isabel::

Is it possible that having moved into a new apartment a month ago and having discarded or carefully treated everything I own beforehand, bedbugs could have traveled with me? Perhaps on a pet (who I also flea-bathed before I moved)?

I haven’t seen any bugs, but every 3-10 days or so, I notice a couple of little red marks, usually near my collarbones, similar to the mild reactions that I used to get when my previous apartment definitely had bedbugs.

I’m wondering if my body is creating these marks because I’m still so freaked out, or if a month is enough time for the bugs’ feces and shells and selves to be noticeable and what I might be looking for at this point.

Thanks for any advice.

Jim::

Hello Brittany,

Bed bug bites will go away and not leave any scars provided the bite does not become infected.

Your baby can be bitten, and you as well, with only the baby showing signs. It may also be the case that your baby is the only one being bitten. People react differently to bed bugs, some have bad reactions, some none at all.

If it’s only two bites and they are the only bites your baby has received, I don’t believe they are from bed bugs.

Regards,

Jim.

chris::

I’m pretty sure that the bites I have are from bed bugs but I’m no longer in the same country as I was when i got the bites, I am pretty sure I haven’t brought them with me because I was careful to clean everything before I came. Therefore I was just wondering how long the bites last for? they are sooo annoying!

Also, can anyone recommend any particular creams or anything to help the itching?

Angie::

I had a bed bug problem, got rid of it, now still have the stains of their excrement on wooden bunk beds.

Any ideas on how to get rid of that?? I tried bleach with hot water, but no luck.

Thank you.

Kat::

I’ve been getting all sizes of nasty bites up and down my right leg, ranging from shins to thighs. One I got a few days ago is roughly the size of a half-dollar (rather big), aches, and had itched for some time. When opened, pus is released.

Are these bed bug bites, or something else?

The pictures above are of my bites. The first is the big bite, compared in size to a nickel. The other two are of my shin and thigh, of smaller bites.

——————
Hi Kat, the first looks a bit like bed bug bites, but it is in such a tight area that I’m not sure.

——————
Update From Kat: I discovered that this is Shingles which can be caused by extreme stress in your life. You must have had chicken pox earlier in your life, the bumps came and didn’t really itch. they were very sensitive to the touch (kind of like it hurt at the touch), a few of the bumps looked like they had a white center.

Most times shingles hurt a lot after a few days with the need to take painkillers, mine never got that bad because I went to the doctor after five days. The doctor made the diagnosis. It takes weeks for them to go away. It’s easier on you if you are under the age of 50, but younger people (20 to 50) usually don’t get them.

I am in my 40’s now and also had them when I was 35.

Thanks!

Betsy::

Hi,

I just moved out of an apartment that had a roving bedbug infestation for 5 months. We caught tons of them, so it was definitely bedbugs. We had an exterminator come 7 times, we threw out all our beds and furniture…

I put my electronics in storage and all I brought with me to my new place were my clothes (which I’d washed/dried in hot water and also double-bagged in black contractor bags sealed in duct tape) along with some toiletries and dishes. I even gave my cat a flea bath right before moving on recommendation from one exterminator, and threw out the clothes I was wearing that morning, then took a shower and put on fresh clothes I’d been keeping in the fridge to go to my new place in and ran out the door! (The bugs basically ruined our lives, so I wanted to take every precaution, however excessive it sounded.)

However. Last night was the first night I spent in my new apartment, and at around noon today I noticed a few more little red bites, in clusters of three on both sides of my thighs. (My reaction to bedbug bites is very mild.) These ones have little slit-like punctures in them, which I haven’t noticed before. See the bed bug bite picture below:

My question to this site is — do you think it’s likely that they’re bites that happened a day and a half ago (during my last night in my previous apartment) — in other words, is it possible it’s taken them something like 36 hours to show up? Or does this mean I got bitten last night? I’m terrified that I might have brought them into my new apartment, even though I’ve done EVERYTHING very carefully, after spending only one night here.

I haven’t even unpacked, I’m waiting to wash all my clothes a second time before I take them out of the contractor bags. So I’m wondering if there’s a way to determine if they’re old bites, or what other suggestions you might have for securing my new place from them before they become a problem. (If they even do.)

Thanks so much. Your website is much appreciated.

Jim::

Hello Roxy, Shally and Sam.

Roxy, I have never heard of this before, but I’ll take a leap here and say that perhaps there is something in the chocolate you are eating that causes you to exude more carbon dioxide? Bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide and warmth.

Shally, I don’t believe the bleach and water is going to stop the bed bugs. Try some food grade Diatomaceous Earth instead. Check out the my treatment section for more information.

Sam, Have you checked for bed bug signs? A bite may not appear for some time after, so it may pop up later in the day. Use my Checklist and look to see if there is any evidence of bedbugs, if not, then you probably have something else (which is good : )

shally::

So I hear you can use bleach and water and spray around the bed is that true??

Jim::

He Stefany,

If all you are doing is washing your clothing and vacuuming, then you’re not doing enough. Have you tried Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth yet?

Check out my bed bug treatment section for more information about this and other suggestions.

Best regards,

Jim

Jim::

Hi Rose,

I did some digging and found that there are a number of reports about bugs at this hotel. One case, l0stndeliri0us from Miami was staying at the same hotel around August 30th 2008 and noticed bugs all over the mattress and also on the bed their children were sleeping in. More about this here:
tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34515-d87721-r19680949-Rodeway_Inn_International-Orlando_Florida.html

Another one, this time on on hotels.com, (good Location, not great accommodations) reported bugs in the room but this brave sole decided to sleep with them!

And what I think you will find most interesting is a lawsuit against Rodeway Inn International. A tampa woman launched a lawsuit against the hotel claiming she had suffered from bed bug bites that permanently scarred her.

At that point, I stopped searching figuring this was enough.

I hope that helps!

Thanks for posting!

Jim.

Jim::

Hi Josie,

They do live in the far north. Bed bug bites should not leave a scar (unless you itch them).

Do you have any pictures? If you can take a few and send them to me, I’ll make sure to edit the picture as I have done with all these you see, and display only the bite.

Best regards,

Jim.

Cat::

This past week I came down with all these bites (rash?). It looks like bites to me, its light red and in the middle there is a dark spot where I think I got bit. I’m afraid they are bed bug bites. HOWEVER, they don’t itch, don’t even bother me, except they are really nasty and they seem to appear through out the day. Here are two pictures I’ve included below:

I noticed a fresh batch of ‘bites’ in the morning but through out the day, it seems like I get a few more. I moved into my apartment months ago and have not stayed in a hotel (or had any guests), so I don’t know how these little buggers got in. I’m hoping they are flea bites (neighbor has a dog), since fleas are easy to get rid of, but again, they don’t itch!!

I stripped my area today (and washed sheets) and inspected carefully but didn’t find any signs of bed bugs. Does any one of have any suggestions???

11/21/08 – This is to follow up on my pictures above – luckily for me, they were NOT bed bugs and instead a skin rash called Pityriasis Rosea. It’s asymptomatic and the rash starts with a ‘herald’ patch that looks like a ringworm (I had a patch like that, but its not the pictures) and then small bumps spread out from there….which is what you see on my pictures and what I thought were bed bugs.

The rash is not contagious and goes away on its own (in about 2 months!).

Thanks Jim for posting this for me!

sam::

How does an infestation of bed bugs start and can you really get rid of them completely. Is it best to get rid of the bed altogether. I fear i have them in this house we rent. My two boys get up with bites that where not there when they went to bed. Is it a landlord’s responsibility to get rid of bedbugs? I feel like the house is dirty.

Andrea::

Hi, I have a 3 year old son. My son likes to stay the night with his Pa-Pa (my dad). My baby is covered in bites from his scalp to his feet. I have been researching bed bug bites here and on the internet. I think that the bites are due to Bed Bugs. Matter of fact they are Bed Bug bites. How do I convince my father that his bed is infested with bed bugs? How come my father isn’t getting these bites when he is the one that sleeps in the bed every night? I am starting to panic because I don’t know what to do. My son is miserable I don’t know how to relieve him of his misery.

Lost and confused
Andrea- Missouri

Jim::

Hi Vee,

Wow, these bites look painful!

Yes, when you crush the bed bug, especially after a good feeding, it will splatter blood and may smell exactly as you describe.

Is there any way you can get some pictures of the mattress or area the bugs live in or that have fecal matter? I’d love to see this.

Also, please let us know what the doctor tells you and what his treatment is.

Good luck,

Jim.

Ellie::

Emily-

I am so with you and cannot figure out if I have bed bugs or mosquitoes. I get bites every once in a while, which I would normally think were mosquitoes, but because they happen indoors and at night (and in the fall), I’m beginning to think it could be bed bugs.

We live in New York City, where I know bed bugs are rampant. However, so are other bugs — I see things flying around in our apartment, as well as the occasional centipede, spider, or roach. So basically, I feel like it could be anything (yay).

It seems like this site is all questions and no answers, but I figured I’d pick out the person whose problem seemed the most like mine. If you happen to figure out your issue, please let me know.

Good luck!

vee::

Ok, I’m pretty sure I’ve been sleeping w/ bedbugs the last couple of nights (just moved into a sublet apt.) I’ve found them, squished at least 4 of them and my bites initially looked like everyone else’s bedbug bites – large itchy welts. my itching and welts started yesterday around noon… it’s now been about 36hours and my bites have gotten larger, redder and harder. there are no open wounds so there are no infections. a couple of the welts seem to be partially discoloring – but into rings, not just fading away!

Cortisone creams have helped a bit. the question is should i be worried? i have a history of being a bit sensitive to bites. i don’t really want to spend a day waiting at a clinic to be told, “don’t scratch” and to be given some cream i already have….

Joyce Reynolds::

Hi,

My 86yr mother-in-law just found out yesterday that she had bedbugs. The Exterminator told her that they were about three weeks old. They looked almost like maggots with the ends darkened.Two were in a jar shown to me. My question is, I have been going over there to help out with cleaning and to give her shots.

The last time I was at her house was a 9 days ago. During that time she has given me a blouse that was on her bed, a bed that I changed sheets and carried down stairs to wash. I took the blouse home and hung it up in my guest bedroom closet. Is there a big chance that I could have brought them home?

I have checked my couch , chair and bed every night, and so far I see nothing. I do feel like something is crawling on me at night, but I see nothing and no bites, so that could very well be all in my mind. I really don’t think I can handle these creatures, I really don’t.

What should I be looking for and how long will I know that I am safe. Or just to be on the safe side should I have my house exterminated now?

Thanks for your help
PS: Could you please send your answer to my email, so that I will be sure to see it.

Thanks again,
Joyce Reynolds

Jessica::

Thanks for responding. Actually, he is going to be staying in this hotel for three weeks, then moving to another one in another city for an additional week before he comes home. We live in NYC in an apt. so don’t have a garage.

And also, my kids and I were planning to visit the weekend after next and stay with him!

He was on the train yesterday getting there, so he could have gotten bitten there. He went to a neighborhood pharmacy and the pharmacist told him it was a spider bite. I had instructed him in advance (after reading the google report) to not put his suitcase on the bed and to check the mattress. He said he did that and saw nothing, but he’s not the most detail-oriented person and until he woke up with the bite, I think he thought I was being paranoid (which I’m sure I am.)

J.

Jessica::

My husband is traveling and staying in a hotel. Last night was his first night and he woke up this morning with what he says looks like a blood blister on the back of his hand. He says it doesn’t really itch, and that’s his only bite.

Could it be bedbugs? I googled the hotel online and found one reported incident in a specific room in Feb of this year (not the room he’s in). I’ve attached the picture below:

Thanks, Jessica

Ari::

Sleepless in Hollywood……

Alright, so I tried to save some money and got a used box spring. Bad Idea!!!!! Didn’t feel anything for about two weeks. Then I rearranged my furniture, putting my bed next to the wall AC unit, which of course, started leaking. The box spring, which was just on the floor, got all wet, that is what I think woke the little blood suckers up.

I started getting large red welty, ITCHY bumps in little groups on my arms, then my hands, my chest, and so on. I had been taking antibiotics for an infected tooth, and was told that my bumps were an allergic reaction to the antibiotics. I stopped taking them, the bumps didn’t get better, they just got worse.

After about a week I started thinking something else must be wrong, since I was still welty and itchy. I recalled an article I had read about bed bugs in a hotel and thought to myself “Oh no!!!” Well…oh yes. I lifted up my mattress, which is less than 3 months old, and there it was!!!! A little ugly crawling beastie!

After doing some research and comparing pictures of bugs and bites, yep, it was a bed bug. Now I am waging war. I inspected the boxspring and found what I believe to be the “nest”, a whole bunch of the nasty little things. I threw the box spring out, I threw out my area rug, the dogs stuffed toys and all my bedding, and tonight I am washing all items of a cloth nature in HOT water. Also I will steam clean my tile floors, the walls and everything else.

I did not see any eggs anywhere and am hoping that the majority of them were still in the box spring when I threw it out. My biggest concern is that I live in a studio apartment and that the bed bugs have migrated to my couch. What else can I do that I haven’t done?

I am somewhat encouraged by the fact that there were no new bites this morning after last nights cleaning frenzy but I am still sleeping with no bed clothes on a mattress on the floor……and that’s only when I can sleep at all.

StephanieBedBUGGING::

I’m not 100% sure it’s bedbugs, but I have read nearly every site I could find on them and I’m 99.9% sure I have them. I moved into a rental house 4 months ago, but didn’t get my first bite until a month later. Every bite has also been on the same body part (i.e. it kills me to sit on it), but not the exact spot, which I find discomforting since I didn’t get them at the same time.

I assumed it was a spider bite, seeing as how they were everywhere when i moved in, and the bite also was very swollen, feverish, and smelled horrible when it finally busted, but it never itched. About 6 weeks after that incident I received my second bite. This time it started out as just a small welt and itched like crazy, but once it started swelling and getting feverish, the same as the first bite, the itching stopped.

So now I kind of get uneasy, because they look the same and were in the same area. And then the last bites were just about a week ago and I still have them. There’s 3 of them and they are in a straight line, but they’re not as close to each other as what I’ve seen and read about them, they’re about 2 or 3 inches apart. All 3 of them itched, and they all came up a day behind the other, didn’t have a clue I had 3 of them til the third day, and came up in a descending order the first is at the top of my behind and the third at the bottom.

These have lasted a lot longer and been 10x as painful as the other ones that I had. And this time I feel like something is crawling all over me from head to toe. I’m scared to sleep in my house. I’ve been sleeping outside in the hammock, but it’ll be too cold to do that pretty soon, but I can’t handle another one of these bites either.

I still have not seen the first bug or the spots of blood. But everything else adds up. There’s so many life stages of this bug and people will have different reactions, so I get that part, and it’s quite possible that the blood spots could be a dead bug that was finished and maybe got rolled over on, because I read that after they engorged themselves, they pop with vary little force whatsoever.

But what I don’t get is where are they? Why can I not find them? I didn’t take pictures of my first bites, because I didn’t even know that bedbugs existed until this last episode occurred so the three pics will be of the bites I have now.

Stephanie
NE Mississippi

Mitzi::

I have a chance to take an apartment in a large rental facility that has had bedbugs within the last year. As this is government funded, they had to had professional people take care of it. They have it checked every month and have had no further signs.

The apartment I am looking at is not directly above the infestation, but 50′ feet or so from it on the second floor. As I have cancer, I was wondering what the risk of getting an infestation from this. As government funded apartment are hard to get, I do not like to say no unless there is a problem.

Jim::

Hi Ruth,

Bedbugs are more likely to occur in places where there is a lot of human traffic and sleeping arrangements, such as the rise in bed bugs found in homeless shelters and hotels (including some of the best hotels around).

A day care center would be a great place as the kids take naps, however, the naps happen during the day and bed bugs prefer the night. Usually with bedbugs you’ll receive many bites, so just having that one would more likely be something else, such as a spider (see BadSpiderBites.com for photos and more).

Thanks for visiting and let us know if this happens again!

Jim.

jim::

Hi Nathan,

It sounds like you reacted as fast as possible and did everything possible to eliminate the possibility of eggs hatching in your cloths or surrounding area.

It takes at least 4 weeks for the eggs to hatch, so you won’t know for sure until then. I know you don’t want to hear that, but the good part is that’s 4 weeks to make sure you have really cleaned well.

If a bedbug did hitch a ride (and it would likely be only one), it’s going to be hiding out close to your luggage, where you removed your clothing, etc. Clean those areas well (which it sounds like you did) and you should be all set.

The only other thing I can think of is to get up in the middle of the night with a flashlight and start looking for one. I’m guessing you’ll be fine…

By the way, what hotel did you stay at? I can do some online research and find out if they have had any complaints. Don’t feel you have to respond to that question and if you do, and want to keep it private, send me an email (bottom of site).

Please keep us posted!

Jim.

Jim::

Hi Manda,

Strange… Bedbugs usually hide on and around the mattress. If you’re real lucky, the bedbugs just hid out on the bed and when you removed it, you removed them as well, but that would take a lot of luck.

Have you check the surrounding area for signs of bugs? Try checking in the middle of the night?

You now, it may have not been bedbugs at all? If you find a bedbug, that would be proof positive and we can go from there.

Regardless, let’s hope this is the end of it :)

Have a great day!

Jim.

Jim::

Hi Manda,

Sorry to hear the problems! Is there any way you can take a picture of the stuff you found on the mattress?

If there is water inside the mattress and just a sheet over it, then the bed bugs probably wouldn’t be hidding there, more likely, they would be in and around the bed frame. Check under the bed in the corner of the bed frame, along the edges, etc and see if you spot them.

You can always set your alarm for 3 or 4am and start looking around – this is the best time to spot them.

Send me some pictures and I can tell you more.

Best regards,

Jim.

Jim::

Hi Diana,

Bedbugs are very resilient and it may still be too early. I’d set my alarm clock for around 3 or 4am and use a flashlight to spot them. My checklist has a number of locations that you can check and the treatment section of this site has a suggestion on how to dehydrate bedbugs and may come in handy when buying new furniture!

Please let us know what you find out!

Have a great day!

Jim.

Jen::

i think i might have bed bugs but i’m not sure. my mattress is really old it was my grandmothers from like 20 years ago. i recently got 3 bites in a row on my stomach. they are about an inch apart and the kinda look like mosequito bites.

Linda::

I’ve had these things for about 4 years now. I’ve thrown out everything in my bedroom caulked – poured scalding water on the floor – ruined my floor. And I still have them. One thing helps tho is to put your mattress in a zipped plastic (Walmart) I also put plastic bowls filled with vegetable oil with my bed post in them. And I make sure nothing touches the floor, ie my sheets or bedspread, nothing.

I wash my sheets every 3 days and also check your pillows and wash them periodically. I put down some kind of powder and it helps. They are still there. This is all I can seem to do that helps. It is awful. I’m so pissed when I get up in the morning and find a welt on my skin and know they got me again. I have so many scars on my legs, it’s embarrassing.

I guess just try and try, clean and clean. I’ve never even found where they are coming from. I hope to starve them to death but they always find a way to get me.

Terry::

Can you tell me if dust mite proof mattress encasements and bed bug proof are the same thing? and if a cover is waterproof, will it keep bed bugs in or out from the mattress?

William::

We had an infestation several years ago. Didn’t know we had one until like everyone here, we found small itchy red spots on our arms and legs. We didn’t know what they were at the time, thinking they were mosquito bites or flea bites. Until one day we found one crawling on a bed sheet.

That is when we got into detective mode. Everything in that room got torn apart. To effectively get rid of bed bugs, you basically have to become your own exterminator. The mattresses we burned, got new ones and left the plastic on that one. The head boards/bed frames we took apart and inspected every nook and cranny. The best tell-tale signs of bed bugs is like a dark, kind of greasy splotch(s). Or what I call a dumping ground. It is near this area where the little demons are at. We found out that bed bugs tend to cluster, kind of like aphids.

We got several cans of RAID, and pretty much sprayed everything. One suggestion in doing this. You have to let the item that has been sprayed air out for several days….mostly to get the chemicals to dissipate…and make sure that the item you are spraying is not something you will be near/next to….you don’t want to absorb those chemicals. If it is a room you are spraying….you have to get every crack/crevice. If you have to take everything to the bare wood, then do so. Take out the baseboards, trim, EVERYTHING. A bed bug that hasn’t fed is flat and like a cockroach, it can crawl and fit in the smallest crevice.

Another thing about bed bugs is they are like cockroaches or mice. If you see one, don’t think you only have just that one! You just found the slow one, and you have to think that you’ve got a hundred more.

Anyway, with all the bedding and clothing we had there, we bagged up and immediately washed in HOT water. We de-cluttered the room, and went to work with the RAID. Afterward, we sealed up the room and left it alone for several days. After several days, we put on a fresh coat of paint which sealed up any cracks in the walls.

REMEMBER, these little buggers can be beat. You just have to remember that just because they are call BED BUGS doesn’t necessarily mean that they only live in the BED. They will live in the walls, ceiling, etc. Also, make a thorough inspection in every living area….INCLUDING the living room. We found out that they migrated into the couches there.

As for the bites themselves, the best thing to do is not scratch them. Using an anti-itch cream makes it tolerable. Another thing to consider when I looked at some of the pictures is they might not be bed bug bites. If you have pets that live indoors, they might be flea bites. And mosquito and spiders tend to only have one specific bite.

This was our battle story with these monsters and how we won. But every now and again, we keep an eye for them…..you just never know.

Christine::

Hi there,

I just moved into my first apartment, and for the sake of being cheap I bought a mattress and box spring off of Craigslist from a very nice Indian woman who lives near me. I have been living here for about two weeks with the new mattress, and on Sunday I went on a motorcycle ride with a friend to a berry farm to pick blackberries (I wasn’t wearing a jacket, just a loose white tank top). Since then, I have had maybe 10 bites if that, only on my back and stomach, and they definitely aren’t as big as the ones posted on here (not swollen, itchy but they don’t look anything like mosquito bites or poison ivy).

They aren’t in clusters, really, and maybe I’ve just made myself paranoid from reading so much about them. Do you think they could have come from riding or the berry farm rather than bed bugs? I am tearing my bed apart looking for these things, and I found a little brown thing in the bed that looks a bit like cardboard (I did have things in cardboard on my bed earlier). My sheets are totally white, and I don’t see any spots. I sleep with my legs and arms exposed and they are not bitten to my knowledge.

Am I just freaking myself out because I bought a used mattress?

Katie G::

Hi, I have been getting bites during the day and night! I have been lifting the mattresses up looking for them every day! Vacuuming everyday! Moved furniture and inspected it! i AM going crazy with all the HORRIBLE ITCHING!!!!! I went to the Hospital ER! they told me it was scabies!

I used the cream still didn’t work! Next i used Sulfur Ointment 2-3 times a day for 4 days! Still didn’t work! Well now the sulfur has left my skin Dry and WRECKED! it has been 6 weeks and i still am getting new ones about 2-3 every other night!

My husband has no signs of bites nor do my other 2 roommates! We have been sleeping in separate sheets enclosing our bodies like a cocoon while we sleep. STILL BITES!!! Last night my husband went to sleep 1st, with my sleepy eyes i saw a bedbug crawling up the covers going after HIM!! AHHHH!!! i grabbed it and put it in a zip lock bag !!

It looks just like the pictures on this site. Its not very big!! BUT to my surprise i am happy to know its not scabies!

Now we can MAKE A PLAN and get rid of them! YAY finally PROOF OF MY INSANITY!

Calvin::

Hi, I recently found your site, and this gives me a lot of relief and almost joy. For the past year or so, me and my brother have been getting strange bites all over at night. We both share a room, and we only got bit in there. We were the only ones, and it was only in this room.

We got rid of mattresses, sheets, pillows, everything. My parents ruled out bed bugs within like 5 days because no one else got bit. We had biopsies and all kinda of tests, and they all said the same thing, ‘some kind of bite that could be consistent with an arachnid’.

Our family has been trying to find out what these bites are for a while, and recently, me and my brother moved out of our room. He got the room next door, and I went into the basement. We figured that since we only got bit in that room we would be ok. We were in our new rooms for a day or two, and we have now started to get more bites.

We already have an exterminator coming so I will have to tell my parents that it could really be bed bugs. This site helped me identify bed bugs in my bed, blood spots, and the fact that not everyone will get the rash like bites, only those with a reaction.

I feel like I should be upset about having bed bugs, but just knowing what it is now is amazing for us. =)

Samuel::

Bedbugs do not bite everyone or at least not everyone has a reaction to their bites so they may be present and biting just not really showing up as welts on the other three.

I have seen several say that the exterminator did not get rid of all of their bedbugs and wanted to remind them what we found out. A lot of bedbugs are growing chemical resistant to what the PCO are using so while they may kill 99% of what you have, you may need another chemical to get the last one or two or you may need a non-chemical treatment.

We ended up using a bedbug spray. These are contact sprays so they only work on what they are sprayed on but we carry this with us when we travel and we continue to spray it around our place (6 months after last sighting – call it paranoia but when you have been in bedbug hell, you never want to go back).

Tanya::

Do bedbugs bite everyone because we have a pretty bad infestation and there are four other people living in my house yet I’m the only one getting bitten. Does anyone know?

Jana N.::

I’m praying these aren’t what I think they are, bites from Bed Bugs. A few showed up the beginning of last week, and then a few more showed up by Friday. I didn’t really notice them until a friend pointed them out at dinner on Friday.

I’m not sure if I have been bitten more times, but last night, these bites didn’t have the red dot in the middle–which as you can see some of them now do. I’m not sure if this means they are getting better, or worse. I have a couple of bites on my other elbow-maybe one or two, but I don’t have them anywhere else.

It was strange. I went online to your site last night, and I was reading about what they are because my boyfriend has some friends staying at his apartment. They told him they think he has bed bugs. We haven’t slept at his place for a week or so, but suddenly, as I was reading up on them for her—I started thinking about the bites on my arm.

I haven’t found any trace of them–no streaks on the sheets or actual pieces of the bed bugs.

What do I do? Should I go to the doctor? Please let me know, and I will go right after work today.

Becky::

I suffered from bed bugs bite for almost 9 months, the exterminator came to spray our apartment but it didn’t clear all, some few left then they multiply. I got a lot of marks all over my body especially in my hand and leg. I’m shy to put on a shirt and wear shorts because of the bite marks. It lowers my self confidence, can somebody help me here to recommend a lotion that can help lessen my bed bites marks or any medication. I’d appreciate your help..tnx

Matt::

I am questioning whether or not bites that have been appearing on me the past 2 weeks are bedbugs or not. Some nights they occur, some they don’t.

When I sleep it is always in shorts, with a tshirt. There are plenty of arms and legs to bite, but so far I have only had a single bite on my neck. The rest have been on the inner thighs, left AND right. They appear as small red welts, not really bites. They do not itch at all, usually. I’m not sure what it is, I’ve inspected my entire mattress up and down with no sure signs of bugs.

Jessica::

I woke up yesterday morning to find that my shins and forearms were covered in blotchy welts. I hadn’t slept well the night before and was aware of scratching around these areas in my half-consciousness, but thought it was just a case of the chiggers I was getting over. I took Claritin (an anti-histamine) and got in my friend’s car, who said, “No. Those are bed bug bites; my sister had them so badly that she had to be hospitalized.” Later that day, the welts mysteriously faded and my skin looked normal.

Now that I’m home, I’m terrified to sleep in my bed. We washed the bedsheets and mattress pad and I vacuumed the carpet. Unfortunately we don’t have a small vacuum so I have to either heft the Hoover onto the mattress or wait for my grandma’s Dirt Devil tomorrow.

I’m afraid to sleep on the bed: partly because of paranoia, partly because of what I might find tomorrow morning. I suppose if there are terrible blotches tomorrow I’ll photograph them and post them.

Shawna::

Okay this is worry me tremendously I have been reading all these articles on bed bugs and now I am almost certain that’s what I have too! My fiancee stays at hotels when he is gone on his trips he’s a truck driver! I think he has brought bed bugs home with him not only are they getting me while I’m sleeping on my ankles but they are now getting my arms and back and stomach too! What do I do?

I have never had this problem till he started staying at these hotels. What can I do and use I’m getting married Tuesday and my legs look horrible my dress is a semi short one! Help what kind of sprays do they have as well as stuff for my legs!!!!!

I will be sure as to post a pic of the bites tonight!

Chosk::

Dear jim and All at bad spiderbites

Thanks for your excellent site! Three weeks ago I went on holiday. When I awoke after the first night in the accommodation I saw insects crawling on my bed. I was very lucky the sun was streaming in directly onto the sheets as the room was dark. I touched one of these little black spots and there was a tiny streak of blood on the white sheet! What?

I had not felt any bites and in fact did not see anything for two days. I began to suffer from a blinding headache and felt very ill and hot.

The night of the second day in the unit I stepped out of a hot shower and saw my body covered in CLUSTERS of red welts just starting to swell and itch.
I was very lucky to find an after hours doctors who recognized the bites immediately, he told me to tell the managers of the accommodation. I explained I had done that the first morning, but they had disbelieved me to the point of calling me a lier! The doctor said I must go back as the owners had a responsibility to investigate and treat this infestation. They refused to believe me so I went to the local council environmental health officer who took it very seriously. I asked her to send her entomologists which she did the next day – definitive diagnosis very bad infestation of bed bugs.

The second week the doctor diagnosed my condition Severe TYPE IV Allergic Reaction to the bed bug toxin. Not everyone gets this thank God, but I was very ill and almost wanted to end it I felt so down. It also affected my immune system he said as I had to take masses of harsh medication. This had flow on effects to other health conditions.

I read others on this great site talk about “the Nightmare” – I agree it was very nasty and I felt disbelieved and quite “crazy”. I have scars where from the bites, and I had to bag and bin many nice items which were damaged or could not be treated. But the worst thing was being treated with such cruelty and disrespect.

I have lived, worked and traveled around the world, across all the continents and I have never had this happen to me before. It was a bad experience and I thank you very much for this site – it is very comforting to read exactly the same symptoms as mine, I often thought I was going mad – I was told I had brought it on myself or made it up or exaggerated the terrible itching and swelling and bites, although I knew all this was untrue, to be honest I had started to believe it. Now I know other folk out there have been through the same I feel so much more normal and even a little sane!

Many many thanks
T’na
Brisbane
Australia

Jennifer::

I will have to get someone to help me take pics of my arms and the back of my neck so I can send them. I am certain now that the bites/rash I’ve been dealing with over the past 6 weeks is from bed bugs. I had my bed in storage for about a year, and as soon as I moved into my new place (with my old bed), I started itching and coming up with bites on my neck, back, arms, etc.

I am very allergic to insect bites, fleas/mosquitoes, etc always blister up and itch horribly….these have the same reaction. The blisters itch and when I scratch, seems like the bites “spread” like impetigo. The worst part was the intense itching I had in the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. No bites there, just itching, almost like hives would cause. (I do have bites/itches on the tops of my hands and on my fingers, and the “new bites/rash” seem to be on my hands.) I can only assume the hands/feet were itchy due to severe allergic reaction and that the new bites/rash on my hands is from handling bed linens, etc, while washing/cleaning.

I have treated myself with antibiotics to get the bites to heal up. I also used an OTC poison oak/poison ivy medication that is made to “dry up” the weeping pus from those rashes. At the time, my bites were doing just that and the cream made a HUGE improvement within just a few hours of application. The itching I have to treat with benedryl. The hands/feet itching is pretty much gone.

Since I’ve done all the cleaning up……I have only noticed a few new bites. The strangest thing is that I get new “itchy” places in the middle of the day…while working….while driving……but I don’t ever notice anything actually biting me.

How can bed bug bites just “show up” at such random intervals?

I never saw any bed bugs myself, and couldn’t find anything on the mattress that looked like blood stains like the pictures here (mattresses were cream colored, should have been easy to see them?). When my landlord put them out for the trash man, he said he saw some little red bugs on it.

What I have seen: spiders. Wolf spiders and what could be: baby wolfies, small brown recluse or yellow sac spiders. I have not seen any “necrosis” type reaction in the bites I have, so don’t think these bites are due to spiders. The pics of bed bug bites are most similar to what I have.

WHAT I HAVE DONE TO TREAT:
Threw out my bed. No carpeting anywhere but living room, so swept and mopped with bleach ALL floors before putting in new bed. Washed ALL bedclothes, even the ones in the closet not in use. Steam Cleaned the living room carpet. Threw out all the bed pillows and throw pillows from my room (even the dog bed). Washed all the throw rugs in the house. Gave the dog a bath. (Twice: at first I thought he might have brought some poison ivy into the house on his fur).
I have not used any pesticides so far, but plan to just to make sure they are all gone (and to make sure I don’t have any imaginary itches).

CONCERN:
What if they have migrated to my sofa? My daughter was here a couple of weeks ago and complained of itching/bites without even knowing about the problem. The sofa has the many pillows for the backrest part instead of one singular piece, and has a sofa bed inside. How can I treat the sofa without also exposing myself/my daughter to skin contact with the pesticides? SHOULD I JUST THROW OUT MY FURNITURE TOO? Believe me, after all this itching, rash, and bother, I’M WILLING if necessary. I itch when I sit in the living room but don’t want to throw out the baby with the bathwater just because I have a case of heebie jeebies (imaginary itches).

Any suggestions are appreciated. I can’t stand having these bites all over me and certainly don’t want to expose anyone else to them (i.e.-no company at my house!).

Duke::

I have no advise, no photos etc. Just want to tell everyone how angry these little (non rent paying) blood slurpers have made me. Anyway I caught one the other day and sealed it carefully inside transparent sticky tape… then microwaved the bed bug full blast for 3 minutes and i enjoyed watching it pop and fizz……. I slept better that night!!

Amanda::

All of a sudden I’ve been seeing bug bites on my armpits, legs and even around my private. WHAT THE HECK IS BITING ME????? I’m pretty sure I’m getting them at night when I’m sleeping. I haven’t been out of the city that I live in. I’ve been wearing long sleeves and pants, and haven’t been out at night.

Some of the bites are big and some of them are small, they are all red and sort of round. I don’t see a trace of a bed bug. Can you help solve this annoying mystery? I would really appreciate it.

Leanna::

Oh my word!! I know how to get rid of them!!! Finally!!!!

Go to a pet feed store and buy Diatomaceous Earth. It is 100% safe, chemical free, and all natural. God bless mother earth for that. It is also very cheap. The parasites have a waxed shell and the powder (ditomasis fossilized earth) sticks to their bodies and dehydrates them. They eventually dry up and die.

Put it:
Under your mattress
Along the baseboards in your place
On your bed frame
Under all your furniture

My family and i were bitten all over. I was pregnant at the time and was so worried about diseases. All went well in the end. You’ll have powder (the fossilized earth-it’s a white powder) all over your place but it is worth it. They can lay dormant for up to 18 months.

In your walls, baseboards, and any where they can find wood. So we have had the fossilized earth laid out for about 6 month. Since then i have found a few dead ones and 1 live one. We are in an apartment and are planning to move in a few months so we will leave the powder down until then.

We don’t want to take them with us. Good luck everyone!

Note: Diatomaceous earth consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. Diatomite is used as an insecticide because it absorbs lipids from the outer layer of insects which causes them to dehydrate.

Jim::

Hi Laurie,

That sounds more like an allergic reaction rather than bites from bed bugs. The bedbug bite will become red, but I’ve not heard of them going away and then coming back at a later date (same locating, etc…).

Monitor what your husband is eating and drinking and make note of the food consumed the day before.

Best regards,

Jim.