Bedbugs

[biscuits]

Have you got bedbugs?

Are you worried about the bedbugs?

[gregarious_introvert]

I heard about this on the radio, whilst driving around the Isle of Wight.

I've suffered twice from bedbugs, once in a hotel in Newark NJ and once in a hostel in Bratislava - they bite everywhere and it's horrible. I always worry about bedbugs and I review accommodation less favourably if there are no mattress protectors.

Edit: I don't react too badly to insect bites - I get an itchy bump which is usually gone in a couple of days (although the bumps lasted longer with the bedbugs and there were literally hundreds of them - but the itchiness subsided quickly), but I dread to think what would happen with people who have an allergic reaction to such things.

[Laurel]

worst bedbug cities

[Laurel]

In the 1930s almost every house in London had bedbugs'

• They can run 100 feet an hour, so can quickly pass through rooms.

They love warm environments. Oh thank god for freezing my ass off each winter.

[gregarious_introvert]

Originally Posted by Laurel

worst bedbug cities

Today's trip to Manchester is hereby cancelled!

[Laurel]

if you don't visit many beds it might be alright!

[gregarious_introvert]

Originally Posted by Laurel

if you don't visit many beds it might be alright!

If only they stuck to beds, I was going to be on a bus (from the P+R); sadly, it's been cancelled for real, so I shall be avoiding the Mancunian hotspot anyway.

[Dougella]

I'm starting to wonder if we're going to have to have some sort of bed bug lockdowns

[Seagull]

We live in Victorian times. Next we’ll all be going down with consumption!

Once stayed in a hotel room in Montreal that had a blood-stained mattress and used hyperdermic needles in the wardrobe. It did, however, have a deliciously camp receptionist guy, who, when we checked in said “If you love me, you’ll follow me” and led us up to our dingy room wiggling his butt the whole way.

[anxiouslondoner]

Is it a risk if you're not sleeping in random beds though?
That said I got a weird itch on the top of my feet last week, one of my feet is now pink from scratching.
I don't think it was bedbugs, maybe just wearing new socks without washing them first.

[BFG_]

It's nothing new the social housing I work in has been infested with them for years. Tower blocks and warden controlled places are the worst. Doesn't matter how much pest control stuff they put down the bugs just scurry off to a different flat. They'd have to empty the entire block burn all the furniture hose down the residents then treat the building. Even then it doesn't work as soon as a resident goes to a friends building or gets on a bus their back.

Humans are revolting. If I see anything small and crawly I refuse to work there and move onto the next property.

[Jen.]

Never experienced them and not at all worried about visiting hotels or other beds. This seems like the same kind of hysteria around killer clowns and needle spiking. Many of the recent sightings are unsubstantiated and exterminators in France have said most of the calls they respond to turned out to be for nothing or were just for preventative measures.

[biscuits]

Once I thought I had bedbugs because I woke up absolutely covered in bites. I inspected my mattress very carefully. Then I remembered that my body is an all you can eat buffet for mosquitos. They just can't get enough of me.

I'm not worried about it to be honest. I seem to have reactions to insect bites so I would be worried if I actually had them in case I had a reaction.

[Shy_pretty_Angela]

Ive had a massive bed bug infestation before and it was no joke!!

I was eaten alive!!!

[biscuits]

Poll added - can't believe i forgot

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by Laurel

• They can run 100 feet an hour, so can quickly pass through rooms.

They love warm environments. Oh thank god for freezing my ass off each winter.

You've created an inhospitable environment.

[Chess&Junkfood]

I don't think it's happened to me. Which bugs the question, maybe it has happened to me and I just didn't realise Although I had tapeworm once and that wasn't fun!

Anyway,

Oh, I nearly forgot....

Did you hear about the two bed bugs that are getting married?
They're having a lovely wedding in the spring

[Rocket Spud]

Not worried at all. If it becomes much more prevalent, closer to home, then i may give a rats arse. I deep cleaned my bedroom the other day actually - i've got more reason to be concerned about dust than bedbugs!

[Percy]

My best friends family has a serious bedbug infestation and won't do anything about it.

[biscuits]

^ vegans, hey?

[gregarious_introvert]

Originally Posted by Shy_pretty_Angela

Ive had a massive bed bug infestation before and it was no joke!!

I was eaten alive!!!

They don't muck about, do they? I was bitten head to foot on one side of my body.

[Percy]

Originally Posted by biscuits

^ vegans, hey?

The opposite of vegans.

[Dougella]

Originally Posted by Percy

My best friends family has a serious bedbug infestation and won't do anything about it.

Aren't they getting bitten to death?!

[Percy]

Originally Posted by Dougella

Aren't they getting bitten to death?!

Undoubtedly but they're too lazy to do anything about it

[biscuits]

^ sounds more like fleas, maybe?

Originally Posted by anxiouslondoner

Is it a risk if you're not sleeping in random beds though?
That said I got a weird itch on the top of my feet last week, one of my feet is now pink from scratching.
I don't think it was bedbugs, maybe just wearing new socks without washing them first.

Good question. Yes, it's a "risk" if you're not sleeping on random beds because bed bugs live on any soft furnishings.

The way bedbugs spread is that they crawl in people's luggage or clothes. Say for example, if someone has an egg carrying female on their scarf and they get on the train or bus, the bedbug can crawl off and lay its eggs on the seats of the train or bus. Then can crawl on to someone else's clothes or bags and go home with them.

I put risk in inverted commas because it's a bit worse case scenario - as how many times have we been on public transport and not picked up bed bugs!

[gregarious_introvert]

^ This was my fear, the last time I had bedbugs (it makes it sound as if I have them regularly - it's been twice), trying to remember if I'd put my backpack on the bed at any point and whether my clothes might be infected. I was lucky.

[Your Mum]

Originally Posted by Laurel

worst bedbug cities

I see the outbreak has yet to reach Northen Island.

[Laurel]

Lol crikey that’s from the Daily Mail

[biscuits]

Northern Island

[Shy_pretty_Angela]

I knew I had them for ages but did nothing about it because it was like the odd bite. Then I went away and came back to sleep in my bed and because they hadnt fed for a while they attacked me and ate me alive!!!
So I resolved to get pest control in and that was effective but involved daily decontamination and changing bedding and washing it at 100 degrees.
I think it was an old mattress because I got it from a furniture charity shop!
Some signs are bits of black which is actually their poo around your mattress or bed sheets.
Id like to come back as a bed bug one day!!