Hi everyone,

I live in a small bungalow in a Thai compound abutting several acres of overgrown woodland.  Lot's of mosquitoes, bugs, spiders, etc. I deal with the mosquitoes with a large zapper turned on 24-7.  

 

Lately, however, something smaller than a mosquito has been biting me in my sleep leaving lots of small red spots on my body and wow do they itch!  It takes 3-4 days before they disappear, itching all the while.  

 

I spray my bedroom with ARS Mite bomb an hour before turning in, but it doesn't seem to help.

 

Any clues?  And especially, if you've dealt with something like this, how did you overcome it?  Thanks and know that all responses are appreciated. Even the silly ones.  

Seriously, have you considered moving?your life may be dramatically improved by moving into a new house in a less infested area. Run!

It sounds like a major clean may be in order, especially the bedding, anytime I've had anything even similar to what you've described it's usually because some form of insect life has hooked into a fabric. I'm assuming you have screens on your windows and that the source is inside the room and not external? That being the case, launder all bedding, spray the mattress, move all furniture and wash down with a mix of hot water and disinfectant - clean out the air conditioning vents also and change/clean the filters. Good luck.

I've had a problem from time to time with what I can only assume is mites tagging along with me from the garden into the house.  In a few areas, particularly where I have a rug on the floor such as in the work areas of the kitchen or at the computer, those little critters will announce themselves by jumping onto my legs and start moving around. 

 

The solution that I've come up with--in addition to thorough cleaning--is to dust the rugs with a flea powder sold at pet stores.  It works well for that problem.

 

And maybe you have a similar infestation somewhere in your house that you are carrying those little buggers with you into your bed.  They appear to be most active at night, of course.  Not saying that you have lice, but a good shower using an anti-lice shampoo all over your body should take care of those crawly critters that are making their home on you in one application.

[Ask for it at almost any drug store.]

 

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A couple of really good replies, here.  I'm following the suggestions with the cleaning, bedding, spraying, and I'll purchase new pillows.  Lice shampoo is on the list as well.  Thanks so much!

I occasionally wake up after being chomped on by a colony of ants going from point A to point B, and my bed is simply on their path.  

 

They're so tiny I can barely see them, but they leave welts the size of a baht piece.

 

Next day, there's no sign of them except a few tiny stragglers that got into folds in the bedding and couldn't find their way out.  (And occasionally- a few in my shower towels who seem to be determined to bite my nutsack when I'm drying off.)

One last point:

 

After you've cleaned the place, buy a can of Baygon termite ant and cockroach killer, comes in a cream colored can with a black spray top and has a red flash on the top and an orange flash on the bottom, most supermarkets stock it. The stuff smells foul and is super strong, it'll kill most things so keep away from pets and handle carefully, it's the same stuff the pest control people use - spray the baseboards and all dark cracks and crevices.

If nothing works then think about replacing the letter p with a f on your username..


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Sounds like bed bugs to me.  

 

Be careful about how you kill them.  Don't forget you will be sleeping on the mattress and inhaling any residual vapors.  Whether you can smell it out not, you may be getting poisoned while you sleep.  You need to consider how you will deal with any spraying in the bedroom.

Sounds like bed bugs to me.  

 

Be careful about how you kill them.  Don't forget you will be sleeping on the mattress and inhaling any residual vapors.  Whether you can smell it out not, you may be getting poisoned while you sleep.  You need to consider how you will deal with any spraying in the bedroom.

That was my first thought, too.  I've had to deal with them in the past. You should google the subject.  If the bugs aren't resistant, spray should work.  But you'll have to do it twice. The first time to kill the bugs that aren't eggs.  That second time to kill the recently hatched bugs. If you can get one of those spray bombs you set off, that's probably best. And thoroughly launder all your clothing and bedclothes.

Check into a hotel for 3 days and get those bug bombs. Close the windows, lift the mattress on end, expose all hiding places...and put a bomb in each room...especially bug bombs.  Engage for 24 hours and then open the windows for 2 additional days.  Wash and clean residual.

buy a new mattress 

I get this same thing, usually at this time of year...  Sand flies, no see em's, nits, what ever you call them are a blessed pain.

 

I got some of the Hafif, that Mr Brad suggested ^ .... wow!!!  two nights now without the problem of itching and bites....

 

My local Pharmacy guy also suggested DEET and spray around the bed edges (sheets) ... I have not used DEET in years, and cringed at the thought....  but problem seems to be solved...

 

Off course trying two different things at the same time, makes it hard to know which solved the problem but to anyone else, perhaps try one and then the other if one does not work....

 

Moving or buying a new bed would not solve the problem, these guys "hitch kike" on you anyway!

I get this same thing, usually at this time of year...  Sand flies, no see em's, nits, what ever you call them are a blessed pain.

I've been struggling with these insects too for the past few weeks (no see um's, midgies, sand flies. etc.) Yesterday I got bitten by one (never saw the bugger) and developed an itch so intense on my chest that I had to pull over at a pharmacy to buy an anti-itch cream (chlorphenoxamine), then almost ripped open my shirt and applied it!

 

Wiki: “their bites can cause intensely itchy, red welts that can persist for more than a week”

 

They can easily pass through standard 16 mesh window screens. Spray the screens with permethrin and consider getting a tighter mesh screen, although this may limit air flow into the home. Use fans around the house to dispel them and wear protective clothing whenever possible. Using DEET and anti-lice products, as mentioned above, can also help.

Thanks everyone for your informative replies.  I did all the cleaning, spraying and shampooing as suggested and I'm happy to say that I've had 3 good nights without any bites.  Don't believe it was bedbugs, however, more along the lines of the no-see-ums, chiggers, etc.  So far, so good...

I also just remembered, when I'm at the computer in the evening, the only light I will have on is the desk lamp. (Living alone can be so easy.)  But at certain times of the year small flying critters can find their way to the light.  I have good screens, but I guess not 100% bug-proof.

 

What I will sometimes do is direct the floor fan toward the screen that seems to be the most apparent entryway.  The bugs don't particularly care to fight the force of the fan (light though it is), and as a pleasant result, they don't come in. 

 

Oh, and if you have outdoor lighting, by all means use the yellow bug lights, if possible.  Yellow is low on their spectrum, blue is high, so replace your white lights, and most of the bugs will congregate at the neighbor's house or at the streetlight.

 

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Thanks everyone for your informative replies.  I did all the cleaning, spraying and shampooing as suggested and I'm happy to say that I've had 3 good nights without any bites.  Don't believe it was bedbugs, however, more along the lines of the no-see-ums, chiggers, etc.  So far, so good...

 

Great !

 

I  have noticed too that the small little scabs have cleared up very quickly too....they some times went on for weeks...

 

Re the lights, I have not tried the yellow one, but will.... one thing I did notice a few days ago, that the little buggers only started biting after I shut off the regular light...  I left one one night and their was no biting .... go figure!

 

Well a good result.... .... a similar question in the health forum last week and was highjacked by people going on about Lyme disease    then was closed....

Dang, I think I may just skip it and head straight to cremation.