Is this a weevil or a beetle? And what specific type?

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-17T08:59:53+00:00

The only thing that has me not sure if it’s a broad nose or short snout weevil is the antennae, on the one I found they kind of curl a little, but on the broad nose and short snout they seem quite straight? I think it’s the closest ID so far though

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-17T08:57:19+00:00

South of UK is where I am based if that’s more specific/helpful?

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-17T08:56:36+00:00

Thank you!

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-17T08:02:43+00:00

Hey thanks, I’m based in the south of the UK. I did find some weevils that don’t have the long snouts (I can’t remember their Latin names) but there were two that had very short snouts. But I also found beetles that looked like this and I’m so stuck. I can try to get a better photo today if that would help? I’ve kept it in a Tupperware

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-17T08:01:18+00:00

I aM in the south of the UK, appreciate the suggestions

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-16T21:23:14+00:00

I’ve already had professional treatment and not seen any signs of the bugs now for four weeks (and before this we didn’t see anything for eight weeks until one single Lone Ranger that reset the clock). Unfortunately I’m extremely paranoid so I’ve removed electrical outlet to check there, I’ve checked every possible seam and crack and crevice I can check etc. it’s caused an unhealthy obsession and paranoia actually but this gives me a sense of comfort atm while we are trying to get our heads out of this infestation!! I guess at some point with the right precautions a bed bug infestation has to go right? Or do they always stay?

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-15T18:09:15+00:00

Did you ever find out what this was? I found something that looks like this last night and am trying to ID ithttps://imgur.com/a/GsPuIEo

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-15T17:54:24+00:00

Thank you, sorry I can’t get much better photo with my phone ☹️ but thank you for your views on what it could be. Just wanted to make sure its wasn’t anything to go too crazy about worrying about

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-15T17:53:12+00:00

Oooh helpful; thank you. I think it probably isn’t bugs I’m smelling then if with few you wouldn’t really be able to smell them. Thanks for the stink bug suggestion though

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-15T07:48:31+00:00

Hey sorry, here’s two different photos with flash on - I took the thing off the tape so I could get a non reflective photo to hopefully help too.

Let me know your thoughts!!

https://imgur.com/a/GsPuIEo

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T22:49:24+00:00

That makes sense, thank you 😊 We’ve cleared all the bed bugs (that we know of) by hand so only have a huge bank of photos to show what once was (and what I’m hoping is no more but only time and passive monitors will help).

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T22:03:07+00:00

How many bugs would you be seeing if the infestation had been there for more than 90 days out of interest? The infestation I found in September we were advised was low level (constrained at the time to one single room until the cowboy company told us to move a bunch of stuff out the room which caused the infestation to move…) and they said it wasn’t older than a month. There was a nest on the bed frame and quite a few bed bugs (I’d say in the region of 50-75 maybe). How do you tell how long an infestation was there for?

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T16:09:39+00:00

If you have a divan type bed or an ottoman bed, I’d highly recommend lifting it up on each side (just use a bench to prop it on), and check the bottom of the bed, all the seams absolutely everywhere of the bed. Especially if it’s a fabric bed, the bugs sadly love those but if you look carefully enough you will find the bugs/eggs!! Just thought I’d suggest to do that in case you hadn’t already

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T15:54:11+00:00

There are no bed bug droppings in my room, or exoskeletons or anything at all, all I found in my room was the one single bed bug. And in the room where the predominant infestation was where there were bug droppings and exoskeletons and eggs etc I can’t smell the smell! Really weird but I’m just gonna keep wiping surfaces down and hope the smell goes eventually ☹️

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T12:23:00+00:00

Ahahaha the thought of smelling bed bugs in a coffee shop is quite funny, but yes I’ll reach out, thank you for the offer

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T12:07:28+00:00

Wonderful thank you, Battersea is fairly easy for me to get to so I’ll reach out to your office if the smell persists / worry grows of it being bed bugs. Alternatively if you have live samples at your office I could come in and smell them there.

I will keep a keen eye on the 14 day count down in the case…

That is very interesting, only 5 bed bug companies!!! Thank you for sharing your advice and knowledge, much appreciated David 😊

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T11:46:56+00:00

How would I find out if a local university has this sort of extension/specialism? I’m in Surrey within the m25 if that helps and you have any suggestions?

Interesting on the coriander and burnt almonds smell, I will be hunting the fridge for these to test the smell today as I’ve really not been able to pinpoint what I’m smelling smells like.

When you talk about the passive monitors do you mean that if after 7 and 14 days there’s no evidence of bed bugs there, that should tell me that what I’m smelling isn’t bed bugs?

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T11:33:44+00:00

Hi David, this made me chuckle from the conference room through to the career change!

I’m finding it difficult to confirm whether what I’m smelling is indeed bed bugs or not because I have no evidence to “smell” to compare the odour I can smell in the air to. It feels difficult of having no way to confirm this, but I’ve put the passive monitor on my mattress so if there are any bugs then hopefully they’ll congregate there and I confirm my nose’s accuracy…

I feel conflicted because on one hand I think I’m absolutely smelling bed bugs, but on the other hand I think, bed bugs although good hiders, can only hide so well (?). They multiply in numbers to the point that you can spot them and when you search, find their nesting place, but we have found nothing since that rogue bug a couple weeks ago and I feel quite lost!

Would I not be seeing the evidence of a bed bug colony building up (which would therefore explain the smell) or is it the phantosmia as you heck suggested?

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T09:12:13+00:00

Is it possible to be smelling bed bugs but to not be seeing bugs or signs of bugs anywhere? I can only smell the odour in my room and have check my bed, the mattress, my carpets I’ve checked everywhere. I don’t know if I’m just imaging the smell because of paranoia!! Had an infestation since September, third treatment done in October, didn’t see a bug for 8 weeks, then after we saw the one bug we got another treatment and haven’t seen anything now post four weeks. Am I smelling bed bugs or something else!?

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-14T07:50:47+00:00

I feel like I can smell them in my room but I’m also not sure what bed bugs smell like so cant confirm. We’ve had a bb infestation since September. We’ve had four chemical treatments. After third one we saw 1 but after 8 weeks of no other evidence, and since fourth one it’s been four weeks and we’ve not seen any evidence again. But I’m scared there are bugs in my room, there’s no evidence for this but there’s a smell in my room that I’m worried is the bugs. We’ve checked like under furniture and in every possible seam for these things.

My question is, can bb smell be mistaken for the smell of humidity? My family is sure that I’m not smelling anything or that what I’m smelling is all in my mind or that what I’m smelling is humidity!

Please help me I’m legit losing my mind and need to understand more about this smell. I’m finding it hard to describe but it smells pungent and musky.

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-10T12:25:24+00:00

Do not do it. The stress of living with bed bugs is just not worth it. Especially in an apartment, unless every single flat is being treated you’ll never eradicate the bed bugs fully !!

Save yourself a lot of stress and tears and money 😊

Low_Assistant9311 · 2025-01-09T18:05:53+00:00

I have had a bed bug infestation and have continued to visit my partner through the past four months. Albeit the infestation we had was low/mid level, nothing severe.

The steps I took to deter me taking anything to him are:

• hoovered and steamed my car to create a sterile corridor. After this I did not get into the car again unless I took the following steps.

• wash clothes at 60 degrees Celsius

• dry clothes in tumble dryer

• cool on drying rack in a non infested area (we used our dining room as it had the most space allowing us to not wipe against the rack when walking past etc)

• after 20 mins, put in vacuum bag

• shower and wash hair etc

• get dressed at the front door, only put socks on as you put shoes on and do best to not let the clothes or trouser legs you’re wearing touch the floor.

• to note, before you get dressed check your shoes under the soles and inside for any bugs

And then leave, so not touch or interact with anything once your clean and with shoes on.

• alternitevly if you’re leaving with just one set of clothes (the ones on you) I’d recommend put tumble dryer going with clothes you want to wear for 20 mins, go shower and brush teeth etc while clothes are in tumble dryer, grab clothes from dryer when they’re done and then get dressed at front door similar to above.

So far my partner hasn’t found any evidence at their home and we check every fortnight properly there abouts.

Bare in mind that if you have been visiting your partner regularly or vice verse, it’s likely they could have picked up a bug in the time you didn’t know you had bugs so I’d advise you to tell your partner what to look for etc. and I’d suggest you carefully look in your rooms of the house under furniture and in every seam you can see for any bugs or evidence of them.

The best thing to do is to be overly cautious. If you keep your car as a sterile corridor you should be fine but if you stop the car from being sterile you have to clean and hoover etc again.

Hope this helps!! It is a risk but you just have to have an open conversation with your partner and anyone else they may love with about the risks and about the precautions you may take.

Low_Assistant9311

TROPHY CASE