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Cleaning Up:  Bedbugs?!!  |
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babysmama
True Blue Farmgirl
931 Posts
Elizabeth
Iowa
931 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 10:08:06 AM
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Help me!!! I have had some itchy red spots that I thought were some type of bug bites the past few weeks and have recently been getting more and more. After doing some research I think that we may have bed bugs?!!! The bites look the same and it is worse in the morning. Now, after reading some sites it says that there are bed bugs and bat bugs. Bed bugs come from an infested house or used furniture where bat bugs come from bats or birds roosting near or in your house. Now, we know that there are probably a few bats in the attic so the bugs could have come from the walls or something BUT we have known the bats were there for months and never had a problem until a few weeks ago. We did get a used couch from my aunt a few weeks ago and I am wondering if they are coming from that? What would be your guess and have you ever had a problem or know how to solve this? Please help!!!
-Elizabeth |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 10:56:35 AM
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I quickly found this site by Googling "bat bugs" so you've probably already seen it, but I'll post it here for the convenience of others (warning, if sudden close-ups of bugs frighten you, don't click on this): http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2105a.html
These guys are apparently pretty big -- between a quarter of an inch long to three-eights. I imagine you'd see them if you had them. Have you been sitting on the ground outside, or walking through brush/forest? Maybe something gets you that doesn't show up until after you've been to bed.
It's funny you should mention your problem, because I woke up this morning with three huge mosquito-bite-type welts on the back of my neck and also my rear end. I have no idea what put them there.
BTW, my husband and I use Sting Stop, a homeopathic gel that you can get at natural food stores, herb shops, and so on. It takes the fire and sting right out of bug bites. Truly amazing stuff. No home should be without a tube of it.
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Patsy
True Blue Farmgirl
592 Posts
Illinois
USA
592 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 12:05:12 PM
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Rosemary,
You might have a spider in your bed. Be sure and check. This happened to me awhile back and they bite repeatedly.
Elizabeth, I have no idea what you may have. But if you have introduced a used piece of furniture into the house, I would sure check it.
May God bless those who love the soil,
Patsy
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 1:18:22 PM
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If you have bed bugs you will see spots on your box springs or matress that resemble rust spots/streaks. This is of course the droppings from the bugs.
Folds and creases in the bed linens, and seams and tufts of mattresses and box springs, in particular, may harbor bed bugs or their eggs. They may also be found within pleats of curtains, beneath loose areas of wallpaper near the bed, in corners of desks and dressers, within spaces of wicker furniture, behind cove molding, and in laundry or other items on the floor or around the room. Sometimes, characteristic dark brown or reddish fecal spots of bed bugs are apparent on the bed linens, mattress or walls near the bed. A peculiar coriander-like odor may be detected in some heavily infested residences.
here is some more info:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bedbugs/#residence
http://www.badspiderbites.com/bed-bugs.php
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
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bboopster
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Betty Jo
West Bend
Wisconsin
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 1:48:15 PM
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I got bite the other night by an ant in our bed. How he got there I have no clue. Are you sure they are not scabbies? Those are small bugs that burrow into your skin lay eggs, poop and leave for the eggs to hatch and the cycle repeats. Usually bites are in rows but once my daughters looked like bad posion ivy. Coverd her hands and the webbing between her fingers. Does not mean you are dirty or your house is, just a body bug that like clean skin. You can pick them up from others, outside, trying on clothes ect.. I have experinced them a few times with my children (lice too the children were always bringing home something yucky). The cure is very similar to head lice wash everything, bag, vacum repeat in seven days. I'm not sure if there is an OTC body soap as the Dr. always gave me a RX as the family was so big to save me money.
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 2:34:32 PM
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Thanks Patsy; the spider thing occurred to me. We do have all kinds of spiders. Probably the best antidote is regularly changing and laundering the sheets and using something in wash water that has a discouraging effect on the little tykes, but that is perfectly harmless to us. I wonder what that might be? Feverfew? Mint? Thinking about this...
Clarification: I'm referring to getting rid of little spiders and things via this method. I'm sure bed and bat bugs need a much more concerted effort. |
Edited by - Rosemary on Aug 19 2007 5:37:21 PM |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 2:40:12 PM
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You need to get it checked by a doctor if you think it is scabbies. Scabbies it is considered a communicable disease and must be reported to school officials if you have children. We had an outbreak at our school last year and all the kids who had it were sent home and not allowed back until they had completed a two week treatment. It is HIGHLY contagous.
I do not know if you have seed ticks in your area. I got some on my ankles once and they wouldn't go away. It wasn't until a few days later I realized that what I had was seed ticks all over me. They wont just wash of your skin. I had to use a bleach solution and really scrub my feet for several days. It continued to itch for weeks. Some of the bites even swelled a tiny bit and loked almost like poison ivy. They can also fall off into your sheets and stuff. You have to wash with VERY HOT soapy water to get rid of the ticks. My doctor actually recomeded I boil my sheets.
Felt and Fabric Crafts
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com
BLOG
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com |
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babysmama
True Blue Farmgirl
931 Posts
Elizabeth
Iowa
931 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 3:54:57 PM
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I looked on my mattress and don't see anything on, under, or around it. I did strip my sheets off and wash them in hot water and vacuum the mattress. I'm starting to think that it must be the couch that we got. My aunt has moved around A LOT and was moving again and wanted to give her bed and couch away. I'm starting to wonder if she knew something was up - why else would she give a bed and couch away?!! I don't want to think that she would willingly infest another family but I don't understand where else we could have gotten them?
THe bites look like pimples really. Some are alone and others have two fairly close together. Some are bigger and others smaller. I just want to get rid of them!!! So far I am the only one in the family with the bites but I read that some people just don't react to their bites and that they can be getting bit and not know it. I have always reacted to all bug bites so that's probably why I am getting bumps. Happy happy, joy joy!
-Elizabeth |
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RachelLeigh
True Blue Farmgirl
635 Posts
Rachel
Rainier
WA
USA
635 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 5:20:36 PM
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We have been experiencing this same thing. I know it's not bed bugs because we have a Sleep Number bed and have had it less than a year. The majority of the bed is plastic (support frames/air chambers). Our bed is pressed up against a wall and right below a window. I think we may have chiggars coming in...or possibly spiders because this house is FULL of them. I do know that we've been spraying ourselves with OFF every night before bed and that seems to help.
my blog: http://catholiccountrygirl.wordpress.com
my website: http://www.backwoodsjunction.com |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 5:28:13 PM
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It really sounds like seed ticks which would explain why no one else has them. Have someone look real close. If it looks like you have tiny red or brown scabs on some spots they are probably seed ticks.
Have you been raspberry or blackberry picking? Could also be chigger bites.
If they itch bad try vagisil. it really works.
Felt and Fabric Crafts
www.willowartist.etsy.com
www.willowtreecreek.com
BLOG
www.willowtreecreek.wordpress.com |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2007 : 8:59:55 PM
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I was just going to mention a possibility that it could be fleas. I would dust your couch and all your carpets and mattresses with borax and wait at least 2 hours, then vacuum. That should help kill any bugs you might have jumping around your house. It dehydrates and kills most nasties.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 11:37:58 AM
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Fleas! Yes! We saw a couple on one of our cats about two weeks ago, immediately did the vet version of Advantix or whatever that stuff is, on all three cats. (They'll each need two more doses at monthly intervals. I didn't strip the bed and everything, though, because I thought we'd caught those suckers quickly enough. Maybe not!
My work's cut out form me when I get home, I can see that!
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 3:52:45 PM
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Fleas are amazing creatures. They can get just about anywhere and they can jump about 3 feet. So if they were on your cat, they are probably other places too...
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
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Cleaning Up: Bedbugs?!! |
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Bedbugs?!!
