Question by RemmyRampage:
Bug bites.. Fleas or Bedbugs? (or other?)?
(Long question has details)
So, as the title states, I cannot figure out what bug has been biting me. I’ve more or less narrowed it down to two bugs: Bed bugs or fleas.
Now, we have a dog who did not have fleas when we got him, but I understand how easily pets can pick them up. He has been outdoors frequently.
We also got a used mattress (which was inspected, was almost brand new, and appeared to be fine.) We’ve had this mattress for 4 months and never had an issue before. Also, I know you can search the seams for bedbugs and usually catch them out at night but my boyfriend and I cannot find any. However, we buy many used things and have the last few months and I’ve been told there’s many ways bedbugs get into your home.
Our dog is fine and we cannot find fleas on him. Cannot find the bedbugs, but each night, I get bit at least 3 times and wake up with these little, slightly raised up red bumps. They don’t usually itch unless I touch them. They are not mosquito bites. I looked at the pictures of bites (bedbugs and fleas) and cannot decide… each image varies as people react different to bites.
I’ve washed all my sheets and blankets, the dog is getting a flea/tick collar, and our apartment has pest control coming out Tuesday. My question is: it’s only Friday… don’t want to keep getting bit. (I have close to 20 bites…) Should I treat for fleas or bed bugs? If I can self-treat, what else can I do (that would be safe for our dog as well)?
Any help to get me through the next few days bite-free is MUCH appreciated… I’m buying repellent tonight and putting some on before bed.. I’m desperate at this point and it’s only happened for 3 nights.
Thanks in advance.
Best answer:
Answer by cynica
Bed bugs usually hide in small cracks, holes and crevices in the wall or in your mattress. If you get bites on your ankles and lower legs you can blame fleas for that as they usually live in carpets or rugs and not usually beds. Check around your bed furniture and spray insecticide into any crevices.
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As you know, nobody can really identify the insect from the bite as everyone reacts differently. Fleas usually bite on the legs below the knee and Bedbugs can bite everywhere. Bedbugs can go unnoticed (no visible evidence) early on during the infestation. If the pest management guy is going to the apartment for “routine work” they won’t do you any good. Repellents do not work for Bedbugs (at least not proven yet) so I would recommend a Bedbug proof mattress encasement and Bedbug traps and/or monitors to hopefully catch them for accurate identification. You can visit my site for more information as I have been in the pest management industry for a long time and have been dealing with Bedbugs for 10 years or so.