Re: ARE THESE BEDBUGS?

Posted by fredct on July 07, 2005 at 21:15:02:

In Reply to: Re: ARE THESE BEDBUGS? posted by Bec on July 07, 2005 at 16:28:18:

:I have not experienced the odor

I never experienced the odor either, although I did when I would kill one. Tends to be only heavy infestations.

: and when I killed the bugs they were not difficult to squash (but they were also really tiny.) I have not noticed stains on my bed, but could this be becuase it is the beginning of an infestation?

Hmmm, if you've only noticed small ones, then there easily may not be excrement, smells, blood, etc yet. IF it's bedbugs, you probably wouldn't be able to identify them at this stage. A professional who isn't extremely familiar with them may not either, but I still think that's your best bet.

The second to last picture on the page I put in my other post is a picture of an adult, an adsolescent, and a very small, light colored nymph - the nymph is in the direct middle of the picture, between the black spots, but they're so small and different looking they may be hard to identify - link again http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef636.htm

: More or less how long do they live in your apartment until you notice signs?

I dunno, I just notice them one day. Well, I had noticed them for a while, but didn't know what they were and hoped I had just killed the couple there. Then eventually I realized.

: Also, I found one crawling in my hallway along the wall, is that typical for a bedbug? Do you usually see them crawling around like that?

It's not typical, but it's not impossible. Standarly, bed bugs will stay in their hiding places all day until the night, if there's an active food source. They'll get more adventureous if the food source (you) is gone for more than a day or two.

Overall, nothing you said would lead me to conclude that you have bedbugs, however, nothing rules it out either. I would capture one or more and bring it to a professional, or have a professional come check your place out. I certainly wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you have them. You could easily have some other small bug, but I would sleep in another room for a few days until you get it looked at and sprayed appropriately, if that's an option.

Follow Ups: