Re: minute biting bug

Posted by carolyn Gibbs on July 25, 2006 at 20:26:11:

In Reply to: Re: minute biting bug posted by carolyn gibbs on July 07, 2006 at 21:36:13:

The exterminator came today and said they were fruit flies...however I had previously called the extension agent in this area, I found one of those bugs in the window, at least the exterminator did, and I am going to take it to the extension agent and he will try to identify it for me. They are almost driving me to tears , they swarm around me at night inside the house and they bit too. Raid flying insect spray helps but you will need to spray the entire house, or the exterminator will treat it with a fogger. I havent decided on what to do yet, and I will keep in touch

: : I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was looking on the web because of the very same problem. For the last few weeks, I have been getting bit by some very small flying bug while working at the computer in my study. It's so small I can just barely see the light reflected off of it as it passes the computer, and haven't been able to catch one or kill one (or if I have, they've been so small I can't tell). It's interesting that this might be a thrip, because I've been bringing in roses from my garden, and thrips are a problem at this time of year. Please let me know if you figure out a way to get rid of them. I'll call the exterminator to find out if they have any advice, and, I guess, stop bringing the roses in.

: : : 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.

: I live in Belhaven North Carolina, and I have experienced the same thing while using the computer or watching television...it got so bad I thought perhaps if I turn the lights off while watching tv, I wouldnt get bit...but it didnt help any at all. I saw this very small black insect with wings crawling across the screen, I got him...but the problem continues and is getting worse..all over the house, I cant sleep at night, have to cover up...they have a bite that is like a sting, leaves no bumps...a bad sting for a small insect...what is this ? and how can I get rid of them ? pleeeeezee

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