what insect keeps biting me? and how do i get rid of them?

Question

Hi

over the last 6 months or so I have been battling with insects in my bedroom! When it started I was roughly being bitten once a day (usually around the ankles). I tackled the problem by washing everything in my apartment/ hoovering (vacuuming) everywhere everyday and generally scrubbing the place clean.
This kind of worked and the biting stopped for a while. But every now and again I get bit.
The bite looks like:

a raised swelling on the skin, slightly paler than my skin and itches like hell.
There is never any sign of blood or a bite puncture in my skin AND usually I get bitten several times in the 1 attack. After a few days the bite mark turns dark red and continues itching.

I caught one of the insects biting me one day and it looked like a FLEA. It jumped away from me like a flea but i managed to squash it. My questions are:

i) From what I described do you think its fleas that are biting me? If that is the case then why am I only getting bitten every now and then? I read that fleas multiply in massive numbers, so I would imagine if it was fleas then I would be over run by them by now?

ii) If it is fleas, then how do I get rid of them?

p.s I live in Ireland so we dont have that many biting insects over here! I also live in a very small apartment with no carpets (ive heard fleas like to hide out in carpets) and no pets!

DrDontheTermiteGuy · Accepted Answer

Flea sounds right from your description.
Vacuuming usually takes away nearly all of the young. Make sure you are thorough.
It is more likely that you are picking these up nearby. If you have pets in the building or if they visit or even if the hallway is carpeted, it is easy for you to get fleas.  They sit and wait for you to pass and then spring up to meet you.
A chemical surface spray (cheap crawling insect can) applied as per the label to the entry doorway can stop them coming in by themselves.
A chemical surface spray to the carpet (worked well in) can kill lots of larvae but means a big exposure to you. In your apartment, just spray the surfaces lightly.  Look for spots where dust and skin cells accumulate. Steaming the floor works wonders.
If there are apartments above you check your light fittings.  Insects may be literally dropping in.  Again. pop the covers and spray any cracks or entry points - don't spray light bulbs!

If it is dog fleas (likely) or cat fleas (less likely) they'll bite you out of hunger but rarely manage to infest. The mature female needs a blood meal to produce her eggs.

If you are wealthy, provide topical flea killer medication to all your neighbours' pets.

Anonymous · Answer

Bedbugs don't jump and are quite large about the same siza as a small lady bird and dark in colour. Whn bedbugs bite they tend bite in a straight line. I would say it was fleas that are biting you. Fleas can live in any matireal from teady to clothing and curtains. They can go for a few years without eating wen in hybanation. The motion and warmth of an animal or person starts them into a feeding and breeding frenzy. The best way to get rid of them is to get a spray or powder and follow the instructions for the product you choose. You can pick it up from any supper market.

Megan · Answer

Bedbugs. Your options are call an exterminator, or burn the apartment to the ground :/ 
Even with exterminator you'll have to burn all your bedding and mattress. Any clothing that could be contaminated with the bedbugs must be disposed of.

sillygurly · Answer

Almost definitely bed bugs. Check under your mattress and in the seams and cracks. They are almost impossible to get rid of by yourself and what you described sounds exactly like them

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what insect keeps biting me? and how do i get rid of them?

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