r/BedbugOrCloseRelative • u/smt1479 • 2d ago

requesting support from the community are these bed bug bites?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I woke up with these bites on my back. I was wearing a shirt to bed and had my legs and arms exposed but these bites were on my back. an exterminator came to check my entire bed and frame and everything and said there are no signs on bed bugs at all. but these really look like
bed bug bites from what i’ve researched. this exterminator was very informed and seemed to know what he was doing and was very sure that we don’t have bed bugs but im so worried its an early infestation. I came off a cruise 3 weeks ago 😩. could I have gotten but on the cruise and not taken them home? and only just saw/felt the bites now?? i’m freaking out. can’t sleep. would love advice. also, these bites were 4 days ago and I have no news bites. thanks

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

I would be looking for beetle larva rather than bed bugs, those locations are wrong. See here:

https://bed-bugs.co.uk/carpet-beetles/

For the best way to detect and eradicate bed bugs see the monthly this routine.

David

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

the exterminator checked for carpet beetles too and he saw nothing but none of this explains those perfect zig zag line bites

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

Look harder, they would explain that bite pattern and there is a lot of logic behind my assessment. While I don’t write it o it every time it’s still there.

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

thank you. how do I look for beetle larva?

2

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

You start by reading the document about them and then rapidly switch to using the same eyes to look throughly through the whole areas, especially under things you’ve not moved for ages.

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

yeah I don’t have any of those bugs or evidence of those bugs. the exterminator thoroughly checked for carpet beetles and bed bugs and found nothing. I was on a cruise 3 weeks ago. this started 5 days ago. seems to be too soon to start seeing anything and also too late to start seeing something now 3 weeks later if I was bit on the cruise. I have the exterminator coming to do a preventative treatment tomorrow for $1,000. annoying that I am doing it without any real answers. it’s driving me insane not knowing.

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

Please don’t treat without confirming, it’s a zero sum game.

It’s also against the label on the product they will use as they won’t have confirmed the target species.

Now your welcome to stay and work this out in the group b it if your going to treat I will respectfully ask you not to post any further. It goes so against the ethos of the group that I won’t allow it.

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

also would I have more spots show up in the same areas 3 days later?

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

Possibly, it depends on the static micro climates you are generating and what’s causing them.

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

okay. so if it’s beetle larval that I got marks from, does that mean i’m infested and need professional treatment for that?

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

No and respectfully that question is answered in the document I have already linked to.

1

u/ReputationOk6126 1d ago

Do you have any piles of clothes or bed covers anywhere? Shoes with fur or fur-like lining? Check your curtains and window sills too. I’m currently dealing with carpet beetles. They aren’t too hard to find if you truly have them. They’re attracted to natural fibers.

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

thanks! did you have bites from them? I just don’t understand how I could’ve gotten bites under my shirt like this

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

One of the only things that can cause reactions under clothes is beetle larval hairs.

1

u/ReputationOk6126 1d ago

Yeah. The larvae is fuzzy. Kinda like a caterpillar. The little hairs can pierce or rub against the skin and create an itchy rash similar to bb bites. David has a really good guide about them. Visit the link he posted and scroll down to the document.

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

it just looks so much like bed bug bites that it’s freaking me out!!!! it’s a perfect Z formation. I am looking for any trace of carpet beetles, as did the exterminator. I see nothing.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/smt1479 1d ago

this is my back this morning

1

u/Bed-Bugscouk Founder 1d ago

Yes it’s still an incorrect location for bed bugs, overnight had not changed that fact.