Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Bed bug bites, skin, etc.
What other bugs bite in group or clusters?
(11 posts)-
islandgal
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 11
Posted 1 month ago
Thu Oct 22 2009 13:34:14
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I am wondering if anyone knows of any other bugs (apart from fleas) that also bites in groups (pairs, lines, clusters, etc.).
My boyfriend runs a landscaping company, obviously he is outside daily. On September 10 of this year (6 weeks ago), I noticed he had about 20 bites on his forearms. He wears work pants and a t-shirt to work, and these bites started just above the elbow and went to just below the wrist, on both arms. There were single bites, pairs, loose lines of 4 and one really tight line of 6, only the only exposed parts of skin while he is at work.
About a week or so after, he had even more bites, in the same places on his arms. I started making him put on Muskol (?) bug repellent on his exposed skin every morning before work. He told me that he had noticed tons of bugs flying around at his site, and that one of the other guys on the crew also had these bites in the same places.
I searched everywhere for tell tale signs, mattress, mattress seams, carpet, pillows and cases, etc. and found nothing. We rent the bottom floor of an owner occupied home, which is near a forest. In the year that we have lived there, we have had all sorts of different kinds of bugs make their way into the house (none of which are bed bugs because everytime I catch one, I examine it carefully) and for this reason, we have a thin layer of DE in the space where the carpet meets the baseboards along the floor in the bedroom. I check behind the bed daily, and all I ever find are dead "wood" bugs, or "potato" bugs and carpet beetled that have been exposed to the DE. My boyfriend worked at a couple of other sites, and for a month, stopped getting bit. I relaxed somewhat, even though I was still monitoring for fecal matter, cast skins and actual bugs.
Yesterday, he came home with bites again, just over a month after he last had them. Yes, he is back at the site where he was working when he was getting bit weeks ago. They are only on his forearms. We checked his back, shoulders, legs and stomach yesterday and there are no bites. He says at this particular site, there are tons of little bugs flying everywhere (not mosquitoes), and believes that those are what are biting him because he seems to get bit in the afternoon and only on the skin that is exposed while he is at work. I regularly check the mattress and haven't found ANYTHING. I haven't had any bites because, to be honest, I started sleeping on the couch in September, after he had come home with the first set of bites.
I partly believe that he is being bit by something at work and that we don't have a bed bug issue. This seems logical after considering all of the facts. We do not buy used clothing or furniture, haven't stayed in a hotel for a year (where we checked the mattress and headboard for bugs), and don't live in an apartment. I know that SOMETHING is biting him. He often reacts to cedar and yew trees, and this looks nothing like that. I just want some sort of confirmation, I guess, that he is being bitten by some sort of outside bug while at work. I haven't been able to find any other signs- and my boyfriend says that with the amount of bites that he has had in total, there would be some sort of other evidence by now. He firmly believes that I am overreacting and refuses to have at PCO inspect because he doesn't want to alarm the owner of the house.
I realize that I might be overreacting. I suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, and found that the thought of bed bugs is a trigger for terrible panic attacks. These bites that my boyfriend has are definitely contributing to the level of my anxiety right now, so any thoughts or input would be so much appreciated.
Thank you.
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spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,405
Posted 1 month ago
Thu Oct 22 2009 14:33:22
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Tell him wear long sleeves. Out in landscaping there are so many possible causes of skin reactions it is staggering.
Herbicide or pesticide exposure, poison plants (ivy, oak, sumac) ants, chiggers, midges, mites, caterpillar hairs, mosquitoes. stinging nettles.........
Jim
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islandgal
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 11
Posted 1 month ago
Thu Oct 22 2009 15:10:49
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ah, thank you.
I felt fairly certain that he was being bit outside, while at work, but I just needed an outsider's perspective to confirm.
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islandgal
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 11
Posted 3 weeks ago
Wed Oct 28 2009 19:45:58
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UPDATE:
On Saturday (so, 4 days ago) I flipped over the mattress (currently a single mattress on the floor) and found a dark mark. I don't know how long it's been there- I don't remember noticing it the past times I examined the mattress.
It doesn't look blotchy, like a felt-tip marker, but I think I could describe looking like someone took a black or blue ball-point pen and doodled a little bit.
I've been told from an entomolgist that the pause in bites (4 weeks), the amount of them at once (20, on 3 separate occassions) leads them to think it's not bed bugs....But I can't seem to shake this fear.
I am having a canine inspection next week- in 8 days, although I don't know how I am going to be able to wait a week without knowing. And even then, what if I get a false negative or positive?
I am really concerned because I am due to fly out to visit family in 3 weeks, and I am not going to be okay with doing that until I know what we have or don't have.
Thoughts anyone?? Thanks.
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upagain
junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 164
Posted 3 weeks ago
Wed Oct 28 2009 20:43:12
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My scare went on for a long time and in that time I found a lot of things. Sometimes I would find marks on the bed that I KNEW were always there, but I still would drive myself crazy thinking they were new. Keep you eyes open, but the 4 weeks does seem like a long time. Keep a log of what you find/see. IT really helps.
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islandgal
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 11
Posted 3 weeks ago
Wed Oct 28 2009 21:01:23
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Thanks Upagain- your words are definitley calming.
So you had a scare- does that mean you never actually had bugs?
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upagain
junior member
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 164
Posted 3 weeks ago
Wed Oct 28 2009 21:32:26
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So far so good, but I keep my inspections up. These things can take a big toll on your mind.
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islandgal
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 11
Posted 3 weeks ago
Thu Oct 29 2009 13:57:20
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Are there others who can also weigh in on this situation? I have booked the bed bug dog for next week, but it seems as though I have been more anxious since I made the appointment.
My boyfriend had bites on 3 separate occassions (singles, pairs, a line of six and some lines of three)- on his forearms only- since the first week of September. A week later, he had more. I started to make him wear bug spray and long sleeves, and he also worked at another job site on some days. Then, after 1 month of not having any bites, the bites occurred again in the same spot. Each time there have been about 20+ bites, maybe even 30.
I found a small, black dot underneath the mattress a several days ago(currently on the floor). We tried to wet it to see if any colour would come off, but no luck. I thought the location of this was odd- I would assume that if a bed bug was hiding underneath a mattress after having a meal and poohed- wouldn't the pooh end up on the carpet instead above him on the mattress?
This is so frustrating. I know that going 4 weeks without having been bit alludes to not having a problem, but I feel like almost anything is possible when it comes to bed bugs, no?
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Hi,
Sounds like he is coming into contact with something on site which means its highly unlikely to be bed bugs as they are unlikely to be hanging around outside (there are too many predators and not enough food for them).
I would suggest long sleave shirts when he works on that site or simply avoiding that site, its not unreasonable to ask not to be on a particular site if you get bitten repeatedly there.
As for what could be causing it the list is way too long and extends beyond just insects. For example I am actually allergic to some forms of organic acids which exist on some plants (hawthorn for example). The reaction is an allergic one and looks just like insect bites.
Inspecting your home is a good practise so keep that habit on a monthly basis but this one is extremely unlikly to be bed bug related and thus without visiting the site in question myself or getting an entomologist on site you are unlikly to get an accurate answer to what is causing it.
Sorry I cant be more help other than to say its highly unlikely to be bed bug related. You could ask him to collect a sample and have a look on whatsthatbug.com
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
islandgal
newbite
Joined: Oct '09
Posts: 11
Posted 3 weeks ago
Thu Oct 29 2009 19:27:00
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Thanks David, for your reply.
I am having a PCO/K9 team come in next week for an inspection. This team first inspects themselves, then brings the dog in to inspect, and then takes the dog back outside. If there were any areas alerted to, the PCO inspects themselves. If bug are not present, the dog comes back inside so the PCO can see if it still alerts to the area.
I am only having the inspection because of the small, dark mark on the underside of our mattress- and also because I am due to visit family out of town in 3 weeks- want to be sure I am not a risk.
You don't think that this mark is something to be concerned about?
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Hi,
I think if you take a picture of the mark and post it we can comment on it. Descriptions alone rarely give enough detail for an accurate diagnosis.
David
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