.
The focus is good so if you can take a few more from different angles I am sure EffeCi, Lou, Paul or one of the other regulars will be able to suggests what its likley to be.
My only guess based on the loose antennae is a stored product beetle.
David
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 7:05:11
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Thanks! I took a few more pictures that will hopefully help ID it for certain.
picture of its top - I'm not sure what the white is at the top of its head. It's probably just lint or the root of a piece of hair from my brush.
picture of its bottom
from the side - It is extremely flat. Maybe around the same or a bit thinner than a sesame seed. -
oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 7:08:19
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Hi,
100% not bedbug though which will put you at significant ease.
David
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 7:33:43
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Thank you so much, David! It would be great to find out what the bug actually is (any takers?!), but having your confirmation makes me feel much better.
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oldtimer
Joined: Mar '08
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 11:30:44
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Its a tick
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 12:03:56
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Thank you so much for all your help!
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oldtimer
Joined: Nov '11
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 14:53:40
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Dear crashed,
What you have here is a tick.
As it appears to have an amount of skin attached to it, did you pull it out of your skin?
Where are you located in the country?
Have you found others? Were you recently outdoors?
Hope this helps ! paul b.
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loubugs
old timer
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Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 15:01:04
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A female Dermacentor tick and you see a glue plug that envelopes the hypostome. There isn't really a head, but the appendages of the mouth parts consisting of basis capitulum, chelicerae, palpi, hypostome (portion that goes into the skin). Probably the common American dog tick since most you will find (or will find you) is this Dermacentor species. Loose antenna is a leg.
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crashed
newbite
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 26offline
Posted 12 months ago
Fri Jun 22 2012 17:58:51
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Thank you so much guys!
To answer your questions: I live in the Northeast. I didn't pull it out off my skin, but I found it (dead) in between the teeth of my comb after brushing my hair before I took a shower. I haven't found any others, and I hadn't been outside for almost 36 hours when I did find it.
I shouldn't be worried about anything since it's not a deer tick/it was not engorged and looked like it didn't feed at all, right? Do you think I should wash my hair a few more times to make sure that anything left behind is gone?! Haha.
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