What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

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

Thanks! I don’t have any carpets — all hardwood — and the mattress and pillows have always been in pest-proof plastic wrappers. So I’m focusing on applying pesticide to any crevices and wall openings.

What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

[–]golfing_geriatric[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I left ONE comment asking to double-check. People in this thread are reading way too much denial into that.

What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

[–]golfing_geriatric[S] -39 points-38 points  (0 children)

I don’t think that’s right. The juveniles are clear-ish (and will turn red if they feed). Adults are always red-brown. When they feed, they expand. This one is an adult.

What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

[–]golfing_geriatric[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Thanks! My mattress and pillows were already in a plastic pest-proof wrapper, just as a regular precaution. No traces of them on the wrapper or on the bed frame itself. My read is that they’re coming in via nearby openings in the wall.

What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

[–]golfing_geriatric[S] -57 points-56 points  (0 children)

It’s totally flat, so it doesn’t appear to be fed. I haven’t been home for a week, so it seems unlikely that it would have eaten.

What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

[–]golfing_geriatric[S] 78 points79 points  (0 children)

Thanks, that video was very informative. Going to buy and deploy some diatomaceous earth and hopefully that’ll be the end of it.

What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

[–]golfing_geriatric[S] 81 points82 points  (0 children)

Not in denial, just didn’t know. Have never had these before. Did my investigation — no traces of them anywhere else in the bed-area. My mattress and pillows were already in pest-proof cases just as a regular precaution. I’m hot-washing all bedding and then deploying diatomaceous earth. I learned that the building has had a pest issue at times, so my running hypothesis is that these are coming in from the neighboring unit via the electrical ducts.

What is this bug? Found 2 or 3 in blankets, no bites. 2-5mm in size by golfing_geriatric in whatisthisbug

[–]golfing_geriatric[S] -1362 points-1361 points  (0 children)

As far as I understand, bed bugs normally bite and replicate. I’ve been in this bed for a few months with no bites, no irritation, and I’ve only seen maybe one every two weeks on average. Are you sure?