Nocturnal Bites - Bed Bugs?

[Kat]

Hello,

I am from Southern California, and for the past couple of weeks I've been getting nocturnal bites, mostly on my feet and ankles, where I'd wake up with a new bite every morning. This is particularly frustrating since I have hyper sensitive skin and they are all very itchy and fairly inflamed. I'm beginning to think I may have a bedbug problem, but so far I have been unable to find these traces they supposedly leave behind on the bed (I have light yellow sheets). Yesterday I scoured my mattress with a flashlight but was unable to find any bugs. I guess my question is threefold: How can I be certain the problem I'm dealing with are bed bugs at all? and if they're not, what other common biting nightcrawling bugs can they be? And what on earth can I do about these pests?

Any help would be appreciated. I'm pretty fed up with futile vacuuming and changing my sheets and plan to spray the entire area with RAID soon. I have been unable to sleep for several days now for fear of getting bit and it's taking a toll on my sanity.

-Kat

[MaryL]

This may be a bit too obvious, but I would hire a professional pest exterminator if I were you. Describe your problem to be sure "whatever" your pest is will be covered, in addition to their regular controls.

MaryL

[montana]

Could be spiders.

[smithfarms pure kona]

We once had bird mites come into a bedroom. Wild birds built a nest over the window- high up and we didn't particularly notice. Then our son complained of itchiness and it took us a while to realise he was sleeping inside near the window and the things were coming in through that window and on top of him. It was a newly abandoned bird's nest and so we got it down and hosed the area and the bird mites were no longer. They are tiny little spider mite looking things. Good luck.

Spray Raid anyway, I don't think it could hurt. Just take the animals out of the room.

aloha, Thunder

Farmers & Sellers of 100% Kona Coffee & other Great Stuff

[Suzie-Q]

You're sure they're not fleas?

[Lar]

In article , troubled_1 @excite.com says... :) Any help would be appreciated. I'm pretty fed up with futile :) vacuuming and changing my sheets and plan to spray the entire area :) with RAID soon. I have been unable to sleep for several days now for :) fear of getting bit and it's taking a toll on my sanity. :) :) I get asked about mysterious bites a number of times a year almost all from Fall to mid Spring. Any insect or mite that that is big enough to cause you a bite is big enough to be seen. You might place glue traps around the bed (used for mice/roaches.. flat cardboard with a glue like material that lays flat on the floor..found at Lowes/Home Depot) and then inspect after a day or two or call a pest control company and have them look at them. You might place a lamp on the floor and put a trap at it's base so the light may draw something to it. More times than not the irritation is from minute fabric or paper fibers that become rigid in the Winter air and can irritate the skin and look like bug bites. I wouldn't suggest spraying an insecticide if you aren't sure what you are spraying for, but if you do instead of raid use 1 (only one) fogger. The particles sizes are a lot smaller and would penetrate into areas where "minute" critters would hide.

[Phisherman]

Now I lay me down to sleep A thousand bed bugs 'round me creep If one should bite Before I wake I pray the Lord Their jaws would break

[PCOpug]

RAID won't do crap except make you cough and gag.

Sounds like fleas to me, but, get a pro in there.

I'm sure for less than a buck'n'a'half the pro will make you stop scratching.

Or, save the money and put up with the misery.