Mention possible bedbugs to roommates?
August 24, 2015 10:19 PM Subscribe
I've been subletting a room for the past six months or so, and am about to move out. Recently I've been feeling like I've been bitten by things during the night. Bed bugs? I don't know, but it seems possible. What is the best option here? I want to do right by the people I've been subletting from, but I also don't want to make a big deal out of something that turns out to be just me being paranoid. And I feel nervous about potential financial ramifications.
I first felt like I was bitten by something about three months ago, right before leaving for a trip that lasted a few weeks. I woke up one morning and had this large welt-like bite on my leg that I thought was a spider bite.
A few weeks ago, I got another, and then another. I started to wonder if they were bedbug bites and did some obsessive internet searching. I turned up some information about signs of bed bugs, including blood on the sheets. There were a couple stains on my sheets that looked like they could be blood, but I also eat in bed sometimes and have been known to stain things before. I did a search around my bed and didn't come up with anything that looked like bed bugs. Took the sheets off and it looked clean. Inspected around the bed, no signs that I could see. I washed my sheets and things seemed to calm down.
Then last week, two more red welty type bites, now the past few days I just feel itchy all over, though I don't really see bites on myself. I just took the sheet off again and looked at things more closely and it does seem like there are stains on the mattress cover that I didn't notice before - on the top wider areas that are just kind of faintly red or brownish, one tiny speck like spot. On the bottom of the mattress more smaller dot type stains (didn't look there before). I still haven't seen anything that looks like a bedbug though.
I feel like I am someone who has tendency to create problems in my head out of thin air. I always think I might have this health issue or that health issue and usually it turns out I was just worrying too much - I'm a worrier. Plus I'm kind of stressed out right now in my life in general. So I kind of feel like maybe I'm just going kind of nutsy over this and imagining things. But then I don't know, there does seem to be some evidence.
My big dilemma: should I mention this to the people I've been subletting from? I am moving out in less than a week now. To a new place - though am immediately going on another trip for almost a month just after moving in there. I feel like morally, I should mention it to them. But then I would potentially be liable for the issue - though I have no way of knowing how the bed bugs got here, so who knows maybe I didn't bring them in (if they exist). Looking into how much it costs to get an exterminator makes me cringe inside a little, and I keep imagining being liable for replacing the expensive mattress I've been sleeping on the past months . . . I do not currently have much or make much money, and neither do the people I'm subletting from, I'd guess. Of course there is also the argument in favor of figuring this out that it would be good to know if all my stuff is infested with bed bugs before moving to a new place.
Blargh. Help! Advice?
I first felt like I was bitten by something about three months ago, right before leaving for a trip that lasted a few weeks. I woke up one morning and had this large welt-like bite on my leg that I thought was a spider bite.
A few weeks ago, I got another, and then another. I started to wonder if they were bedbug bites and did some obsessive internet searching. I turned up some information about signs of bed bugs, including blood on the sheets. There were a couple stains on my sheets that looked like they could be blood, but I also eat in bed sometimes and have been known to stain things before. I did a search around my bed and didn't come up with anything that looked like bed bugs. Took the sheets off and it looked clean. Inspected around the bed, no signs that I could see. I washed my sheets and things seemed to calm down.
Then last week, two more red welty type bites, now the past few days I just feel itchy all over, though I don't really see bites on myself. I just took the sheet off again and looked at things more closely and it does seem like there are stains on the mattress cover that I didn't notice before - on the top wider areas that are just kind of faintly red or brownish, one tiny speck like spot. On the bottom of the mattress more smaller dot type stains (didn't look there before). I still haven't seen anything that looks like a bedbug though.
I feel like I am someone who has tendency to create problems in my head out of thin air. I always think I might have this health issue or that health issue and usually it turns out I was just worrying too much - I'm a worrier. Plus I'm kind of stressed out right now in my life in general. So I kind of feel like maybe I'm just going kind of nutsy over this and imagining things. But then I don't know, there does seem to be some evidence.
My big dilemma: should I mention this to the people I've been subletting from? I am moving out in less than a week now. To a new place - though am immediately going on another trip for almost a month just after moving in there. I feel like morally, I should mention it to them. But then I would potentially be liable for the issue - though I have no way of knowing how the bed bugs got here, so who knows maybe I didn't bring them in (if they exist). Looking into how much it costs to get an exterminator makes me cringe inside a little, and I keep imagining being liable for replacing the expensive mattress I've been sleeping on the past months . . . I do not currently have much or make much money, and neither do the people I'm subletting from, I'd guess. Of course there is also the argument in favor of figuring this out that it would be good to know if all my stuff is infested with bed bugs before moving to a new place.
Blargh. Help! Advice?
Mention it.
There are many possible explanations for the red marks; bedbugs are probably not the most likely explanation.
But bedbugs are much easier to treat in the early stages; when you have a full blown infestation, you need multiple treatments.
If it turns out you do have bedbugs, don't offer to pay the full price of treatment. Bedbugs are a household issue and not one person 's fault. But do speak up so your roommates can compare notes and go from there.
In general, treating people as you'd want them to treat you is a good moral guide.
posted by girl flaneur at 11:05 PM on August 24, 2015
There are many possible explanations for the red marks; bedbugs are probably not the most likely explanation.
But bedbugs are much easier to treat in the early stages; when you have a full blown infestation, you need multiple treatments.
If it turns out you do have bedbugs, don't offer to pay the full price of treatment. Bedbugs are a household issue and not one person 's fault. But do speak up so your roommates can compare notes and go from there.
In general, treating people as you'd want them to treat you is a good moral guide.
posted by girl flaneur at 11:05 PM on August 24, 2015
Having experienced bedbugs, the single bites are DEFINITELY not bedbugs. I'm sure bedbugs occasionally just bite once, but for that to happen to you night after night? No. The double bites-- are they right next to each other?-- are PROBABLY not bedbugs. In my experience the bites come in threes, far more often than not. If the issue is worth $15 to you, you could run out and buy some Climbup bedbug interceptors to put under the feet of your bed. They're great at trapping bedbugs so you can know for sure, and you can use them again (I like to use them when I first move into an apartment, so I can nope right out of there if I find anything). Although I'm not sure how well they'll work if the bedbugs are already in the bed.
If you feel compelled to mention it, I wouldn't jump straight to announcing that you have bedbugs. Just bring up the fact that you've been super itchy and see if anyone commiserates. You can say "Ugh, I hope it's not a bedbug." But until you have three bites or actually find a bug, it is way too early to work everyone else into a lather about a problem that might not even exist.
posted by acidic at 12:00 AM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you feel compelled to mention it, I wouldn't jump straight to announcing that you have bedbugs. Just bring up the fact that you've been super itchy and see if anyone commiserates. You can say "Ugh, I hope it's not a bedbug." But until you have three bites or actually find a bug, it is way too early to work everyone else into a lather about a problem that might not even exist.
posted by acidic at 12:00 AM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Why not set a homemade or purchased online bed bug trap and confirm your suspicions before sounding any alarms?
I feel like in all of your googling you would have seen mention of these and could have already confirmed or denied your own suspicions. Nthing these sound like mosquito bites, since bed bug bites come in multiples.
Dude. C'mon. Police yourself better than this. It's good that you posted to AskMe, but really, you could have sussed this out on your own. Yes, please don't spread unnecessary drama amongst your roommates, but for your own wellbeing and personal happiness (which you deserve!!) be a little more thorough and logical. Be like Spock. Just try. It can't hurt you, only help. Good luck :))
posted by jbenben at 12:02 AM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
I feel like in all of your googling you would have seen mention of these and could have already confirmed or denied your own suspicions. Nthing these sound like mosquito bites, since bed bug bites come in multiples.
Dude. C'mon. Police yourself better than this. It's good that you posted to AskMe, but really, you could have sussed this out on your own. Yes, please don't spread unnecessary drama amongst your roommates, but for your own wellbeing and personal happiness (which you deserve!!) be a little more thorough and logical. Be like Spock. Just try. It can't hurt you, only help. Good luck :))
posted by jbenben at 12:02 AM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
(I just want to add here that I have a TOTAL phobia of bugs and I feel you (and the itchiness - oh god) and I am double imploring you to combat your imaginary itchies with cool logic and science.)
Ha ha. Acidic totally posted similar to me at the same time. Seriously. You're fine. Just itchy and "bugged" out. We've all been there. Yep.
posted by jbenben at 12:04 AM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ha ha. Acidic totally posted similar to me at the same time. Seriously. You're fine. Just itchy and "bugged" out. We've all been there. Yep.
posted by jbenben at 12:04 AM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Are you in an area with frequent bedbug cases (NYC)? Because if you haven't seen an actual non-hypothetical-speck bedbug, I wouldn't assume that you have them. Mosquitoes, chiggers, stress, other skin conditions, ingrown hairs, hell, even blocked pores fit better with what you describe and are all more likely. No need to mention it. Take a nice oatmeal bath and have a cup of tea, and good luck with your move!
posted by thetortoise at 12:10 AM on August 25, 2015
posted by thetortoise at 12:10 AM on August 25, 2015
Seconding acidic. Bedbug bites are basically always in a "grid" or pattern of some sort. And by basically always i mean like, 99% of the time and everyone i know who's for sure had them agrees on this.
And even then, you need to catch the marks on your mattress or some in a trap to really prove it. Having some bug bites != bedbugs. I've seen people get grid-bites that definitely weren't from bed bugs, just some other kind of bug.
I've lived in places where i was chewed up by not-bed-bug bugs, and i've had bedbugs. What you're describing sounds decidedly well, not like bedbugs.
posted by emptythought at 12:53 AM on August 25, 2015
And even then, you need to catch the marks on your mattress or some in a trap to really prove it. Having some bug bites != bedbugs. I've seen people get grid-bites that definitely weren't from bed bugs, just some other kind of bug.
I've lived in places where i was chewed up by not-bed-bug bugs, and i've had bedbugs. What you're describing sounds decidedly well, not like bedbugs.
posted by emptythought at 12:53 AM on August 25, 2015
Misterussell and I were in a similar situation when we moved into our old apartment. It ended up being a combo of mosquitoes (I caught one in February! In New Jersey! Who knew?) and dry winter skin.
HOWEVER! Before that conclusion we had Googled ourselves into a panic. So for a month, we sprinkled Diatomaceous Earth around our bed and baseboards, and used traps under the bedposts. We found nothing.
Do some hunting this week and see what you find. If you find actual bedbugs, then mention it. But I think you'll be fine.
posted by kimberussell at 3:36 AM on August 25, 2015
HOWEVER! Before that conclusion we had Googled ourselves into a panic. So for a month, we sprinkled Diatomaceous Earth around our bed and baseboards, and used traps under the bedposts. We found nothing.
Do some hunting this week and see what you find. If you find actual bedbugs, then mention it. But I think you'll be fine.
posted by kimberussell at 3:36 AM on August 25, 2015
Stop eating in your bed, you may be attracting ants, which will bite you. And don't share this fear with anyone in real life. Just, you know, stop eating in bed.
You know if you have bedbugs. It isn't anything that you can ignore with doubt. It doesn't sound like you have them.
posted by myselfasme at 6:10 AM on August 25, 2015
You know if you have bedbugs. It isn't anything that you can ignore with doubt. It doesn't sound like you have them.
posted by myselfasme at 6:10 AM on August 25, 2015
I have gotten summer mystery bites at night. Several were pretty severe and took weeks to stop itching and disappear. Once, it turned out that a housemate's pet had fleas. Other times, I have no idea what it was. However - it wasn't bedbugs!
Now, this could be bedbugs, as far as I can tell from obsessive research, because bedbugs can be weird.
However, the bedbug growth cycle takes about 40 days and as I understand it, even a single bedbug needs to bite about once a week, especially when it's warm. We know you're allergic to whatever it is (rather than being one of the 50% who don't get itchy and don't realize they're being bitten). So it seems likely to me that if you had bedbugs, you would have more bites. Even if you had one bedbug which laid fertile eggs, they would have hatched by now and you'd be getting more bites.
It seems likely to me that you're just anxious. I am a very anxious person who makes up health stuff and just about had a nervous breakdown the summer of the fleas, so I know how it goes.
I'd suggest getting some interceptors, washing all your bedding really well and vacuuming your mattress - less because I think there's bedbugs than because it will give you more peace of mind. When you move out, vacuum all your stuff and heat treat as much as possible in the dryer (you can put already dry clothes in the dryer for 30 minutes at regular or high heat and it will heat up enough to kill bugs and eggs without damaging clothes, unless the clothes have, for example, glued ornamentation.) Again, I recommend this not because of bugs, but because it may quiet down the anxiety, based on my experience.
posted by Frowner at 7:17 AM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now, this could be bedbugs, as far as I can tell from obsessive research, because bedbugs can be weird.
However, the bedbug growth cycle takes about 40 days and as I understand it, even a single bedbug needs to bite about once a week, especially when it's warm. We know you're allergic to whatever it is (rather than being one of the 50% who don't get itchy and don't realize they're being bitten). So it seems likely to me that if you had bedbugs, you would have more bites. Even if you had one bedbug which laid fertile eggs, they would have hatched by now and you'd be getting more bites.
It seems likely to me that you're just anxious. I am a very anxious person who makes up health stuff and just about had a nervous breakdown the summer of the fleas, so I know how it goes.
I'd suggest getting some interceptors, washing all your bedding really well and vacuuming your mattress - less because I think there's bedbugs than because it will give you more peace of mind. When you move out, vacuum all your stuff and heat treat as much as possible in the dryer (you can put already dry clothes in the dryer for 30 minutes at regular or high heat and it will heat up enough to kill bugs and eggs without damaging clothes, unless the clothes have, for example, glued ornamentation.) Again, I recommend this not because of bugs, but because it may quiet down the anxiety, based on my experience.
posted by Frowner at 7:17 AM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, if there are enough bedbugs to be staining the mattress, you should be getting more bites. Mattresses can accrue tiny spots.
Basically, if there are enough bedbugs living in your bed to be making multiple visible spots on the mattress and we know that you get itchy from bites, you should be seeing a lot more bites. You might be getting bitten quite a lot and still have trouble spotting actual bugs, but it seems unlikely that you'd be seeing a lot of bug effluvia and not getting a lot of bites.
One thing you can do - try dampening a tissue and pressing it against the spots. If they are blood/bedbug effluvia, you should get red-brown transfer onto the tissue. (At least per bedbugger.com when I was reading obsessively there.)
I am not your pest control professional.
posted by Frowner at 7:23 AM on August 25, 2015
Basically, if there are enough bedbugs living in your bed to be making multiple visible spots on the mattress and we know that you get itchy from bites, you should be seeing a lot more bites. You might be getting bitten quite a lot and still have trouble spotting actual bugs, but it seems unlikely that you'd be seeing a lot of bug effluvia and not getting a lot of bites.
One thing you can do - try dampening a tissue and pressing it against the spots. If they are blood/bedbug effluvia, you should get red-brown transfer onto the tissue. (At least per bedbugger.com when I was reading obsessively there.)
I am not your pest control professional.
posted by Frowner at 7:23 AM on August 25, 2015
Nthing that this sounds a lot more like mosquitoes than bedbugs. Can you post pictures of the bites?
posted by Jacqueline at 8:15 AM on August 25, 2015
posted by Jacqueline at 8:15 AM on August 25, 2015
I'm going to be the dissenting voice, alas, and say that from my (thankfully, long-ago) brush with bedbugs, they did indeed bite me singly, and at random, over a period of months. It was frustrating, because it didn't fit the general pattern, but I did finally find a live one.
If I were you, I'd tell the roommates that I had gotten bitten randomly a few times and was unable to figure out the cause, and that they should be vigilant and perhaps have an extermination guy in to see if you've got a spider problem or what. In your roommates' shoes, I would hope a subletter would mention this if it happened, because any kind of insect problem is most easily stopped before it has time to build into a major infestation.
posted by artemisia at 10:51 AM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
If I were you, I'd tell the roommates that I had gotten bitten randomly a few times and was unable to figure out the cause, and that they should be vigilant and perhaps have an extermination guy in to see if you've got a spider problem or what. In your roommates' shoes, I would hope a subletter would mention this if it happened, because any kind of insect problem is most easily stopped before it has time to build into a major infestation.
posted by artemisia at 10:51 AM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
This was me last fall! I would wake up every morning with welts in random places on my body, and I was constantly searching for bedbugs or signs of them. I even bought bug spray and bedrisers and washed my sheets every day... It was bad.
After a week, though, I realized I was having an allergic reaction to a medication I took at night. Turns out my hives were slowly manifesting as small welts that looked (and felt) a lot like bug bites. So, I wouldn't rule out allergies to meds, foods, or detergents if I were you.
posted by mollywas at 1:53 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
After a week, though, I realized I was having an allergic reaction to a medication I took at night. Turns out my hives were slowly manifesting as small welts that looked (and felt) a lot like bug bites. So, I wouldn't rule out allergies to meds, foods, or detergents if I were you.
posted by mollywas at 1:53 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
I used to live in a house that had rat mites, which is as gross as it sounds. They left single, itchy bites, and were incredibly hard to spot because they were the size of the period at the end of this sentence.
I agree those sound like mosquito bites, but if your building has a lot of rats, it could be mites. They're no fun and it took us a while to figure out what was biting us. On the plus side, they were much easier to get rid of than bedbugs. We bug-bombed a couple of times, and that took care of them.
posted by Nibbly Fang at 7:30 PM on August 26, 2015
I agree those sound like mosquito bites, but if your building has a lot of rats, it could be mites. They're no fun and it took us a while to figure out what was biting us. On the plus side, they were much easier to get rid of than bedbugs. We bug-bombed a couple of times, and that took care of them.
posted by Nibbly Fang at 7:30 PM on August 26, 2015
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This sounds like anxiety to me. I think the best course of action here is just to chill.
posted by pretentious illiterate at 10:47 PM on August 24, 2015 [11 favorites]