ARE THESE BITES FROM BED BUGS?
DO I HAVE BED BUGS BITES?
ARE THESE BED BUG BITES?
So you have some bites on your body. It's a surprise you weren't expecting them. You do some googling. Your bites might even be in a line and you don’t have a cat or a dog. Google says that's Bed Bugs. You look and find nothing . Google says Bed Bugs hide. The more you look the more you become convinced it's Bed Bugs. Google is convincing you it's Bed Bugs. Google has lots of horror stories on Bed Bugs......
BED BUGS……
BED BUGS OMG!
WORLD EXPERT ON BED BUGS
Let’s take a step back and have a look at the facts.
Can bites alone diagnose Bed bugs? Unfortunately, Google has this one wrong. Bites cannot tell you what is biting you. This is from Dr Richard Cooper PhD from Rutgers University, and considered to be the USA’s top scientist on Bed Bugs. In terms of research on Bed Bugs Dr Cooper is a world leader.
So back to these bites, supposedly from an unseen insect. What is causing these bites? They are called unexplained bites. They can be from a pest insect, BUT can also be from non pest control issues too.
Which biting pest?
You need to find what is biting you and either describe it or catch it.
When you see a bug that you think is biting you, don’t squash it, but take a good look at it and ask yourself these questions,
- How does it move? Does it Jump, Crawl or Fly?
- Shape and size? Oval and the size of a pumpkin seed? Or Thin and the size of a sesame seed?
- Colour? Reddish brown or Dark Brown or Black?
Consider investing in a trap to catch your Bed Bugs. SenSci has an excellent Bed Bug trap, the Pyramid . SenSci also have a lure, called the ActiveCR available. These mimic the presence of a human and entice bed Bugs into the trap. When do you need a a trap with a lure? SenSci advises you only need the lure then there are no humans around e.g. corridors in apartment blocks. For common areas e.g. around your bed, you don't need the lure.
ACES pest control has these available now, for prices please click here.
If you can catch the biting insect put it in a jar. Even though it is tempting to, please don’t squash it. Please take a clear photos and send it to us. We need to confirm its a Bed Bug.
FAQS on Bed Bugs
Q: I can’t find any bed bugs and they like to hide so it must be bed bugs?
A: Yes, bed bugs like to hide but they are bad at it. If you take a torch and look under the base slats or bed base, you will see them. You will also see black marks that they leave behind, their small white eggs and discarded skin shells.
Q: I don’t have pets so the bites must be from bed bugs.
A: Nope, you have unexplained bites. These that can be from other biting pest insects and NON pest control issues/causes.
Q: I have bites in a line so it must be bed bugs?
A: Nope, fleas can bite in a line. Unexplained bites can also present in a line.
Q: Are there bed bugs in my sheets or pillow cases?
A: Unlikely. Once a bed bug has taken a blood meal they scurry off to the safety of the bed base or under the bed slats.
Q: Are there traps for Bed Bugs?
A: Yes. Traps are excellent for diagnosing Bed Bugs. SenSci has an excellent range of traps, including the SenSci Pyramid trap and/ or Interceptors that go under the bed-base feet (posts). ACES pest control has these available for sale now. For prices please click here.
Q: What works for treating Bed Bugs?
A: Click here for Dr Cooper's list of what works and what doesn't for Bed Bugs
FAQS on Fleas
Q: I don’t have pets so it can’t be fleas
A: Nope. Fleas can exist without pets.
Q: I have bites in a line so it can’t be fleas?
A: Nope, fleas can bite in a line
Q: Is there anyway to catch the fleas?
A: Yes. The hardware shops have a flea trap which some of our customers have shown to be effective. Please note this is a diagnostic tool only.
FAQS on unexplained bites
These present as bites from pest insects/ spiders but there is no evidence of any insect or spider.
These can range from medical issues e.g. scabies/anxiety/drug reactions to some food allergies that can present as bites or welts.
These are issues that pest control services cannot help with
PRFOESSIONAL PEST CONTROL
If you still don’t have any evidence of what is biting you, you may choose to ask a pest controller to complete an inspection. If bed bugs are there, they should be able to find them quickly. Before engaging their extermination services, why not ask for some evidence ( from the inspection) of Bed Bugs? No evidence, then it may not be Bed Bugs.
Caveat Emptor (Buyer beware).
Since 2009 ACES pest control customers with bed bugs, have had no issues seeing or finding bed bugs. When I ask for photo (s) , with minutes I have them by e mail or MMS. A Bed Bug infestation is OVERT and easy to find. This is the reason ACES pest control doesn't offer diagnostic inspections for Bed Bugs, as if you can't find the bed bugs, its most likely you have unexplained bites, NOT Bed Bugs.
If there is still no evidence of biting pests then you are right back to unexplained bites.
By Owen Stobart from ACES pest control. Owen is a Qualified Urban Pest Controller by Protrain, certified Bed Bug FREE technician from Bed Bug Central. Owen has attended presentations on Bed Bug management by Dr Richard Cooper at the NPMA meetings.
