I need to use a type of pesticide, worried for t's

[bamato]

Like the title says. My wife and I have a problem with bed bugs apparently. At least thats what we are assuming since thats what the numerous bites on our ankles resemble. I need to get rid of these bugs. My worry is that the pesticide I'll have to use on the bed could end up somehow in the animal room and I'm concerned about our T's and buggins. Should I be concerned?

Does anyone have suggestions on how to rid my mattress of these critters without using pesticides? Thanks everyone!

 

[xhexdx]

Without pesticides, not really. Borax powder might work for them, but I'm not sure.

Look for any flea/tick spray with pyrethrens as the active ingredient. It'll still get the spiders if they're around, so make sure you wash your hands after you spray and make sure the spiders aren't in the same room or even in the same part of the house. Better safe than sorry, you know?

 

[bamato]

I hear that. We will probably move everything downstairs for the time being. I dont want to use a powder becuase there is a chance it could transfer and become airborne and such.

Flea and tick spray? I'm not sure if they make "bed bug killer" so I might give that a shot. I knows steam kills them, but I have a really dense mattress. One of those nice sealy ones thats apparently giving a family of bugs a good home

 

[HcUnderoath]

ive always wondered what the hell those things are...
i wake up with tons of bites on my chest and ankles... i never really knew what was causing it, i just ignore it

 

[hasani1408]

according to getridofthings.com do not use pesticides vacuum matress wash bedding in hot water and use matress cover to expel them. it also says black walnut leaves are a natural repelent.

 

[gvfarns]

Bedbugs frequently live somewhere besides the bed I believe. The crawl up onto the bed at night while you sleep. After vacuuming, washing, and doing anything else mechanical to your bed you can, put tape around the leg posts with the sticky side out. Or maybe put the bed legs in bowls of water the bugs can's swim across.

Bedbugs won't survive a washing and drying, so do that do your sheets, blankets, and mattress cover. Then if you do use chemicals, you only have to use it on your actual mattress. Since you won't be touching it (because the sheets and mattress cover will be in the way) there will be a minimal amount of chemical transferal.

I would definitely try mechanical means before going to chemicals if possible.

Oh, and check out the possibility that you might have mange (scabies). I got it when I was south america and it attacked my ankles first. It was pretty easy to get rid of, though.

 

[reclusa]

Steam treatments are the most successful and least invasive. Often times using a sterilizing product such as SteriFab in conjunction with the steam will eliminate them. Neither are toxic.

 

[Mina]

I would try a combination. Steam clean the mattress and the carpet and then wrap the legs of the bed in tape. Hopefully that should do it.

 

[bamato]

Thanks for the suggstions everyone. I''l be busting out the steam cleaner this weekend it looks like and doing some thorough cleaning. I really appreciate it!

 

[ShellsandScales]

equate bedding spray in the pharmacy dept at walmart is where I've seen it. That will fix your bug problem but be careful with the T's and just keep them in quaranteen for a couple of weeks to prevent any contamination.

 

[Le Wasp]

If the bites are only on the ankles, then it's probably a flea problem. I hope for your sake that it is. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of. They hide in the darndest places and they're tough to kill. If it comes down to it, you should find a friend who can keep your tarantulas for a week and fumigate your mattress. Bedbugs are one of the things they should have kept DDT legal to use on.

 

[blazetown]

If the bites are only on the ankles, then it's probably a flea problem.

thats what I was thinking...my retard cat brings in fleas when he gets outside frequently and thats usually where they bite

 

[bamato]

If it is fleas, how do I treat for them?

 

[Le Wasp]

If it is fleas, how do I treat for them?

If it's fleas, the best way would be to treat your cat/dog. They're probably living in the carpet, but if you treat the pet, then their food source will be blocked. Just make sure you're careful about washing your hands after petting your cat or dog before handling or feeding your tarantulas.

 

[bamato]

Cool, sounds good. I've never had flea or tick problems really here in AZ since it's so dry, but it has been a bit humid the last few weeks. Thanks everyone!!

 

[wsimms]

I agree with those who suggest fleas for your ankles-only bite distribution. Bedbugs get you anywhere and everywhere, and the classical pattern is a line of three bites ("breakfast, lunch and dinner") along the path of a blood vessel. If the bites have a red dot in the middle, they are more likely to be flea bites.

Set your alarm clock for an hour before daylight and take a flashlight to bed with you. Wake up and shine the light around your mattress and sheets; don't turn on the lights. If they are there, you will see them. They move pretty fast, BTW.