[bethcee]

Hello, This question is for an entomologist. We've had a small infestation of bed bugs that we're dealing with. They've been biting me mostly around the torso, and they leave small bumps that itch and stick around for awhile, a couple of days to a week or two, and they each (for the most part) leave a slight mark. However, for as long as I can remember (before the bedbug problem), I've had what look like small bites on my chest and stomach area (never on my back) that only become apparent after I shower that look like hives--these itch a little bit but then they completely disappear, so I've never worried about them, until now, because I want to be sure that I'm getting rid of this awful pest. Are there any bugs that feed on humans that aren't bed bugs that could be causing this problem?

Also, this bug just seems so mysterious in that there seems to be so many anomalies--they bite at night, except when they don't, or they mostly stick around where the host sleeps, except when they travel, etc. This morning, I was sitting in my bed, thinking nothing had bitten me, so I can chill out for a bit, then I felt an itch on my arm, and there were three small bumps in a row. So my question to you is: can they also bite in the mornings?

[JudyKayTee]

I'm not an entomologist. I'm not aware that one posts on AMHD. Put one of the "bugs" in a glass jar and take it to your local Health Department (in my area) and ask what it is.

And, yes, bed bugs bite when they get hungry. There is no set schedule.

Have you contacted an exterminator? He/she can also tell you what the "bug" is.

[gnahcd]

(I have never personally experienced or witnessed a bedbug infestation. However, I have a B.S. in entomology and work in the pest control field.)

As far shower rash, I found interesting stories when I searched the internet for "skin reaction to hot water" and "shower rash"
Can other bugs cause your symptoms? Yes - fleas create similar symptoms.
Do bedbugs bite in the mornings? I don't know, but...

The bedbug is a nocturnal insect, coming out to bite only at night. If you were awake, you could possibly feel their presence and bite. Apparently their bite feels like a pin prick. Itching and swelling may develop quickly or take as long as the nine days.

Apparently you have seen and id'ed the little buggers. Otherwise, evidence of an infestation, are the small fecal spots, which is your blood, that they leave in your bed and at their hiding places. You might also find their cast skins, which might look like weird dandruff, in their hiding places. Serious infestations smell. Look in the crevices of your bed, in the plug outlets in the walls, the baseboards, and the heater vent, near your bed.

Bed bugs are known to bite in rows, a pattern nicknamed, "breakfast, lunch and dinner". Many insects and mites bite humans and cause welts, swelling, and blisters that itch. It's hard to tell the insect from the bite symptom alone. Some insects show a propensity for biting certain parts of the body, they may be restricted by clothing and bite at the belt line, sock line etc. but that isn't always the case. We get all kinds of insect problems brought to us ranging from straw itch mites to delusory parasitosis. The most important evidence is finding the insect, mite or spider suspect.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7454.html
http://www.bedbugs.umn.edu/index.htm
http://www.bedbuginfo.com/
http://www.whatdobedbugslooklike.net/

[JudyKayTee]

I can't find anything that states bedbugs only bite at night.

The spots (which are blood) are actually black (not red, as commonly thought).

[gnahcd]

Here are excellent references on bed bug biology, symptoms, and management. The University of California's IPM website, states "Both [bed bug] nymphs and adults feed on humans mostly at night,. "
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7454.html

This excellent paper, by the Armed Forces Pest Mgmt Board, has great photos, (including pictures of black fecal spots in figure 5), is a must-read, and states "Bed bugs are nocturnal but will seek hosts and feed in full daylight when hungry."
http://www.afpmb.org/sites/default/files/pubs/techguides/tg44.pdf

I think these two websites definitively answer the question.

I revise my answer, to say that bed bugs are mostly nocturnal, but hungry bed bugs are known to feed in the day. Bed bugs are also known to feed in dark rooms, during the day, such as you might find in a theater.

It sounds like Bethcee knows she has bed bugs, is evaluating whether her control efforts are working, and wonders what else might be causing her symptoms. My opinion is that if she has a positive ID of the species of bed bug - there are different species that have different habits, but still are known to bite people - then she should seek the advice and/or services of a professional.

If she does not have an insect in hand, then she should search for the offending insect. Again, a professional's assistance is highly recommended. A good professional will have the knowledge, equipment, materials, persistence and expert resources to get rid of the problem.

Eliminate bed bugs at their hiding places. Bed bugs are closely associated with the nests of their hosts, which in the case of people, means in their bedrooms. Vacuum cleaners, insecticides, exclusion, building-wide surveillance, and persistence are prerequisite ingredients of a successful eradication project.

Bed bugs, specifically Cimex lectularis, are one of the few bugs that parasitize humans - humans are a targeted host. Based on your description, if your bites are not caused by bed bugs, then, IMO, the most likely culprit are fleas, and you should eliminate the problem on the host, or the host, which can be cats, dogs, raccoon, possums, rats, mice, etc.

Less likely, but possible suspects include mosquitoes, mites, and lice. Mosquitoes are usually detectable from their buzz, and are associated with water. Mites often come with bird or rat nests, or hay. Lice are usually associated with specific outbreaks in schools and intimate contact. But I don't want to send you down the wrong path. Get professional assistance if your do-it-yourself efforts aren't working and the problem still exists.

Good luck.

Additional references:
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pestic...b-biology1.pdf Virginia Tech: "However, they become active at night, between midnight and 5:00 am. It is during this time, when the human host is typically in their deepest sleep, that bed bugs like to feed."

http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-249.pdf Purdue: "...they do so when the host is at rest. Thus bed bugs living with humans typically feed at night while a person sleeps, but they also will feed during the day in dark structures such as infested theaters with upholstered seats."

http://www.birc.org/Winter2005.pdf Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly's "What's Biting Me?"

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/no...an/bedbugs.htm North Carolina State, Bed Bugs - Biology and Control