Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Detection / Identification of bed bugs
BedBug Detection [a: bed bug or closely related]
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 12:51:11
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Hello All,
I hope you can all help me with this. Around October I moved into a new apt and woke up immediately with what I thought were bedbug bites. I had an exterminator over and he found no signs of bedbugs. I also looked and found nothing. Even though he found nothing, he fumigated the whole apartment. I re-checked repeatedly for two months and found nothing. I changed my shampoo, soap and laundry detergent and immediately what I thought were bedbug bites disappeared and did not return. I subsequently bought new bed, furniture and etc in January. The apartment was empty prior to this.
Today, I found what I think is a bedbug in my bathroom. It was crawling on the wall. I almost didn't see it since it was so small. The only thing I have done was go and buy some items from Ikea on Saturday which included a bath mat for the bathroom. The bath mat was near where I found this insect. I am hoping that it was came from what I bought at Ikea. I threw out anything and everything I bought from Ikea and looked through the whole bathroom and found nothing else.
The exterminator will be coming tomorrow night to inspect the apartment and look at the insect I found. I am thinking this sucker came from either the upstairs or downstairs apartment. The exterminator is saying that since no one has complained, it must be only in my apartment.
Through the pictures on this website, I am hoping it's not a bedbug but it looks like it could be. Can you please let me know what I should do if it is?
20150121_085456[1] by sassynamey, on Flickr
20150121_085412[1] by sassynamey, on Flickr
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 12:54:19
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Also, if it's the only one, is it a male or female? I am hoping it's just the one that traveled to my house from Ikea. I have read on the internet that Ikea has problems with bedbugs at their stores. I wished I had never gone there.
By the way, I have not found any bedbugs in my mattress and have no bites at all.
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 12:56:00
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I will be buying a mattress encasement for my new mattress and box spring. Also, I am hoping they find a silver bullet for these things. I have heard of people throwing all of their furniture away.
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oldtimer
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 13:04:13
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Hi,
Yes its a bedbug or close relative. My eyes keep getting drawn to the lengths of the hairs on the abdomen so it may be a related species.
I would advise the following:
- Check will all adjoining neighbours - bugs in bathrooms often means neighbors with issues rather than flat pack furniture stores (although lets face it more people per day visit their average store than go to the average cinema).
- Also check for bird or bat issues on the exterior areas close tot he bathroom window or vents.
The good news is that its male so if its the only one no eggs to worry about. Also if there is no faecal material on the mattress or bedframe it supports the close relative theory although this sample had not recently fed.
Hope that helps.
David Cain
Bed Bugs LimitedI am happy to answer questions in public but will not reply to message sent directly or via my company / social media. I am here to help everyone and not just one case at a time.
In accordance with the AUP and FTC I openly disclose my vested interest in Passive Monitors as the inventor and patent holder. Since 2009 they have become an integral part in how we resolve bed bug infestations. I also have a professional relationship with PackTite in that they distribute my product under their own branding. I do not however receive any financial remuneration for any comments I make about pro -
oldtimer
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 13:08:59
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senses123 - 8 minutes ago »
I will be buying a mattress encasement for my new mattress and box spring.Would not help in the slightest if its a close relative.
senses123 - 8 minutes ago »
Also, I am hoping they find a silver bullet for these things.Yeah that ones about as popular and as likley as winning the lottery.
senses123 - 8 minutes ago »
I have heard of people throwing all of their furniture away.Yes and they would be the silly people.
I often get calls about people who tell me their friend "had to start a new life to get rid of bedbugs". After many years by only response is "I had a friend who got drunk, crashed his car and got arrested last week - does not mean I am going to do that tonight".
There is a tendency for people to assume the worst when it comes to bedbugs and insects in general and so often a properly managed issue is soon a resolved issue.
If you have not done so already please read the FAQs.
David
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 13:17:27
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If it's a close relative, do I need to do anything about it? BTW, it's as flat as a pancake.
Also, this apartment including the bathroom has had issues with centipedes, silverfish and another bug. They all came from a crack in the window to the apartment. I have sealed up all the holes and found no other insects in the apartment until today.
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oldtimer
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 13:50:00
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Hi,
You need to keep the sample safe and either have a specialist ID the species, take a better picture of the fine details of the head end so we can ID or learn to differentiate between species yourself (link below).
In such cases of related species the treatment patterns and processes are different to bedbugs and they are best researched once the ID is know, which is kind of step 1.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05574.html - key on the bottom of the page is the critical information, I would stick here for the most accurate FAQs.
Once we have the species we can set you off on the right path. If you need a specialist to look at it you need to specifically explain they must be able to equipped to ID sub species and should in reality bring a "key diagram" such as that one along with them. Some experts around here (most notedly) Lou Sorkin will do postal ID's (I am in the UK so it delays the process).
Its a good sign you have found nothing else and it may also be possible that you never find anything else but its best to be 100% sure what it exactly is first.
David
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Wed Jan 21 2015 23:08:16
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Hi all,
Thank you for your replies. I have a microscope I've had for years so used it to find out what it was for sure. I couldn't tell the difference unfortunately. I took a couple more pictures to be sure. Here they are:
20150121_223809[1] by ramirezsassy, on Flickr
20150121_224610[1] by ramirezsassy, on FlickrPlease let me know if you can identify it for sure. I should note I live in a bathroom so it's unlikely it's anything to do with bats. I really hope that it's not a bed bug or it's one that traveled with me when I went to Ikea.
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sassy123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 1:13:47
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I thought I should mention that I live in new york city. Can I still have a bat bug or other closely related species to bed bugs?
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sassy123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 2:25:55
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I just remembered that I went camping in key west, Florida for four days. We stayed in a large campground near the water. I got back on January 5 the from the trip. This is the only rural thing I did since this sighting today.
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 9:29:24
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Sorry, Sassy123 and senses123 is the same person. I just had mistakenly used an old account that I forgot I had.
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old timer
Joined: Mar '07
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 11:04:47
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A male. I'm in NYC if you want me to look at it.
Professional entomologist/arachnologist. I consult on all matters dealing with insects and arachnids, including those of natural history and biology to pest management and forensic entomology investigations. -
senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 12:44:34
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I would definitely like you to look at it. Is there a cost to having you take a look?
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 12:46:12
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I would like to know instead of going through all the drama of extermination. The exterminator is coming tonight to inspect the apartment. Can it be done tomorrow?
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 13:24:58
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Thank you so much for offering! I don't know what I would do if this website wasn't available.
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old timer
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 13:35:38
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no charge. I'll PM you.
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AbsolutelyFreaking
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 13:45:50
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loubugs - »
no charge.What?!?! . . . not even a cupcake?! . . . Com'n Lou, work it!
Cup Cake by picture account2012, on Flickr
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 14:18:58
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Thank you so much! I will bring a cupcake!
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AbsolutelyFreaking
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 14:27:53
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senses123 - »
Thank you so much! I will bring a cupcake!LOL!!! Excellent!
(psssst Lou, you're welcome!)
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old timer
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 14:56:54
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Thanks AF for not calling me out on that issue and David I didn't bring a cupcake to Denver. Come back to NYC and I'll bring you there. AF, too.
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Richard56
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 15:07:39
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@senses: Even though he found nothing, he fumigated the whole apartment.
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You're fortunate that Lou will take a look although wasn't aware of too many bats in NYC apartments other than those that are used for softball.When you say the exterminator "fumigated", could you be more specific. If you don't know what was done I believe they either leave a report or you can request it. If he set off some sort of " bug bomb" not a good a idea and probably not a good idea to use them again.
Richard
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AbsolutelyFreaking
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 16:17:36
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loubugs - »
Thanks AF for not calling me out on that issue and David I didn't bring a cupcake to Denver.Ummmmm, oops Lou?!
loubugs - »
AF, too.Yay! . . . and while I do so enjoy a good cupcake . . . can we make mine . . . . . oh I don't know . . . let's go with liquid . . . . and maybe wine or margarita "flavor"?!
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 16:33:35
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The exterminator did a spray of the whole apartment. When I asked him what chemicals, he said it was his own concoction. He said something about alcohol. I really don't think I really had bed bugs because as soon as I changed detergent, shampoo, soap and etc, it went away. I also never found anything and I checked the apartment from top to bottom every few days even when I swept. This is the first time I see anything in the apartment. My apartment was completely empty except for a table, a few chairs and my tv and clothes.
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 16:35:53
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I was in the apartment from October 15th, sprayed on Oct 31st and never saw anything until January 23rd. I am eternally grateful that Lou is going to take a look at the specimen I will bring him tomorrow. Thank goodness for this site or I would not know what to do.
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senses123
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Posted 4 years ago
Thu Jan 22 2015 16:37:54
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He said other chemicals besides alcohol but was not specific. He just said he has been doing this for years.
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AbsolutelyFreaking
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Posted 4 years ago
Fri Jan 23 2015 16:37:19
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Update Please?! . . .
Was the cupcake delivered?!
Oh, and yeah, how about the bug?
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old timer
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Posted 4 years ago
Fri Jan 23 2015 17:33:07
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When I asked him what chemicals, he said it was his own concoction. He said something about alcohol.
He said other chemicals besides alcohol but was not specific. He just said he has been doing this for years.
He should be able to give you a label, Safety Data Sheet. Going to look at the specimen. -
old timer
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Posted 4 years ago
Fri Jan 23 2015 18:03:45
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Yes, adult male Cimex lectularius. Pretty flat. No cupcake.
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AbsolutelyFreaking
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Posted 4 years ago
Fri Jan 23 2015 23:50:29
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Well rats Lou! I'll add it to the ones I owe you!
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