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Something other than bedbug droppings?

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   InkblotJo
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sat Sep 5 2009 11:29:41
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   Hi I posted a while ago panicked that I had bedbugs. I had just returned from a trip to an infected apartment and though I washed and dried everything on high heat, I was still worried that I might have bugs. I went for a while without any bites and all my bites from the trip have mostly healed, and I was just starting to feel safe when I found a couple of tiny black spots. I've only found three specks in the two weeks since I left the infected apartment in New York, but the spots do smear a brownish red when I touch them with a q-tip. But I haven't been getting new bites. I was just finally starting to feel safe in my own bed again. I've checked everything top to bottom and couldn't find any other sign, but I can't think of anything else that would smear red when touched with water. These specks weren't on my bed, they were on my desk, which is a couple of feet away. Is it in any way possible that these are something else? Help! Thanks.

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   InkblotJo
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sat Sep 5 2009 20:00:11
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   A little bump because no one has replied.

   Also, if it's helpful: the specks aren't entirely round, they're more like tiny curls or eraser shavings. Additionally, they don't naturally seep into fabric the way some people describe it...

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   bed-bugscouk
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sat Sep 5 2009 20:22:49
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   Hi,

   An infocus and as high a resolution picture as you can take would help.

   Like all things when you look at them day in and day out for years you develop a sense of what to look for and a picture is the fastest way we can help you. To go on description alone is too hard to do as we all describe these things in different ways.

   If you posta link I will check back and give you an opinion.

   David Cain
   Bed Bugs Limited

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   InkblotJo
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sat Sep 5 2009 22:17:13
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   David,
   Thank you so much for your reply! I don't have access to a high res camera right now, though I will by tomorrow night if this is insufficient. Here is a picture taken at 3.2 megapixels:

   http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/spilledmercury/0905092103_0001.jpg

   The bigger black piece is new and the only one of its kind. But the smaller dots, I guess I've found maybe six of them or so in the last few weeks. What do you think?

   Thank you so much,
   - Jo

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   spideyjg
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sat Sep 5 2009 22:58:16
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   They bear resemblance to flea droppings especially the "shavings" description.

   See my pics and experiment here.....

   http://bedbugger.com/forum/topic/flea-droppings-table-top-science

   Got animals?

   Jim

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   InkblotJo
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sat Sep 5 2009 23:07:14
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   Well, unfortunately, my roommate did just bring her boyfriend's cat to stay the night before these specks showed up. Should I worry about fleas infecting the dorm? (I'm living in my college dorm)

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   InkblotJo
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sat Sep 5 2009 23:13:45
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   Hrm, Jim you may be onto something! I just put the cat on white paper and shook out her fur and a couple more little black spots fell off, all of which bled like the spots I've found. Do cat fleas infect humans?

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   bed-bugscouk
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sun Sep 6 2009 6:34:36
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   Hi,

   100% sure that is not BB related.

   I would suggest that you use a plug in flea trap to see if there is flea activity in the area. They are the most effective way to deal with a light infestation.

   Hope that clarrifies.

   David

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   InkblotJo
   

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   Posted 3 years ago
   Sun Sep 6 2009 10:20:07
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   David,
   Thank you so much! I will get my roommate to take care of the cat when she gets back from her trip later tonight, and I will go out and buy a flea trap sometime today. You've been so helpful. Should I worry about doing my sheets/washing my clothes? Or is it not as big a concern?

   Thanks,
   - Jo

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