Please tell me it's a spider bite... « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs

Please tell me it's a spider bite...

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fostermom

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 3 2011 16:56:56
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I really don't want to go through this again... had bugs in November. Foster kids brought them, or they came with the belongings that followed later. Visits recently started up again for the kids, and they started coming home with "gifts" from their bio-parents. We have been careful to put everything into the dryer for 40 minutes when they come home from visits, and have been checking the beds for signs.

This morning around 445, I awakened with a bite on my arm. It has swelled exactly as my bedbug bites did. I had a pretty bad reaction to the bed bug bites compared to mosquitos. I keep telling myself that it's a spider bite... ran across a few of them as I was cleaning yesterday. But I can't get over the sinking feeling that they're back.

Are there any spiders that could cause the same reaction as bedbugs?
BedBugBlogger

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 3 2011 17:46:05
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FIrst off. I am not an expert. Just a victim learning as much as possible about these bugs. from dos and donts to lifestyle, to how to treat them in a responsible and effective manner.

First and foremost is to stay level headed. It is an overwhelming experience but with a straight head and education more can get accomplished. You are not a dirty or filthy person. It happens to the best of us. Including hotels

people react to bites in different ways. Some get no reaction, some show up as flea looking bites, some show up as welts like a mosquito bites or both. Some show up as rashes. Also, a bite might not show up for days, or hours or even weeks after being bitten. Even tho the reaction you are getting is similar, physical evidence is what is needed for conformation. I can see why you are anxious since you delt with these before. Let this site work with you to resolve this frustrating situation

Try not to concentrate on the bites themselves. They could be anything. What you need to look for is evidence.

You first want to look for the tell tale signs of bedbugs.
Even though you might have had them before, education is the most powerful tool against these pests.

Read this:
http://bedbugger.com/faqs/

compare notes, and wait for official responses from experts on this site. If this is your first time coming here, stay within the community. It is a great support group.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 3 2011 19:19:22
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Hi fostermom,

I remember your plight.

I seem to recall Lou Sorkin noting that spider bites are a lot less common than people think.

Mosquitoes and fleas seem like a possibility. People even sometimes react to carpet beetles. Your skin may be more sensitive post-bedbugs, so while I am definitely not an expert on this and we don't know a whole lot about this area, it's possible other kinds of irritations are causing more of a reaction.

That said, do you have any passive monitors in place?
Nobugsonme

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 3 2011 19:22:24
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Keep in mind also that if you have one single bite from a bed bug, it may have happened somewhere besides your home. Most people probably don't know how long their body takes to react to a bed bug bite, but it can take hours, days, and even a week or more (in some cases).

I would keep a lot of when and where bites appear, if there are more. And I hope there won't be!
fostermom

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 24 2011 0:59:19
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Thanks everyone... One more update:

Today while cleaning up the foster baby's toys, I noticed small white/clear bugs crawling on the tag of a stuffed animal. They seemed almost too "white" in color to be nymphs. None the less, there were 3-5 of them. I should have tried to capture one for someone to help ID. Also, Shortly after my bite appeared, the foster baby awoke with 3 bites on his cheek. He doesn't react the same way I do, but there were 3 close together.

Does anyone know of a "live bug" sniffing dog in the Phoenix area? I found one online, but they quoted me over $1000 to sniff our home! That seemed pricey since a full vikane treatment was only $3200.
rs1971

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 24 2011 1:12:51
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Burns Pest Elimination did my K-9 inspection in Chandler a year ago. Though the inspection came up negative (thankfully) the handler seemed professional and based on the short interaction I had with her, knowledgeable. I also recall one of the K-9 handlers on this board mentioning them specifically as having a really good program.

Good luck.

-rs1971
fostermom

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Posted 1 year ago
Sun Jul 24 2011 21:06:34
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Ok, it was way too late last night when I attempted to respond no passive monitors in place. Need to get some! We will call Burns in the morning.