Treat Bed Bugs

I once slept in at a Motel and had a horrible experience with that ! I woke up with all this horrible bug bites and when I took off the covers I noticed the matress had a hole in it and those bugs were all inside that matress. It was hard to see them because they would only come out at night and the hole was not very noticeable so you may want to double check your matress over and under to make sure the problem is not inside of it.

If thats the case I would just sugest you throw it away and buy a new one.

And if he hugs me or touches me will I get them?

Bedbugs are one of the hardest pests to control. But it can be done. Usually its best left to the professional, but this can cost you hundreds of dollars and multiple treatments.

Bedbugs do sometimes hitch a ride on clothing and suitcases but usually do not hang out on a host victim or transfer to others by contact. They feed at night by detecting the carbon dioxide exhaled by your friend. So if you're not sleeping over, hopefully you are in the clear.

Any topical anti-itching ointment will help with the itching.

For more information on bedbugs and their control, I have a site on my own web page dedicated to them, including some cool videos. You can access the site from my profile.

I first noticed the series of bites on Sunday night/Monday morning, and the itchiness and intensity has grown each day. On Tuesday morning, I noticed three new bites appear on my opposite leg. They're itching VERY intensely, and I've been trying to treat the itch with hydrocortisone cream, which only has a mild effect if any.

My concern, since they appeared overnight, is that it's bedbugs. However, I searched my bed and room and found no trace of them. A week or two ago, though, I noticed a couple of strange looking reddish-hued bugs - which would be consistent with bed bugs, too. So, I'm at a loss. If you want to see pictures, of the first bites, follow this link:

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n115/stewartocaster/bites/photo.jpg

No new bites have appeared since Tuesday, and, if it were bedbugs, wouldn't they have been all over me right from the time I got my new bed, which was a hand-me-down? (About a month ago.)

I'm at my wits end. Any and all help is appreciated.
In case you might not have noticed, it's a series of 4 bites all closely tied together.

im going to say that you are correct in your bed bug assumption. im no doctor, but because those bites are so tightly grouped, i would say it is bed bugs as well.

best thing to do would be to go to the doctor

I'm getting bitten every night.
The apartment had bedbugs before I moved in according to the previous tenant. Also, the people who live downstairs have had them.

yes and with that money you should move into another apt. and to if he had that matress and didnt get bit in his old place and brought it here common sense (for those of us who have it only) tells us they were there already.

Never in my life have I had a problem with bed bugs now I believe I have them in my couch and perhaps my bed. I literally have not clue how that is possible. I purchased the set of furniture from a renown furniture store and have fully paid it off - would I be able to exchange the couch which seems to have the problem?

I would first off like to try things on my own but it’s a fine leather couch and am afraid I may ruin the leather. Any suggestions??? Thank you all.
One more thing - can they live in your clothes?

You poor baby! Actually, bed bugs are a problem in many reputable hotels, too. They are very easily spread and will live anywhere there’s food. Meaning your blood. You need to contact an exterminator if you want this problem dealt with quickly.

If you want to try to take care of this yourself you will have to be very, very diligent. I understand bedbugs are very hard to get rid of. Here’s how to do it.

Buy some diatomaceous earth from your local nursery. Don’t get the stuff they use in pool filters! Diatomaceous earth is a natural product that is non-poisonous but will make small cuts in the chiton (exoskeleton) of all bugs. The bugs will dry out and die. You just have to be careful not to inhale the stuff, so use a dust mask when spreading it around affected areas.

If you can’t afford an exterminator, read my source and follow the instructions there. Be warned, though, DE will take days and days of application, re-application and heavy vacuuming to work. Be sure to apply the DE and vacuum in ALL the crevases. Bugs like to hide.

DE is good for any type of bug. I use it around my peach tree to get rid of the pincher bugs that like to feast on it and extermination companies in Florida use DE in regular applications around homes. This stuff really works.

For more info on diatomaceous earth, just look in Wikipedia.

Would it be effective to bomb a house with flea bombs to treat bed bugs?

No throw out the matress and box springs. You will regret keeping it.

I had been getting these red bumps on my arms and back, so I checked online and found out that it could be bed bugs. When I checked underneath my bed, I found TONS of bed bugs! The worst part is, I hate bugs, and I haven't even stepped into my room for over a day now. So my question is, how do I get rid of these things? Remember, its not a few of them, there are a ton bed bugs. Do I have to call pest control, or can I do this by myself at home?

Thanks

How to Kill Bed Bugs at Home
The same rules on how to kill bed bugs while traveling apply at home: vaccum your living space relentlessly, including furniture, changing the bag outside (hatchlings can wiggle through a stitch hole). Wash or dry clean everything moveable (clothes, bedspreads, throw rugs) in hottest water. If one happy couple escapes, though, it's all for naught.
Baumann points out that people pay plenty trying various home remedies that don't go so well, and recommends that you bite the bullet and foot the bill for an exterminator to begin with.

How Exterminating Works
The exterminator will have instructions regarding jobs you should complete prior to his arrival.

You may have to:
- Pile up furniture.
- Remove light switchplates (the bugs hide back there).

You may want to:
- Toss mattresses.
- Caulk wall and wood cracks (they hide there, too) — get caulk and a caulking gun at a hardware store and practice using a finger to smooth the goop flat against surfaces (easy).

Do:
- Completely strip all bedding (get to bare mattress). Craft says to fold bedding in on itself to contain the bugs; wash it or dry clean at high temps. Interesting factoid: Craft says that in hot desert areas, folks with infestations often hang bedding and clothes in the blistering sun — remember that temps over 113 kill bed bugs.
Orkin exterminators will use hot, dry steam to kill bed bugs in places you touch; chemicals are used to kill bed bugs in other spots by flushing the bugs out for steaming.

Lastly, don't open travel bags on home furniture, like beds, and store them away from furniture (like in an outside shed) and any bugs who've hitchhiked may not get the chance to move in.