I'm getting eaten alive

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2003-06-29 02:47am

My house is fairly clean, but I think that in at least one room there must be some kind of infestation, because I'm getting bitten by some kind of bug- every day I have more bite marks on my arms and legs that more or less resemble mosquito bites in appearance and how they itch. My mother doesn't get them. I don't go outside after dark, so I'm fairly sure its in the house.

Any ideas?

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-06-29 02:48am

Do you have any pets?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-06-29 02:49am

I'm with Howedar. Sounds like a flea infestation.

Damaramu · Post by **Damaramu** » 2003-06-29 02:50am

Own any pets? It's summer, so fleas are a breedin' like mad, yo.

A few months back, our apartment was overrun with fleas in the carpet....we had it cleaned and sprayed.....dear lord, was that a horrible experience....I had flea bites all over my feet and ankles.......gah...

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2003-06-29 02:53am

I have a dog, but she never scratches herself, so I assume she is not the problem.

Come to think of it, she doesn't really do much of anything.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2003-06-29 03:07am

Take a sheet of white paper, and put your dog over it and scratch and play around with her hair, if little black specks come out, drip water on them, if they turn red, then its flea poop.
Goddammit this thread is making me itchy!
Do it with your own hair as well.
If the dog's clean, clean your sheets, and pillows and pillow cases and other bed covers in boiling water or in a washing machine with detergent and or bleach.
How far is your mailbox from your house. If it's on the door or next to it, then you're an urbanite and you've probably got it from your pets.
If your mailbox is >15yards away from your front door, then you are a redneck and got it from your cousin.

XaLEv · Post by **XaLEv** » 2003-06-29 03:09am

Invisible ninja skeeters. Get them around here sometimes.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-06-29 03:12am

Have you been in tall grass recently (or prolonged contact with grass)? Then they could be chiggers.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-06-29 04:15am

Mosquito netting over your bed.

Darth Gojira · Post by **Darth Gojira** » 2003-06-29 07:50am

I've been plagued myself by skeeters. I grin, bear it, and hope that West Nile isn't fatal.

Damaramu · Post by **Damaramu** » 2003-06-29 12:00pm

If it is fleas, here's an interesting way to lure them to their doom:

Lay out a saucer of vinegar. The scent will attract the fleas and they'll hop right in and drown! This really does work too (I have tried it).

Or you could just have your carpet professionally treated by exterminators.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2003-06-29 12:04pm

Cover yourself with bug repellant.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-06-29 12:06pm

My title might as well be "Tasty Insect Treat." Fleas, mosquitoes, chiggers, and even spiders all love to bite me. I've had one pretty serious night of flea bites and pretty much any time I go out during the summer I get viciously attacked by the fuckers.

Bug spray is great. Skin-So-Soft makes a sunscreen/insect repellant that works very well indeed.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-06-29 12:14pm

Damaramu wrote:If it is fleas, here's an interesting way to lure them to their doom:

Lay out a saucer of vinegar. The scent will attract the fleas and they'll hop right in and drown! This really does work too (I have tried it).

Another trick is to stick a lightbulb over a bucket of warm, soapy water (make sure it doesn't fall in). The lightbulb, being a heat source, will attract the fleas; from there they fall into the bucket and drown, thanks to the soap breaking the surface tension.

I remember the last time we had a flea infestation, we did that, and the bottom of the bucket was nicely speckled with dead fleas.