u/Total_Breadfruit

Can I visit friends with a potential infestation?

Last Sunday night I noticed a small bug crawling next to me on the bed, unfortunately I killed it and didn’t get a picture but I now know it was a bed bug, I think a 1st instar that had fed. I left it a couple of days and didn’t see anything else but then saw a dead female adult next to my bed this Wednesday, at this time I was clearing under my bed to check just in case so it might’ve come from my belongings under my bed. I have bagged up the items from under my bed but left them next to my bed to prevent spread. I am yet to find any others and after installing the bed bug monitor on Wednesday, I also haven’t seen anything however I have still got a couple more bites (my cat brought home fleas from the vet a couple weeks ago so could be this).

I am going to my friends tomorrow and have let her know prior that I have bed bugs. I am washing my clothes (my dryer is broken but I will steam them with a handheld steamer) and putting them on as I leave, I will leave my shoes outside, go straight to her bathroom and put my clothes in the dryer for at least 30 minutes before putting them on and also not bring any bags or possessions other than my phone. I also have a 1 hour journey to get to her house. Would this routine prevent the risk of spread or could I still give them to her?

On another note how likely is it that I brought home an adult female and a 1st instar as hitchhikers or is the only real possibility that there is a nest somewhere I can’t find?

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u/Total_Breadfruit — 1 day ago

Bed bug spot on mattress?!

My cat caught fleas from the vet a couple weeks ago, I’ve been treating them and for the most part they’ve gotten a little better but the heatwave has made them more active again. I’ve been getting a couple of bites which I put down to fleas but yesterday I saw a small bug crawling in my bed. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture as I killed it straight away but it looked similar to a 1st or 2nd instar with what looked like some blood inside it. I’ve searched my whole bed and couldn’t find anything, on the underside of my mattress I found a singular blood spot and a small darker line(not a bug)? There is no spots anywhere else on my mattress. I have also ordered the bed bug monitor but is there anything else I can do?

u/Total_Breadfruit — 7 days ago

Bed bug spot on mattress?!

My cat caught fleas from the vet a couple weeks ago, I’ve been treating them and for the most part they’ve gotten a little better but the heatwave has made them more active again. I’ve been getting a couple of bites which I put down to fleas but yesterday I saw a small bug crawling in my bed. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture as I killed it straight away but it looked similar to a 1st or 2nd instar with what looked like some blood inside it. I’ve searched my whole bed and couldn’t find anything, on the underside of my mattress I found a singular blood spot and a small darker line(not a bug)? There is no spots anywhere else on my mattress. I have also ordered the bed bug monitor but is there anything else I can do?

u/Total_Breadfruit — 7 days ago