Insect Bites - What is Biting Me?

[sally987921]

I was wondering if anyone can help me identify what type of insect it is that keeps biting me and an inexpensive way of getting rid of them.

I was first bitten about 6 months ago when my partner returned from a backpacking trip around Romania. My first thought was that we had bedbugs but I have had the misfortune of being bitten by bed bugs in the past (whilst travelling around Eastern Europe) and these bites are much different. Time went by and I wasn’t bitten again for about two months but the space between attacks got smaller and I am now being bitten every single night.

As a short term solution, I have moved the mattress from the bedroom into the living room and have been sleeping in there but this is not ideal.

I have thoroughly checked the bedding and have not seen any sign of bed bugs or droppings and do not own any pets so I know that it is not fleas doing the damage.

I thoroughly cleaned the bedroom with disinfectant and applied a flea treatment (just in case) but neither worked.

Eventually I asked a pest control company to come in and have a look around but they could not find anything either. The pest controller was shocked by the size and quantity of the bites I had received and said he had never seen anything like it. He said they could treat the room, which would cost me a lot of money, but could not guarantee that it would solve the problem!!

Any thoughts/suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

[sally987921]

The split wasn't nasty at all and we are still good friends.
The bed isn't mine so I wouldn't be taking it with me when I move out.
I have found a few bug bombs on Amazon so might give them a shot first before getting pest control in again. As I said before, I couldn't leave it for the next person or landlord.
Oh and I don't have any carpet in the flat (all wooden floorboards).

[Brinjal]

With spiders there are usually two bites together because of their biting things, Fleas in a group of three or four or so bed bugs usually a rash of bites. Could be an allergy of some sort.

[mumsie_wumsie]

sally987921, have you googled 'what is biting me at night'? There are lots of possible answers on there, and there is even a link to a previous ABer, back in 2007 who sounds like she had the same problem a you. Have a look. its worth a try.

[sally987921]

Hi Brinjal - they don't sound like spider, flea or bed bug bites as they are often spread out and I have been bitten on my toes, feet, legs, fingers, arms, neck and face (not all at once thankfully!). It's just weird and no matter how much I have researched online, I cannot seem to find an answer to what they are.
The nurse said they are definitely insect bites and the fact that my partner was bitten too suggests it isn't an allergy.

[sally987921]

Hi mumsie_wumsie - I looked back at previous answers on AB before posting and all of the sites I have come across whilst researching all come back to bed bugs or fleas.

[sandyRoe]

Bed bugs don't just live in beds. Those wooden floorboards would provide lots of places for them to hide.

[mumsie_wumsie]

Well i would get the pest control people out and have the house fumigated.Doesn't seem much else you can do. It must be so horrible for you. Best of luck:-)

[Answerprancer]

One other thing you might need to consider is scabies - did your partner spend any time visiting orphanages (some of which can be horrifically disease ridden).
If it is scabies, it's relatively easy to deal with.
http://www.nhs.uk/con...ges/Introduction.aspx

[josaphine32]

I know this may sound silly, but have you tried double sided sticky tape around the mattress or close to you when you sleep. as the little blighters will stick to it and then you will know what you are dealing with, double sided thick carpet tape is good and very sticky

[rsvp]

my suggestion would be to thoroughly steam clean absolutely everything in the bedroom.

[sally987921]

Hi all, thanks again for your responses. I freaked at the thought of scabies but the fact that they only attack whilst I am in the bedroom rules them out.

A pest control fumigation will cost between £350.00 - £400.00 which I cannot afford at the moment.

I have bought a bug bomb thing online and will give that a go. It says that it kills bed bugs and most other insects so fingers crossed it works. If not, I will cover myself in double sided tape!

[Brinjal]

The store bought bombs do work quite well. Fleas can also live in carpet and wooden floors. Scabies tends to be under the skin.

[tamborine]

Sleep in pyjamas to cover most of your skin; this will show if the bug climbs into your clothes or just bites the visible areas.

Check there is no water outside that mozzies might be breeding in.

[Ujjalseo]

If you have already consulted with the professional pest controller and have not got any kind of result then it might be the problem of your skin. To be on a safer side I think you should consult with a dermatologist as soon as you can. May be you will be free from this problem. Best of luck.