/r/Bedbugs

Photograph via snooOG

The subject of bedbugs: education, identification and help.

We try to provide accurate information and support to people affected by bedbugs.

Objectives

  • To educate the community on bed bug infestations, identification and prevention.
  • To provide low risk, evidence based advice to those at risk or suffering from bed bugs.
  • To provide bed bug identification.
  • To discuss bed bug research and novel bed bug management approaches.

Rules

  • No spamming or solicitation
  • No harmful advice or label violations
  • No insulting remarks
  • No crowdfunding requests
  • No photos of suspected bites

Notes

  • We love hearing updates! See here for some progress updates from our members.

Guides

Bed bug ID and common misIDs

Bed bug relatives (Cimicidae)

Small infestation & prevention tips

List of ineffective control methods

Applying dusts safely & effectively

Bed bug biology


Special Flairs

  • (T) - TRUSTED users have demonstrated safe and sound advice.
  • (V) - VICTIM Personally affected by bed bugs.
  • (E) - EDUCATED Possess further education relating to bed bugs.
  • (P) - PROFESSIONAL Are those qualified and experienced in handling infestations.
  • (C) - CHAMPION Have successfully treated their own infestations.

Friends of /r/Bedbugs

/r/whatsthisbug

/r/Entomology

/r/pestcontrol

/r/MedicalEntomology

/r/Bedbugs

46,475 Subscribers

1

Question

Do bed bugs have small white spot/dot on their back?

1 Comment
2024/04/25
23:25 UTC

3

Is this a bedbug? 😫

4 Comments
2024/04/25
23:08 UTC

1

Found a small amount of bb's

My fiance and I are staying at a friend's house temporarily until our place is move in ready - about 3-6 more months 😬. I've dealt with these suckered many years ago. Problem is no one here can afford an exterminator. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of these suckers permanently because I'm freaking out hard-core over it 😳 I'm ready to toss a match in this house and let it burn. No, our friend didn't know they had them. They also work at an auction house and we're thinking that's where they potentially came from. Any advice would be great!! Thanks

1 Comment
2024/04/25
22:45 UTC

1

Heat treatment

Hi all, I was potentially exposed to bed bugs and even after two inspectors told me they couldn’t find evidence of bugs, we still have had a few weird things happen to where I’m not convinced they aren’t here. So, we are moving forward to a heat treatment. Please send your best advice on the following: -my vacuum: is it best to go ahead and just dispose of it? -best practices for leaving the house while the treatment is happening and not carrying them out with us

1 Comment
2024/04/25
22:32 UTC

1

Any insight appreciated

Found this motherfucker on top of my comforter last night. I’m pretty anxious generally and this has sent me into a frenzy. Just looking for insight and advice.

  • my partner sprayed it with cleaner to make sure it was absolutely dead before I got a good pic. Q-tip for scale, I guess?

  • I just found the one. I stripped my entire bed and checked every single crevice and seam. Nothing else. Not even a single casing or visible egg. No stains. Nada. I haven’t gotten bit as far as I know. Odd that it’s just the one?

  • I have taken my bedding and washed it in bleach, dried it on the hottest setting. I vacuumed and bleached the edges of my mattress, steamed the entire mattress and bed frame, and cleaned the surrounding areas. I’m going to get a mattress and pillow covers and detectors/traps. Anything you can think of that I’m missing.

  • I told my landlord about it and she is going to hopefully have an exterminator come this weekend. She is kind of prone to skimping on services. How can I make sure sufficient treatment is given. Especially since I imagine the bug came from the main house. (See below)

  • I live in a converted garage ADU situation. There are tenants renting the rooms in the main house, my unit is joined to the rest of the house through the laundry room.

3 Comments
2024/04/25
22:15 UTC

2

Can your allergies to bed bugs change?

I had bed bugs 7 years ago and had really severe reactions to them. I have scars from itching and the bites were very inflamed.

Bed bugs are at my work currently and I'm getting paranoid. I take precautions but I found a bite on my arm a few days ago. It's nothing like the reaction I had before, however. I know I'm being extremely anxious but if it's a possible beginning infestation, I need to be quick.

Is it is possible that my reactions have changed or am I just being a ittle too paranoid?

4 Comments
2024/04/25
18:52 UTC

1

Is this a bedbug?

I found a this in my bed. I just came back from vacation where I thought I had and dealt with them. What are my next steps if so?

1 Comment
2024/04/25
15:14 UTC

1

Bed bug fear

A few months back we had a pretty bad infestation,, had to throw pretty much all of the furniture and took weeks of high heat washing and an expensive fumigation. The exterminator was pretty certain that they would have come from where my partner travels a lot for work. We are going on holiday soon and now I am absolutely petrified of staying anywhere or putting my bags/clothes anywhere. How can I help this fear and what can I look out for in other places to see if they have any bed bugs. Thank you

4 Comments
2024/04/25
15:04 UTC

12

Please tell me this is just a tick

My sister found this on her bed the other day, she saw it after her cat was on the bed so we're really hoping it's just a tick, but we don't know for sure.

11 Comments
2024/04/25
13:07 UTC

1

bed bug shell?

been getting bites (mosquitos, fleas?) but found this on my bed when I woke up. Could this be a bed bug shell? it's pretty small I zoomed in. Literally could be a food crumb idk but being cautious

1 Comment
2024/04/25
11:52 UTC

3

Bedbug found in friends bed

I’m staying over at a friends and woke up to a bedbug crawling merely inches away from me. I freaked out, washed all my clothes in my suitcase on hot, put my sneakers in a bag, steamed my suitcase, and threw away the clothes I was sleeping in and took a hot shower. Is there anything else I should be doing? Plz help freaking out 😭

5 Comments
2024/04/25
11:05 UTC

1

Found on bed 💀

So I'm easily freaked out by bugs and just need an answer. I'm currently cleaning my room at 5 am

3 Comments
2024/04/25
09:44 UTC

2

Fiance says I'm freaking out but we've had bedbugs before and I really don't want to deal with this again. Plz tell me it isn't what I think it is.

4 Comments
2024/04/25
07:58 UTC

1

Bedbug exoskeleton??

Just found this on the floor between the back of my headboard and the wall. I have about 20-some bites, mostly on my arms and left shoulder. Is this a bedbug exoskeleton??

Been freaking out over the potential that I have an infestation and would love some clarity from this wonderful community. Thanks!

4 Comments
2024/04/25
05:25 UTC

Back To Top