"dsi1" > wrote in message
...
On Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 12:50:41 PM UTC-10, Julie Bove wrote:
> "dsi1" <dsi10yahoo.com> wrote in message
> ...
> On Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 3:14:23 AM UTC-10, Gary wrote:
> > On 6/28/2017 10:31 PM, Bruce wrote:
> >
> > > Julie wrote:
> > >> These don't look like flea bites and both cats have just been to the
> > >> vet. So
> > >> no fleas. I felt the first bite itching right after I killed a spider
> > >> near
> > >> my computer. The ones we are seeing are the same. All black and sort
> > >> of
> > >> thick/chunky looking. Perhaps 1/2" from end to end. Others have been
> > >> posting
> > >> pics of them on FB as they have them too but nobody seems to know
> > >> what
> > >> they
> > >> are. I will do some more searching later. So far I turned up no
> > >> spider
> > >> known
> > >> to this area that looks like this.
> > >
> > > I believe that spiders, as opposed to fleas etc., only bite in
> > > self-defense, so to have many bites, you must have had many
> > > confrontations with them that you didn't notice.
> >
> > I do agree with you. Spiders will only bite you in bed if it's under the
> > covers and you move and it feels threatened. It's probably some other
> > creature and most times it's beneficial to leave spiders alone...they
> > will eat the insects that are biting you.
> >
> > - fleas: don't assume no fleas just because both cats have been to the
> > vet. Look at the cat's fur carefully and if it has fleas, you will see
> > them
> >
> > - bedbugs: as awful as it sounds, check your bedding carefully
> > especially on seams. They only seem to come out at night while you are
> > sleeping.
> >
> > - bird mites: I got an invasion of those a few years ago. Yard was
> > infested with them and I spent 3 days crawling around on the ground
> > painting foundation and retaining walls.
> >
> > Didn't know about them until too late so I carried them home on my
> > clothes and got bit all over my body. They even got on both ferrets. It
> > was a miserable 3-4 months for all of us.
> >
> > Once they bite you, the bite mark and all the itching lasted several
> > months. I spent that summer in hell a few years ago. Hundreds of bites
> > on me. I got rid of the insects fast but the original bites itched like
> > crazy forever.
> >
> > And you can't even scratch or you risk opening them up to infection. I
> > went an entire spring and summer with very little sleep, entire body
> > itching and all I could do was lay there and bear it. oh man.
> >
> > Doctor gave me anti-itch cream but it did nothing for me. He also warned
> > me not to break down and scratch or risk infection. The only "scratch"
> > relief was to take a super hot shower...the hot water simulated
> > scratching without rubbing the skin raw. Nightmare on my street, that's
> > for sure.
>
> We've had bedbugs. It's pretty nasty. Those things were a big problem on
> this rock a few years ago but the situation seems to have "stabilized."
>
> My solution was to isolate those things from their food - us. I enclosed
> the
> mattress in plastic for a few months. It might have been 6 months. I did
> try
> some insecticides for bedbugs but the most effective agent was cheap
> rubbing
> alcohol in a spray bottle which kills them within seconds. Just don't
> spray
> the stuff near an open flame or you'll end up dead within seconds.
>
> ---
>
> I have seen shows on TV about them. They can live in electrical sockets
> and
> crevices of wooden furniture. Also did research about them when my
> friend's
> adult daughter moved back home. The reason? Bed bugs at the adult group
> home
> where she was living. My friend insisted that she bring only clothing and
> personal possessions with her. No furniture. They bought new stuff. Took
> all
> clothing to the laundry in trash bags then back to her house in new trash
> bags, just in case.

These critters leave fine red marks on the bed sheets. I'm guessing that's
caused by the bugs excreting red fluid which travels on a single thread
through capillary action. At night they are attracted to the carbon dioxide
on your breath and come out to feed. It's quite a trek for these little
fellows! They are pretty interesting bugs.

---

Hmmm... I thought what they left was poop.