On Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 2:49:52 PM UTC-10, Julie Bove wrote:
> "dsi1" <dsi1yahoo.com> 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.

It's probably poop alright but it's not poop as you or I know it.