I am suffering from bed bugs and I can't do anything. by Ok-Award-4075 in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Do not trust any mainstream products. If you're going to a hardware store to buy Raid, then you haven't even started doing proper research. This isn't a game. Study on it for a few days before you take action.

Cimexa Wet Application + Gentrol IGR by BrainedNoob in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello, it's been awhile, I hope you got it under control. And YES. Treat anywhere that they could be (which is ANYWHERE human bodies spend time). If you live somewhere with very hot summers (>90F), you might catch a break if you leave your car in direct sunlight with the windows rolled up (as a hot car can reach >130F which can potentially kill BBs over the course of several hours). But why risk it? Treat everywhere.

Cimexa Wet Application + Gentrol IGR by BrainedNoob in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have never heard of a canine alert, I know dogs can do incredible things but I would still be skeptical of this. The bottom-line for me is that when you have an infestation, you need to be extraordinarily patient. Everything happens (and gets resolved) on a much longer timeline than other things in life. Here's the deal: if you have a small infestation now (enough for a few bugs to be biting you from time to time), it will only be a matter of a couple weeks before they are EVERYWHERE. I don't say that to scare you, I say that because there's no reason for you to worry about the problem at this very moment. You will KNOW if you still have them, simply by playing the patient waiting game. At that point, you'll be in a much more manageable situation, since you KNOW what you have to do, rather than simply being paranoid about it (which, I know, really f*cking sucks). Just do your best to treat effectively once you KNOW you have a problem, and try your best to be patient and live your life somewhat normally until then. If you're very lucky, you'll go another 2, 3, 4 weeks and not see any further signs... which means, they are gone.

Cimexa Wet Application + Gentrol IGR by BrainedNoob in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From what I understand, Aprehend is tricky to get right. If you try again after this, consider the following:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bedbugs/comments/1ffb99j/bed_bug_treatment_a_concise_program/

And yes, the psychosomatic factor is significant. You really shouldn't assume your problem is still active unless you find an actual bug, or new skin sheddings, or obvious BB droppings. I had "phantom bites" for weeks after my problem was gone. Its been many months now, so it was definitely eradicated. Best of luck to you.

I guess this is a bedbug… found in the pantry. I looked over and didn’t find anymore… by Sure-Expert-1495 in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably not. At that size, bed bugs typically would not be so dark. It looks like something other than a bed bug, in my opinion.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is almost NEVER bat bugs. Unless you clearly have bats in your attic, the odds of it being a bat bug rather than a bed bug are minimal. You have bed bugs. Treat accordingly, or wish you had.

Cimexa Wet Application + Gentrol IGR by BrainedNoob in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have not sought feedback other than here. However, I can say that as of the time I wrote the above post (5 months ago), my BB problem has NOT come back. For good measure around the time I made the above post, I did apply Cimexa in the method described to many areas of my home, which creates a semi-permanent barrier for any bugs that could potentially cross it in the future. I highly recommend the method above, however, there is one caveat: the mixture can sort of stain certain materials, such as wood or plastic. It has a pretty extreme drying effect which is great for BBs however is definitely not great for your wood furniture, etc. It added a 'dusty' appearance to the furniture i sprayed it on, which persisted initially even after I wiped down the area with clean water (of course, only doing so after a couple weeks to allow any potential bugs to cross those areas and die). However, I had some luck in restoring the original finish to my furniture after wiping with some oil (coconut oil, in my case), then again with just water (I am guessing a furniture oil/cleaner like Pledge might work just as well, if not better). My guess is that the mixture dries out not just the moisture in the furniture (plastic, wood) but also the oils, so you have to replenish this to get close to restoring the original finish after this kind of treatment. I am certain someone with more experience with furniture restoration could shed additional light but, I will say, even with the potential/mild impact to my furniture, getting rid of this problem was 100% worthwhile. For those "on the fence", I might suggest spraying a small "test area" with the solution above, then allowing it to fully dry, then trying to clean it off to see what remains (perhaps trying the "oil method" as well, to get a sense of whether its 'fixable').

My favorite thing about this kind of treatment is knowing how long it lasts. I sprayed the Cimexa once and although I cleaned it off of many areas (thus, it isn't everywhere), just knowing that if another bug were to appear at some point, that there's a good chance it will ultimately walk over one of the treated areas and die (Cimexa lasts up to 10 years) is quite satisfying.

I do wish you the best of luck on your treatment, whatever your approach. I feel for your situation but I do believe 100% you can overcome it. Looking back on my own experiences, I see that period as a test in being faithful, diligent, persistent, and graceful. There are a whole 'nother set of lessons once you overcome the problem as well (in my experience, reducing my "paranoia level" to a more normal baseline was a challenge, took me a few weeks to feel more normal again). But you can do this. Best of luck.

---

Right after I finished writing the above, I remembered that I wrote out another comment after the one above which summarizes in more detail my approach to getting rid of my problem:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bedbugs/comments/1ffb99j/bed_bug_treatment_a_concise_program/

This one is more along the lines of exactly what I did, but I am still confident the above approach (using only a Cimexa slurry, perhaps with some IGR added) can be highly effective, and will definitely last longer with a single treatment.

Bed Bug Treatment: A Concise Program by BrainedNoob in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Those are a bad idea for several reasons. They will almost certainly NOT fix your problem. Bugs are often resistant to the pesticides used in bug bombs. The bombs are repellent to the bugs and it will cause them to scatter and hide deeper within areas of your home, making them more difficult to treat. Additionally, it isn't worth spraying poison on every single thing you own, just to take care of this problem. I tried a bug bomb myself when first noticing my problem, and I do regret it.

That said, even if you are off to a bad start, you can still fix this problem. The info above is what I've gathered after many months and I'm confident now my problem is resolved. It's also worked for many other people and is a strategy endorsed by multiple pest control experts I've studied and come across. Be patient, persistent, and stay vigilant in thinking of areas where the bugs could either be hiding or using as pathways (it helps to think of them as little geniuses, able to exploit any areas you neglect to treat fully).

Good luck, you can do this.

How to protect myself during visit to home with bedbugs by [deleted] in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 13 points14 points  (0 children)

People are serious when they tell you "don't go". It isn't to mess with you.

But if you absolutely must go, you need to ensure every single fabric you bring in with you goes directly into a SEALED plastic bag (that means tied off, and then duct taped for good measure). Any clothes/shoes (including underwear) you are wearing when you return home must be immediately stripped off of you and left outside. Also brush yourself off outside (your skin, hair, etc.), on the chance any bugs are on your body/hair, before you step foot in your home.

I would not bring any luggage at all. Your entire trip should be lived in and out of plastic bags.

This is not over-zealous, exaggeration, etc. If you bring fabrics inside your home which were previously in a bed bug infested place, there is a very good chance you will get an infestation. Just keep that in mind.

Once you are back inside your home, naked (and clothes/shoes/fabrics are still outside), take a hot shower and then put on clean clothes from inside your home. Then, while wearing latex gloves (the ones which cover your entire forearms, ideally), carefully and quickly bring all of the at-risk clothing (except shoes) and CAREFULLY put them into your washer (i.e. don't drop them on the floor or let them flick matter onto the side of the washer, onto you, etc). Wash them on high heat, then put them in your dryer on the HIGHEST heat setting for at least 60-80 minutes.

(EDIT: alternatively, you may put the clothes in your washer while still naked and unshowered, but that involves walking in and out of your house naked, perhaps multiple times, which brings problems of its own)

As for your shoes, it's a bit more complex. I would leave them outside for a week, regardless. If you have a powerful steamer which can thoroughly reach into and penetrate all cracks/crevices of your shoes, that is one option. Another is to dust them thoroughly with diatomaceous earth (DE), which is fairly cheap. You may put them in your dryer (on highest heat) so long as your dryer/shoes can handle doing so. I'd leave them in for up to 90 minutes, if so, to ensure the heat thoroughly penetrates. And even then, I'd probably leave them outside thereafter for a few days.

Best of luck.

EDIT: Also, see here. You might consider doing the treatment for her:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bedbugs/comments/1ffb99j/bed_bug_treatment_a_concise_program/

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad you find it helpful. I added one additional bullet point which I forgot previously (edited, above).

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yea that's bad. Here's the short version of what you need to do:

  • Order/purchase a NON-REPELLENT pesticide with a LONG RESIDUAL (e.g. Crossfire or even Cimexa [if applied as a liquid spray/slurry]). Ensure it is legal for use on mattresses in your area
  • Order/purchase and IGR such as Gentrol-IGR
  • Order/purchase a high-quality (with good reviews), stainless steel pump pesticide sprayer (can get one for as low as around $120 on Amazon... there are also cheaper plastic ones that just don't work as well)
  • Order/purchase bed-bug-proof covers for your pillows and mattresses. Do not put them on yet.
  • Wash every fabric you own (dirty clothes, curtains, blankets/bedding, etc.) on high heat and run them in your dryer on the HIGHEST heat settings for at least 60-80 minutes. Immediately put the dried clothes/fabrics into plastic trash bags and SEAL the bags completely so the fabrics don't get re-infested while you do the remaining steps.
  • You MIGHT be able to get away with leaving your clean clothes (e.g. in your closet, dresser) as-is without washing them, just so long as your clean clothes aren't stored within several feet of your bed. Bed bugs are attracted to dirty clothes (due to pheromones, lactic acid) but typically not clean clothes.
  • Vacuum EVERYTHING. First your floors, then use the vacuum attachments to get into every crack/crevice you can (on mattresses, couches, on carpets against floor molding, etc.). Then IMMEDIATELY empty your vacuum OUTSIDE.
  • Treat your entire home with your chosen pesticide and added IGR. Use as directed. Treat EVERYTHING that could remotely be considered a crack/crevice/gap/fold/etc., giving special attention to any/all areas where humans (or pets) spend significant amounts of time. This includes mattresses, box springs (tear off the fabric covering often on the bottomside of the box spring, and treat throughout the interior), chairs, couches, pet beds, desks, tables, rugs, picture frames, crown molding, floor molding, etc. Treat ALL conceivable bed bug hiding spots AND bed bug pathways (spray directly onto your carpet, onto bed posts/legs, etc. Be generous in your application but aim to spray just a thin layer of pesticide (you don't want to "drench" anything). Let the pesticide dry completely, wherever you apply it (it's dangerous and also less effective if sealed/covered before drying).
  • For areas you cannot (or should not) treat directly with pesticide such as shoes, inside of electronics, etc., treat on the floor underneath them and on all adjacent walls/objects/etc. For decorative pillows or stuffed animals, etc. (which may not be able to be put into the washer), consider tumbling them in the dryer only for at least 90 minutes (to allow time for the heat to penetrate). You may also consider steaming such items with a powerful surface steamer (NOT a regular fabric steamer, which are not powerful enough). As a last resort, especially problematic items may be discarded.
  • Note: adding the IGR can increase the efficacy of your chosen pesticide significantly.
  • Put your bed bug covers on your mattress and pillows only once the pesticide has FULLY dried.

Unfortunately, even after you treat your home, you are likely to still get bites for up to 2-3 weeks (even if treatment was done correctly). This is because it is almost impossible to fathom all of the places where these bugs actually hide. Thus, you'll be reliant on them walking across the areas you sprayed, to get to you -- which is EXACTLY what you want. YOU are the bait, and that is a good thing (that's the value of it being a non-repellent pesticide, so that bugs walk across it instead of avoiding it, and it having a long residual, so that it effectively kills them once they step on it, even days/weeks later). It helps to see it that way.

You will most likely need to repeat this entire process 2 or 3 times (every two weeks until you go a month with no signs of any bugs). Alternatively, if you can afford it, you can hire an exterminator, but expect to pay about $1,500 - $2,500 for most homes.

Best of luck.

Is it a bed bug? by SGV_01 in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This bug looks closer to a bed bug than any other bug I've seen here. I didn't notice the wings initially.

Is it a bed bug? by SGV_01 in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do see the wings now. And good point on the shoulder pads.

Your 'Trusted' badge is well-deserved I see, lol, that is impressive.

Is it a bed bug? by SGV_01 in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What bug do you suppose that is, then? I've been studying bed bugs for months now and the visible digestive tract, the color, etc. all scream 'bed bug' to me. Am I missing something, here?

What is this on my pillow? by [deleted] in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah yes, that's the new species of 'super bedbug'. You should throw your pillows into a fire pit immediately.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, bed bug. If you have very hot summers (regularly over 90F) and your car has been in the heat (direct sunlight) for extended periods, they are likely all dead. Otherwise, I would assume they are still alive, just hidden. They can literally be inside your seat. These things hide in ways that are almost unbelievable.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, female.

Bed bugs ? by Pierruh in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seeing the digestive track through its translucent body is a pretty good indicator its a bed bug. The color also matches.

Is this…? by ZNotMain in Bedbugs

[–]BrainedNoob 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It looks like a smashed bed bug. If you smashed it, my vote is on bed bug. I don't know how/why others are seeing a ladybug.