I will start out by saying that I am EXTREMELY paranoid about bedbugs. The kids got lice a couple of years ago, and have had pinworms, we've dealt with fleas, and so any kind of bug or even the suggestion makes me panic. They're just such a PAIN.
For the past few days, I've been getting what look like bites. They appear out of nowhere at random times of the day. They're pale in the center, red all around, smaller than a mosquito bite. They're usually just in ones. They're INSANELY itchy for about 30 minutes...then they just disappear. I actually just had about five appear on my forearm at noon, and now (at 1PM) you can't tell anything was ever there.
The only place we've traveled recently is to my mother-in-law's house, a couple of weeks ago. As far as she knows, she has no bed bugs (and I even checked while we were there because I am crazy like that).
I have, as a preventative measure, had ClimbUps on our bed for probably a year. I also have passive traps (two) attached to our box springs by the head of the bed. I have protective encasements on every mattress in the house. Our bed frame is metal and moved away from walls, no dust ruffle or anything like that. I've been waking up at 2AM and going through the sheets with a flash light (my husband just LOVES that) and have found nothing. I've gone over my rocking chair, the couch, my WHOLE room, nothing. Nobody else has complained of bites, and I've made my husband let me inspect him since we sleep in the same bed. I've found no shells, no fecal spots.
We live in a single-dwelling house in the country. I'm wondering if I could be dealing with bird mites or rat mites (we have had nests in the eaves of the house, and have had mice as well). We have a small dog who is outside a lot and kills birds frequently, and also have a cat in the house. They're both treated with flea preventatives.
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated! I have a photo of the bite but can't figure out how to attach it. Thanks!