Evidence of bedbugs?

[Mamma43435]

I live abroad in a tropical country. Mattress, bed and all furniture were bought new. We've not travelled anywhere in 2 years. In the last 6 months I've a few itchy bites in odd places - on my bra line, and now one on the top of my leg - not places where I tend to get bites when out. I've had one or two every month or so. They are different from mosquito bites which are very common here - itchier redder for longer. My toddler who we cosleep with got a bite on his leg that swelled up, but calmed down after a day and seemed a bit itchy on the first day. DH has not had anything. I know bites affect people differently.

I've examined all the seams of my mattress and I'm just not sure. I've found what's probably dust or debris - it's fairly solid, not smearing. My little one has had so many nosebleeds into the sheets, mattress and mattress protector, it's impossible to distinguish from tell-tale stains. I can't see anything in the joins of the frame. We have a very small amount of furniture - just a floor bed in that room.

I'm not sure what to do! It seems like overkill to call in professionals when there's so little evidence. I'm googling the heck out of it but I can't find much to help.

Any advice please?

Have you looked at bite pictures? I’ve had them in a new sofa and left long lines of bites with big welts. The only physical evidence I had was their shells as they grow. Found on back of the sofa. No other signs apart from bites on me.

Yes, looked at all the pictures. 🤢 It's hard to say, I get one or two at most. The first few times they were very red but without a defined shape. The one I have now is more of a red circle. I've never had more than two though.

Have a look under the beds - bed bugs shed their skins/shells and usually can be found in a pile somewhere (as I know from bitter experience around a year ago!!). Get a torch out and look along the skirting as well.

Did a clean under the bed, couldn't find anything. Will check the skirting thanks. I'm so puzzled re the bites. I feel itchy in bed just thinking about it.

It seems strange they would appear from nowhere. We had them because they hitched a lift back with my partner, who had been away for a couple of days - hadn't been anywhere else for ages due to various COVID lockdowns.

Given you are in tropical climate, is there anything else you think they could be?

We noticed them as my partner actually saw one on the wall, squashed it and there was blood. And the pile of skeletons after he did a closer inspection We got the bug squad in (one visit and then follow up).