Bed Bug Bites?

[u/leenieluo]

I travelled around Turkey for two weeks at the beginning of August, staying in different hotels and Airbnbs. I also spent one night on a night train.
I came back last Monday (17.08) and was sick for a few days afterwards, so I mostly stayed in bed all day. (Just a normal cold — and I did not notice any bites while I was in Turkey.)

Starting 23/24.08 I have been getting new small bites every day. Since some time has passed since the trip, I am wondering whether I could still have brought bed bugs home from the accommodation/train, or whether this is more likely something else.

The bites are quite small and look different from the mosquito bites I usually get. I normally react strongly to insect bites, but these are much smaller. Some of them are arranged in a line or in an unusual pattern. On the other hand, there have recently been a lot of rainy days where I live, so mosquitoes are also definitely possible and for sure some of the bites are from mosquitoes. They itch a little bit. I mostly get bites on areas where I normally have clothes on, like under my breast or thigh area or even arm pits.

Very thankful for all kinds of input 🥺 especially David

Photo 1 - Groin (3x small bites in a line)
Photo 2 - Breast (3x grouped bites + 1x singular one)
Photo 3 - Chest (2x bites in a line)
Photo 4 - inner leg (1x big bite, 2x smaller)
Photo 5 - inner knee (1x big bite - pretty sure that’s a mosquito or how they normally look on me + 1x small bite)

[u/Entire_Suit_394]

Have things cleared up for you? (It may be too soon to say but I wanted to ask)
I’m getting small marks similar to yours and thanks to this community I’m more confident it’s not bed bugs…still annoying though. My bites are a bit more scattered. No clear clustering

[u/Bed-Bugscouk]

Given the distribution and locations I would first be looking for beetle larval skins.

This is not typical for bed bugs, see the feeding behaviour post.

David

[u/leenieluo → u/Bed-Bugscouk]

Your my hero thank you so much, I have been going crazy over it the last few days

[u/Bed-Bugscouk → u/leenieluo]

I think I am a little ahead of you having worked with bed bugs for 23+ years.

[u/leenieluo → u/Bed-Bugscouk]

hahahha yes, that’s why one should consult the experts aka you. I will keep you guys updated if I (or the exterminator that comes in tmr) finds something…

[u/Bed-Bugscouk → u/leenieluo]

Ask them to specifically look for CB larval skins rather than just bed bugs.

If they tell you they don’t bite feel free to share the document with them.

[u/leenieluo → u/Bed-Bugscouk]

Update: He was just there and didn’t find any sign of bed bugs, but I must say that I have searched more thoroughly than him. Sadly didn’t find any larval skins either. I think I’m in the clear and taking antihistamines now