Question in regards to carpetting « Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums

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

Question in regards to carpetting

(6 posts)

Tags:

BedBugPanic

junior member
Joined: May '10
Posts: 101
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 12 2010 19:34:33
#

Login to Send PM

Hello everyone,

I usually do a monthly inspection of my apartment as a precaution and was wondering, all this time, how to detect signs of bed bugs in an area that has wall to wall carpeting (for me it's my bedroom and dining/living room). I can't seem to be able to pull up the carpet in all areas, but if I inspect very closely along the baseboards and pull away the fluff from there, would I be able to detect any signs such as cast skins? Or should I just try to pull up the carpet altogether?

Also, how would their fecal traces look like on carpet? Or would they have more of a tendency to excrete along the baseboards?

Any suggestions/advice would be nice.

Thank you!
KillerQueen

oldtimer
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 2,540
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 12 2010 20:54:25
#

Login to Send PM

I don't think you need to focus your inspection in these areas. I would keep it simple and just look at all parts of the bed. If you want to inspect carpeting, just look behind the head of the bed after the bed itself clears.

In most all cases, the carpet edge is not going to be the spot to first discover a problem. Later stages of a confirmed infestation will have problems with carpeting but not during a month to month inspection. After you clear the bed, move to the nightstands, then any fabric furniture in the room, then pictures over the bed. Keep this in mind when inspecting the sofa in the living room. Start with the sofa and then check endtables, then the chairs in the living room.

If it were my home, I would stop after the bed was cleared. In the living room, I would stop after the sofa. That is if I never sprayed chemicals in my home and have never found a problem.
BedBugPanic

junior member
Joined: May '10
Posts: 101
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 12 2010 21:02:07
#

Login to Send PM

Thanks for the response KQ. My situation is a little interesting... I have had climbups on the bed as a preventative for a few months now (although am considering obtaining BB Passive Alert) and the bed is encased (new bed, encased once purchased)... Have never found anything on the bed/frame/etc, although, I have not taken the frame apart in a while. Don't have any other furniture in the room and no photos/paintings on the walls... I do have a lamp and a tall fan. Hence why I asked about carpeting. As for living room, for now, only have a computer chair and a plastic table (no signs on either one). Only evidence of anything found in this apartment are carpet beetle larvae, casings, and a couple of adult carpet beetles... ladybugs, silverfish (the odd one) and spiders.
KillerQueen

oldtimer
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 2,540
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 12 2010 21:14:57
#

Login to Send PM

Well, if it helps, I don't have any encasements on my beds. I don't have climb ups, and I don't monitor anything. The only time I do an inspection is when my wife drives me crazy during mosquito season. And mind you, I'm in infested apartments each day.

If its going to happen, I'll know when its time to spend time, money, and energy fighting them. I refuse to let them control the things I just mentioned.

But I think the climb ups will be your first line of inspection, then the bed.
BedBugPanic

junior member
Joined: May '10
Posts: 101
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 12 2010 21:25:26
#

Login to Send PM

Thank you so much Killer Queen, for your input. I highly value your input on things and only wished we in Ottawa would have someone like you around in our city (I dealt with an infestation in another apartment almost a year ago and carefully moved out of the building once I was a couple of months no signs since the LL wasn't dealing with the infestations very well). Since then, I have been on high alert but now think it's time to move on...
scaredcrapless

newbite
Joined: Nov '10
Posts: 23
offline

Posted 2 years ago
Sun Dec 12 2010 22:29:13
#

Login to Send PM

I found this post really helpful, thank you all!

Do the same rules apply for post treatment inspections? I've had three treatments in two weeks and do a nightly inspection--check the bed, where the wall and ceiling meet (which was where my PCO found most of the evidence), any cracks/crevices and what not. I look for small black dots, casings, bugs (duh)...Am I missing anything? I've only seen one bug since last Sunday (a few hours after a treatment) so I'm really hoping my situation is under control.

Thanks!