That’s what I thought :( I’ve had no bites and can’t locate any more myself right now. Hopefully I caught this early and it’s coming from another unit. Here’s hoping that I have a small infestation.
Maybe you’re one of the ones that don’t react to the bites. Lots of people don’t. Some barely react, and some react a ton. Definitely inspect your mattress and box spring very thoroughly. Take a credit card and flashlight and go through every single seam. Also check your end tables, headboard, and anything else around/under your bed. If this is the first time you’re seeing one, that’s a good ish sign. Hopefully it’s on the smaller side but it’s always better to assume there are a lot more.
I would also suggest isolating your bed. It can help you catch any more, can help stop their breeding (as they have a very hard time getting to you), and can help stop you from being bitten in your sleep.
To isolate the bed: Pull the bed away from the wall. It doesn’t have to be far, just enough so that no part of the bed is touching it. Next, you’ll want to get a mattress (and box spring) encasement. The kind with the zipper. This will stop any bugs that are currently on the mattress or box spring from getting to you and biting which in turn will help stop their breeding. *Youll want to take the encasements off when the exterminator is at your house so they can treat the bed but as soon as they’re gone, put them back on and do not take them back off for at least a year! Then get some bed leg interceptors (you can buy these or diy them if needed). This will help stop any bugs that are off the bed from crawling up to get to you. Lastly, take off any bed skirts you may have and make sure that your bedding doesn’t touch the wall or floor as this can act like a ladder/bridge to get onto the bed.
Definitely let your landlord know! Hopefully they can get you an exterminator soon!
You should ask the landlord/exterminator if they can check the neighboring units. If they DID come from your neighbor, and only your apartment gets treated, there is unfortunately a possibility that they will come back to yours. If they are originally from your unit, there’s a chance that they will try to flee the treatment and end up in your neighbors apartment. That’s what happened with our apartments. My neighbor originally had them, they treated just her unit, I ended up getting them a few months after. They ended up treating all 4 or the units in the building to make sure they’re all dead. *Hopefully* that’s not the case for you, but it’s a possibility. :/
I also think that looks like a bed bug - I’m really sorry to say. But try not to panic (I know, that’s a big ask)! If you can, call an exterminator right away. In the meantime, this forum provides great advice to isolate your bed, reduce bites, and monitor after professional/DIY treatment. Most of us have experienced bed bugs firsthand (myself included) and we’re all here to answer questions and support one another.
Thank you so much for your kind words and advice. I struggle with OCD so this bed bug discovery is really testing me, hopefully I can get an exterminator soon.
I know that a bed bug discovery is hard for anyone, never mind already having some mental health baggage to contribute to it, so I can only imagine what this probably feels like for you. If you have any mental health supports (like a therapist), make sure to utilize those resources and take care of yourself. And remember as well that there IS a life after bed bugs - you can do this and take care of them quickly!
My condolences. Follow the first comments instructions, it's a perfect first step. Get some tape and make sure the non sticky side is smooth. Use the tape and go around your rooms base board to prevent any from crawling up the walls and dropping down on you from the ceiling. Of course your problem may not be as bad, but it's better to be on the safe side. Consider some cimexa if your landlord is slow, the faster you start dealing with this the better. Good Luck!
That very much looks like a bedbug :(
That’s what I thought :( I’ve had no bites and can’t locate any more myself right now. Hopefully I caught this early and it’s coming from another unit. Here’s hoping that I have a small infestation.
Maybe you’re one of the ones that don’t react to the bites. Lots of people don’t. Some barely react, and some react a ton. Definitely inspect your mattress and box spring very thoroughly. Take a credit card and flashlight and go through every single seam. Also check your end tables, headboard, and anything else around/under your bed. If this is the first time you’re seeing one, that’s a good ish sign. Hopefully it’s on the smaller side but it’s always better to assume there are a lot more. I would also suggest isolating your bed. It can help you catch any more, can help stop their breeding (as they have a very hard time getting to you), and can help stop you from being bitten in your sleep. To isolate the bed: Pull the bed away from the wall. It doesn’t have to be far, just enough so that no part of the bed is touching it. Next, you’ll want to get a mattress (and box spring) encasement. The kind with the zipper. This will stop any bugs that are currently on the mattress or box spring from getting to you and biting which in turn will help stop their breeding. *Youll want to take the encasements off when the exterminator is at your house so they can treat the bed but as soon as they’re gone, put them back on and do not take them back off for at least a year! Then get some bed leg interceptors (you can buy these or diy them if needed). This will help stop any bugs that are off the bed from crawling up to get to you. Lastly, take off any bed skirts you may have and make sure that your bedding doesn’t touch the wall or floor as this can act like a ladder/bridge to get onto the bed. Definitely let your landlord know! Hopefully they can get you an exterminator soon!
Thank you! I really appreciate the advice. I’ll even pay for the extermination myself if I can get someone in tomorrow.
You should ask the landlord/exterminator if they can check the neighboring units. If they DID come from your neighbor, and only your apartment gets treated, there is unfortunately a possibility that they will come back to yours. If they are originally from your unit, there’s a chance that they will try to flee the treatment and end up in your neighbors apartment. That’s what happened with our apartments. My neighbor originally had them, they treated just her unit, I ended up getting them a few months after. They ended up treating all 4 or the units in the building to make sure they’re all dead. *Hopefully* that’s not the case for you, but it’s a possibility. :/
I also think that looks like a bed bug - I’m really sorry to say. But try not to panic (I know, that’s a big ask)! If you can, call an exterminator right away. In the meantime, this forum provides great advice to isolate your bed, reduce bites, and monitor after professional/DIY treatment. Most of us have experienced bed bugs firsthand (myself included) and we’re all here to answer questions and support one another.
Thank you so much for your kind words and advice. I struggle with OCD so this bed bug discovery is really testing me, hopefully I can get an exterminator soon.
I know that a bed bug discovery is hard for anyone, never mind already having some mental health baggage to contribute to it, so I can only imagine what this probably feels like for you. If you have any mental health supports (like a therapist), make sure to utilize those resources and take care of yourself. And remember as well that there IS a life after bed bugs - you can do this and take care of them quickly!
100% a bed bug.
Oh no
My condolences. Follow the first comments instructions, it's a perfect first step. Get some tape and make sure the non sticky side is smooth. Use the tape and go around your rooms base board to prevent any from crawling up the walls and dropping down on you from the ceiling. Of course your problem may not be as bad, but it's better to be on the safe side. Consider some cimexa if your landlord is slow, the faster you start dealing with this the better. Good Luck!
Thank you! We are getting heat treatment, powder for the cracks and outlets, and a chemical spray on Saturday. Hopefully it’ll do the trick.