oh dear, do I have bed bugs

[SayItIsntSo]

I've name changed due to the Horror! We moved to our new home 10 months ago. In the last week I've had a couple of very itchy bites (no one else has) but they could be something else as we're in a rural location ... but then (in the living room) I've just found a bug thing, though can't be sure it is a bed bug: I just caught it in a jar. We're in a village near Cambridge, do you think I can take Mister Bug somewhere for identification? I have 3 DCs under 6 and am worried about them being bitten now ... In case it is the dreaded BB, has anyone tried diatomaceous earth to combat them? I'm thinking of doing some pre-emptive shopping ... HELP!

thanks madhattershouse, I am still up as I can't face nasty bedroom surprises. I really do have duct tape around the ankles of my pyjamas. I might be losing the plot.

Did the foggers leave a nasty residual smell?

Be very careful and read up on any chemicals. Fleas and bedbugs won't do you any real harm but chemicals might if not used correctly and with children...

Would it be very wrong of me (after all the support on this thread) to have a quick giggle about your duct tape anklets?

Contact your council. If it comes to it they can come and use appropriate chemicals to deal with the problem in a safe way. They may also be able to help diagnose the problem. Much better than randomly filling your house with chemicals and having to sleep in a flannelette hazchem suit forever more. Hope you get sorted, I do feel for you :(

MrsTP - I am toying with the idea of a duct tape belt and wristlets to make sure that all entry ways are sealed - all I need now is a tin foil hat to complete the look. Something tells me that this is the ultimate chastity belt outfit.

I'll ask the council, DecapitatedLegoman. I popped round to friendly local GP today who said "yes, you have bites and you are reacting badly to them" but couldn't identify what they were from, and so far we haven't found the creatures (apart from one wrongly-shaped beetly thing) so not sure whether they'll take me seriously.

Ok. Take the specimen to the offices of your local environmental health officers. They will ID it for you. They will arrange a treatment for whatever little beastie it turns out to be. Please don't self treat unless you are sure it's fleas (don't self treat bed bugs).

Here is some advice from rentokil.

Sorry if I sound abrupt but you need to get this thing identified and treated so you can go to bed!

Have just had a bed bug scare - think we might be ok but we will be frequently checking for evidence from now on.

Sorry i had an insensitive giggle at the duct tape but seriously if you have bugs and you cover up your limbs they will bite you on the face and hands, then there will be no hiding your afflication. Better get bitten on a part of your body you can cover up.

Do I need to borrow a fencing mask then RedorLead?

What kind of scare (and evidence?) did you find? I'm continuing the hunt today. I had a couple of hours sleep before the first DC awoke. I haven't yet been bitten today (phew). For some reason the bugs only bite me (luckily!).

I had a suspicious rash on my hips and on my forearms and then without seeing it I splatted a bug on my sheet which seem to contain a lot of brown liquid, which I suspected was blood. Dh travels by tube everyday and we live in a flat. Things seemed to point to bed bugs - without the evidence though it seems maybe not. We will keep checking though, just in case the insect I spatted was just the beginning.

Fencing masks reek. And, I think the mesh would let them through.

The bugs may be biting other people, actually. I used to react to cat fleas and was told that they bite everyone, it's just some people don't react and won't know they've been bitten.

Ring Mark at Walkersclean. He is local to you and very good at pest control as well as cleaning. He will be able to get you back on track. In the meantime, hoover all your mattresses weekly and give the houses a deep clean.

thanks all. No bites for a few days. I popped in to environmental health and apparently the trapped bug isn't a bed bug, so still not sure what it has been. I'm hoovering my mattresses daily (I know, a bit overboard). The main problem I have is waking up in the night to check the bed (this way madness lies). I'll look at walkersclean SeniorWrangler

I'm still searching for evidence so that I can find out the right way to treat (in the meantime, cleaning is my number one waking pasttime, though as far as I remember, it always was).

Program about bedbugs on BBC 1 this evening at 7:30 -- Bang goes the theory.

Could be what we call berry bugs in Scotland it is the right time if year for them . I think in other parts of uk might be called harvest mite. They do like the creases , backs of knees, underpants lines and very itchy indeed. I can find out what the treatment is as a friends garden is infested and she gets a lot of bites. They don't live in your house but when you are in bed the bites itch more as you are warmer.

Hi. I'm new to mumsnet but have been desperate to find other people with this terrible problem. It's caused me no end of stress which i have tried to channel into a blog about my battle bith bed bugs which has been going on since July. Here's my story
bedbugfighter.wordpress.com