Ever since we were little we've all heard our parents or grandparents use the phrase "don't let the bed bugs bite!" Little did we know how very true that expression could become. Lisa Hartman wrote an article for New England Real Estate Journal discussing just how problematic these little pests have become. At one time bed bugs were thought to be eradicated throughout the entire United States but today it's quite the opposite. The most common bed bug found in the US is Cimex lectularius and this particular bug is so problematic due to the fact that it hides so well, spreads easily, reproduces quickly and on top of that is quite difficult to treat. Because bed bugs reproduce so quickly it is vital to take action immediately.
A quote from the article says, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Because bed bugs are more commonly found in hotels and apartment buildings it is extremely beneficial and crucial to assign employees to do regular inspections for bed bugs and also inform current residents about on-going situations. Bed bugs can disperse throughout an entire building so if bed bugs are found in one place, they more than likely will be in another. In her article Hartman suggests that having a written plan in place by way of developing protocols for existing residents and for moving in new residents will go a long way towards reducing infestations. She also suggests that it is a wise decisions for owners to take action in not only removing bed bugs but also coming up with ways to prevent them because if they don't the cost can be substantially higher. In the end, it is the owner's responsibility as they are being left to get rid of furniture and clothing to more serious matters like paying for pest control and medical stress claims for the bed bugs.
The phrase "don't let the bed bugs bite" is not just something cute to tell our children but in fact it is becoming more and more serious. For more information on bed bugs be sure to take a look at bed bugs FAQ. And as always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below.
I recently went to someone’s house that had cat fleas. I found out a couple days later and I automataically starting itching. It could’ve been all in my mind once I found out. I get in my car and I feel something crawling on my legs and when I get home I feel the same thing.
When I’m at someone else home, I don’t feel this which makes me think I now have cat fleas. I intend to to do some of those foggers. I don’t see anything crawling on my legs. I vacuumed and after I did that it felt worse. Now I’m feeling bites and I’m sitting at work feeling bites all over me. I wonder if I have bed bugs or scabies.
I can’t stop itching and feeling these things crawl on me. I’m always looking for them on my skin, but I don’t see anything. I sometimes see some very tiny white specs, but wasn’t sure if this maybe dry skin or something that just popped on my leg. It is really driving me crazy now that I’ve vacuumed. I seem to have awaken or upset off whatever these things are. Don’t know what to do!
I got rid of the big bites, but then all day I feel crawly things, I’ll tear off clothes, nothing. Sometimes I feel something as if they are crawling on my nostril and just sit there. Its horrible, ever since these bed bugs have invaded our lives, I get no sleep. None. The bed bug dog came by and found no trace, they are there…
Last week I noticed I was frequently scratching my left leg, yet it continued to itch. I play a lot of golf, wear shorts and athletic anklet socks all summer, so assumed I had brushed into itch week or other vegetative irritant while looking for lost balls. However, upon inspection of my leg, I realized it was covered with bites – perhaps 100 or more in a totally random pattern. My immediate thought was bed bugs, but I can’t imagine the source.
By choice, I lead an extremely isolated life, living by myself, haven’t slept out of my house for over one year, and nobody else has visited and/or brought suitcases, clothes, bedding, or other such materials into the house. I also haven’t visited anyone else’s house. Nevertheless, I stripped my bed slowly, one sheet at a time checking each side and seam of each sheet and pillowcase for any bugs or signs thereof – nothing there. I checked the mattress pad very carefully with flashlight in hand looking into seams, folds, elastic, etc. – again nada, zip, zilch. Even the mattress appeared void of any signs.
I have also realized that all bites are on the left leg only, from ankle to waist line, but not a single bite anywhere else. Very, very weird! Good old Calamine lotion has nearly eliminated the itching but must be reapplied each day. Don’t know if the lotion is medicating or otherwise treating the bites, but they do seem to be drying up – slowly.
Perhaps this is justification to treat myself to a new mattress and linens, after a professional in-home treatment.
I feel the same thing, too. I even think they burrowed in my skin! I can feel them moving in my skin and it IS making me crazy. The Dr. prescribed Elimite, but this isn’t scabies. I have the dotted row bites. I even woke up one morning with a semicircle of bites on my hand.
The sensation in my scalp is terrible. I even feel these things creeping into my ears and my eyebrows, even my chin! Whoever said they don’t burrow is wrong! I believe they can live on us as babies.
I don’t see a thing until I put mineral oil onto my skin. Then these tiny black flecks come out. The largest is the size of a period. I don’t think these are mites anymore because I woke up one night with a bug crawling on my ankle. It looked like a bedbug. It scurried away before I could grab something to hit it with.
The bite pattern is evident. They can even seem to show up out of thin air throughout the day. I just read earlier that it can be 9 days before tour skin shows a reaction. Ugh. The cream didn’t help of course. I can’t sleep!
I feel like crawling out of my own skin. I haven’t slept since I realized that I was “food” for invisible insects 3 days ago. Sooooo itchy and the kicker is – I can’t see these bugs yet because they are so small so it kinda feels like I’m losing my mind. Psychosomatic? I don’t think so, the red, itchy bumps are proof so far.
Last month (about 20 days ago), my boyfriend and I took a ‘staycation’ at a local, well know motel chain for some quiet time. Since the motel was my idea I feel really bad about bringing this scourge home, but he isn’t affected by these bugs, I’m the one getting chewed on. Being that there is an epidemic of bed bugs lately and they are so hard to detect when they’re babies, I don’t feel right about blaming the motel chain for this problem. I know that I got the bed bugs from the motel room though and although this fact sucks, there isn’t much I can do except try to get rid of them and never stay in ANY hotel/motels if I can help it. Wait, I have to scratch my shoulder…………Okay, done for the moment……
Does anyone have any information regarding whether I need to get some kind of body lice shampoo? My skin feels like things are on me and my scalp feels ‘creepy crawly’ too. This may be my imagination but I don’t want to take any chances. Do they stay in your hair when they’re babies and hard to see? I feel if I do get the lice shampoo it may help me psychologically to not feel itchy for no apparent reason. If they do stay on a person then obviously there is a reason to feel crawly but I’m hoping desperately that they don’t. Eeeewwww, eeewww, eeeewwww!!!
I’ve read that the banning of DDT and other insecticides has a lot to do with this countries recent infestation of bed bugs. Hmm, Cancer or bugs? How about neither? If this bed bug plague goes on without us addressing it ASAP and diligently, well, I hate to think of what we’ll be dealing with in the near future.
My skin and psyche can’t deal. Somebody do something fast! I gotta go scratch stuff now. Any advice or answers to my weird questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Robin