minute biting bug

Posted by Noble on March 20, 2006 at 18:26:05:

User Name: Alicia Noble

Thrips?: Problems with biting insect

I live in Miami, Florida. I have an infestation of some kind of minute (actually, invisible to the naked eye in most stages) biting bug in one room of my home. The problem has persisted for a number of years, becoming gradually worst. It is most prevalent when I am working on the computer in that room. Sometimes a very small fast flying bug is present and visible when near the computer monitor.

The bug causes a number of sensations; ranging from a crawly feeling, to a popping/jumping feeling, to a small flea bite. The bites sometime cause a prickly itch, but do not leave a rash.

I initially suspected a mite problem but was unable to confirm this with samples or account for the flying bug, since mites don’t fly. I trapped one of the flying bugs and it appears to be a kind of "thrip". It is very close in appearance to the biting midge (no-see-um) but the wings are sparer and the body longer.

I have read that thrips are a plant parasite but can sometimes bite people and pets. I also found that there are a number of life stages that would attribute for the different skin sensations. How, long can thrips survive/breed indoors without live plants. There are plants outside the window (very near the house) of the room where the problem began and is most persistent.

What would be the best way to verify the problem and treat the indoor and outdoor areas, if applicable to eliminate the problem? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated; this problem is causing me an increasing amount of distress.

Follow Ups:

• Re: minute biting bug carolyn gibbs 21:36:13 7/07/2006 (2)
  • Re: minute biting bug Alicia Noble 04:35:09 8/02/2006 (0)
  • Re: minute biting bug carolyn Gibbs 20:26:11 7/25/2006 (1)
• Re: minute biting bug carolyn Gibbs 21:31:29 7/07/2006 (0)
• Re: minute biting bug M. Eichner 00:14:14 6/27/2006 (4)
• Re: minute biting bug susan 16:46:45 6/08/2006 (0)
• Re: minute biting bug WTG 15:48:51 3/25/2006 (0)
• Re: minute biting bug AA Professional Pest Services 18:46:33 3/20/2006 (0)