Bed bugs? Lice? Beasties? HELP!!!! (Poor photo attached)

[BugLady75]

I have name changed because I am mortified! It's also in AIBU for traffic.
In the last 5 days I have found 4 of these critters! One on a t-shirt I was wearing (dead) and then I have found one in my bed everyday since Monday! . They've all been dead apart from one wriggling away on the bed!
They're bed bugs aren't they? Go on, I can take it I can't I've attached a photo but it's not clear, I put it next to a pencil for scale. The pictures of bed bugs I have seen on internet aren't as long as this beastie, more round, but I think I am deluding myself. I have lifted the mattress and checked for other signs but I've seen nothing! There is dust on the bed frame but I've seen no creepy crawlies. I thought they might be nits too as my DS has been scratching his head furiously for about a week but after checking I see nothing there.
Anyway, wise women of Mumsnet, please help! If they are bedbugs, apart from moving, do you have any advice?

[BugLady75]

I drew a picture of it. Not to scale, of course.

[WonkoTheSane42]

Looks like bedbugs to me. You'll need to burn your house down.

[Tatlerer]

Oh dear! I sympathise. No bites though? When I had a bed bug infestation at uni the first sign was the bites. It was then actually quite tricky to find the little buggers- I certainly didn't see them on the sheets in bed. Hope someone who knows more than I do about these things pitches in soon!

[BugLady75]

😭😭😭😭😭😭
I thought so!

[PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon]

Never had them so I'm not sure of the solution but can't you just wash all bedding (everyone's) and Hoover the mattresses down?
Or is it burn the bed territory?

[BugLady75]

That's another reason why I've been deluding myself as me and DP have not been bitten

[Mari50]

Doesn't look like lice (DD just had them so I have a very clear image of what the fuckers look like in my head)

[PowerPantsRule]

Hmmmm I am pretty sure that bed bugs are very good at not being spotted. And surely if the infestation is so bad they are everywhere you would be bitten? Have you heard of diametacious earth? That kills anything with an exoskeleton so you won't have to move house, just use some of that and then wash bedding. There are people who come and encase your bed and then heat it to temperatures to kill everything in the bed but it's quite spendy. Sadly, am an expert in these matters....

[mortificado]

Could it be a flea?

[mineallmine]

Is it a woodworm? They look like mini beetles as adults and are relatively easy to get rid of.

[mineallmine]

I don't 5hink bed bugs are as big as that.

[BugLady75]

Current bedding is boiling as I type! I did think fleas too but they are built slightly differently to the creatures I have found. At least I can eliminate nits - although I kind of feel I would prefer them right now!
No, I havent heard of diametacoius earth but shall seek it out.
Failing this, I will burn the bed!
Thanks everyone.

[Whinberry]

A friend had bed bugs in a flat she rents out - from what I understood she had to get someone in to treat/fumigate the whole property not just the bedding.

[MimsyFluff]

Could they be ticks? You could of brought a nest in by accident

[Badweekjustgotworse]

Do you have carpet or floor boards in your bedroom? If you've got floorboard have a really good look in between the cracks and if it's carpet can you lift a corner and check underneath?

[MimsyFluff]

Here is a picture

[grendel]

Definitely not a flea (have plenty of experience of those!) But I've never seen a bedbug so can't help with a positive ID.

[EastMidsMumOf1]

I had bedbugs for months, didnt know we had them for ages as they can go without feeding for up to a year I think. I think youve caught yours early as by the time we actually saw them they were 4th/5th stage, as you can see by the pic I had to throw away all bedding inc mattress, steam the bed frame and we also bought a few bedbug bombs from amazon. It took a couple of weeks of clean steam bomb repeat but it worked.

[Stressedout10]

Can't tell from the picture if it's bed bug or not but if they are you need to fumigate your home bin your bed all carpets and soft furnishings including sofa's or freeze them (kills bug's and eggs ) look for little blood spots on walls bed bug's leave these

[chilipepper20]

If I may inject some hope into the conversation, the carpet beetle is commonly mistaken for a bed bug. So hopefully you have that. they are similar in size and colour. it is a common thing to confuse the two. One is an absolute pest to get rid of (bed bugs). The other is just like having another pest in the house (unless of course it gets out of control).

The difference, I believe, is that a carpet beetle has a slit down the length of its body (technically separating wings). So, next time you catch one, put it in your palm and push your finger nail down the spine. If you can see the two halves separating, you are golden.

[easterholidays]

I'm not convinced that's a bedbug, OP. I had them twice, both times from my lovely upstairs neighbour. If they are bedbugs then depending on where you are the council may come out and treat your home - they did this for me (even though it was a privately-owned property; it falls within their pest control remit) and I think they charged me something like £100, whereas private pest control companies will be a lot more.

Bites and small smears of blood are the main indicators so as others have said, if you've had neither you might be OK. I am crossing my fingers for you!

[SilentSilverLights]

Are you sure it's not just a thunderbug?

[SnowWhiteTan]

Aw, I really like your drawing

[TheFarceAwakens]

You need to check your matress and bed frame if you think it might be bed bugs. Check around the seam of the matress top and bottom especially in the corners, if you have a bed frame check in the corners of that too and any screw holes, nooks and crannies- if you have bed bugs you'll find evidence there.

[BugLady75]

So, I am fairly confident that it's not a flea - although again, I wish they were!
I have checked under carpets for other signs but can't find anything - but that doesn't give me too much hope as a pp said they're good at hiding!
I've heard stories about people having to fumigate whole property to get rid of them so I am still clinging on to the hopeful messages that they are not bed bugs. I'm nearly 38 weeks pregnant too! Perfect timing to fumigate my flat!
Also, I don't think they're carpet bugs as the pics I found online don't match the ones I found in my bed! But no bites or blood smears so that makes me a feel a teeny bit better!
I'm really grateful for your messages. Keep em coming!