Heeeeeeeeeeeelp

[wildestranger]

I'm having a massive panic attack.

Some of you might remember that a few months ago I had to throw away a pair of boots because they'd become infested with maggots. What I don't think I mentioned here is that a week before moving out of my last house, my housemates and I kept finding tiny white insects in our kitchen - particularly on clean dishes and such, but generally around one area that included my food cabinet, the dishrack, and the hob. They look like dust specks until they start moving, and they were really hard to kill. I had to throw away most of my food, and we used insecticide on the whole area, except on glassware and such.

After I moving to my new place, I've been checking all my glasses for anything that might move. I've been paranoid about it, because I really didn't want to bring the infestation here. After a few weeks I started to relax since I hadn't seen one insect here, but then yesterday, calamity struck. Yes, I'm allowed to be melodramatic, I'm this close to tearing my hair out.

I found one of these insects on a pair of boots. The boots have been living in my closet with all my other shoes, my clothes, some valuable books.

I also noticed several of these insects on my glassware. Washing them doesn't help - I've started using Dettol but I don't think that will either. I haven't seen any signs of them on my food, yet, but the kitchen is quite small and everything has been everywhere at some poins. At least two cupboards have been infected, and I fear that they might be in the rest of the flat as well.

I haven't been able to figre out what they are yet - not termites, because they don't shy away from light, not sprigntails, because they don't jump. But if you've had similar experiences, please advice me. I am really panicking about this.

Help?

Comments

[kyasuriin.livejournal.com]

yikes!! You might try asking these people here > all experts - entomology (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Entomology-Study-Bugs-665/). I did a search for small white bugs in apartments and came up with this (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Entomology-Study-Bugs-665/tiny-white-bugs.htm) but I think those are different than yours... good luck!

[wildestranger.livejournal.com]

They do sound similar, except there isn't an always source - I particularly checked my flour and such, but there's nothing. And they're in a different cupboard anyway.

That's pretty much the kind of stuff I found when I tried googling it last night - lots of people seem to have them but nobody knows what they are. *sighs*

But thanks, anyway!

[lazy-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Can you post a photo?

[wildestranger.livejournal.com]

They're too small for that, I think - basically the size of a dust speck, about one millimetre, mostly round but slightly oblong. The bigger ones at least have several legs, but I can't see how many.

[feelingcold.livejournal.com]

do you have moths as well? do they look larva like?
if they are tiny they might be booklice.

i'd throw out most dry food, put your dishes in the sink, and fill it with boiling water. anything you can wash can be put in the hot water cycle in the washing machine. stick the books in ziplock bags, and put them in the freezer for a few days.

[lazy-neutrino.livejournal.com]

I just did some quick searching and they do sound like booklice, or psocids. Usually brown or grey, but white ones seem to be fairly common too.

See if this rings any bells:

http://www.e-bug.net/forum/messages/13870.shtml

Or this:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Entomology-Study-Bugs-665/Household-tiny-bug-UK.htm

Then if that sounds likely, this page looked useful:

http://www.bromley.gov.uk/environment/envhealth/furtherpests/psocids_booklice.htm

[mysid.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain, and I can empathize. Different bugs, same frustrations. (http://mysid.livejournal.com/77010.html)