Bed bugs?

10 replies

Swiftbushome · 05/03/2023 19:19

So the kids have woken a few times with lots of red bites on them. I've taken their mattresses up, looking underneath and in the seams. I've looked on the duvets, duvet covers, pillows, pillow cases and I can't see anything. No blood spots, no brown marks, no signs at all. Would I be able to see something if it was? If not bed bugs (please don't be bedbugs) what else could it be? Fleas? My cat is treated with the spot on stuff every 3 months without fail - he does tend to sleep on their beds though. But again there's no sign of fleas either. I've looked in his fur and nothing in the beds. What do I do? Please help!
We did have carpet beetles a few years ago but I haven't seen signs of them for ages. Also they don't bite do they?

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Seeingadistance · 07/03/2023 18:50

You could find out if it's fleas by setting a flea trap. Put water mixed with washing up liquid - to create a thick liquid, not bubbles - in a shallow bowl. Put a lamp next to it, ideally with the bulb directly above the bowl. Leave on or near the bed or where the cat sleeps. Draw curtains or blinds, switch lamp on and leave for a while. The heat attracts any fleas, they jump into the bowl and get trapped.

softrainsofapril · 07/03/2023 18:53

Argh that takes me back to a flat in London years ago where we had the dreaded bed bugs.... to reassure you, they leave residue on the sheets and pillows. The sneaky f***s were hidden under the bedside table. We had a few rounds of rentokill to get rid. Makes me feel a bit sick to think of our bedbug phase! BUT it doesn't sound like you have them. I might get rentokill out to check it out though if it's affecting your kids x

Original poster

Swiftbushome · 07/03/2023 19:59

Yeah we have a pest control guy booked for tomorrow to check. He actually said on the phone it might be the carpet beetles have come back because apparently some people are allergic to the larvae. I think he called them woolly bears or fuzzy bears or something like that. Whatever it is I want the problem gone (but not bastard bed bugs please please please🙏 )

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NomadicSpirit · 07/03/2023 20:23

When I moved into my new (to me) home after leaving my adulterous partner I was bitten to death the first night I stayed there. Turned out it was flea-ridden and they had been woken up by me turning on the heating. I threw out the carpets and curtains and steam cleaned the place with a steam cleaner before using two lots of flea bombs.

I ended up crying that night. I had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor as I couldn't afford a bed and it was quite a while before I could afford to replace the carpet.

Still... the fleas regretted it more than I did in the end. 😉

Original poster

Swiftbushome · 08/03/2023 16:37

Very VERY pleased to report the pest control man could find no evidence of bedbugs or even fleas. He left a few traps that we need to keep an eye on over the next week but he said he's "99.9% sure it's not bedbugs". Suggested if the bites continue but nothing in the traps that we speak to the neighbours in case they have a problem since our house is terraced - that will be an awkward conversation - but if not that then maybe we've just been unlucky with flying insects.

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BertieBotts · 08/03/2023 16:42

Sorry not totally relevant, but did you do anything to get rid of the carpet beetles or did they just go? They always seem to turn up here in the bottom of toy bins or storage cases or dust under beds etc and give me the ick - I know they are harmless but would love to be rid of them.

Original poster

Swiftbushome · 08/03/2023 16:47

Yeah I bought some spray off amazon. It was for moths and carpet beetles I think. You had to.squirt it all around the edge of the carpet and then hoover every day for a week - or maybe it was 2 weeks? Anyway it did seem to work. Apparently they can just fly in from outside and set up home though so even if you do get rid they can come back which is annoying.

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Original poster

Swiftbushome · 08/03/2023 16:49

And they're not actually harmless - well they're harmless to people as long as your not allergic but they'll eat natural fibres like moths do. DH wedding suit has holes all in the jacket sleeves from the little bastards

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BertieBotts · 08/03/2023 21:19

Hmm we don't have any fitted carpet so not sure it would work. I have some of the spray and we already hoover every day. Maybe I'll give it a spray around anyway! Thanks.

bamboonights · 08/03/2023 23:04

Swiftbushome · 08/03/2023 16:49

They fly in through my upstairs windows as soon as the weather is a certain temperature. Not sure exactly what but usually around May-September time. Caused havoc in my sons bedroom. I had a bad back at the time and couldn't move his new(ish) bed to hoover. They decided to breed under his mattress. I use Diamateous earth to keep them at bay. They are SO hard to spot - like a tiny grey ladybird. Once I realised what they were, found them in sons sock drawer, and handing out in his plastic toy boxes/anything containing dust. No bites received on any of us though.

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