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What are these bugs and how do I get rid of them?

16 years ago

For the past month, I have been going nuts with these things. They are small enough to fit through the holes in the screen. They are attracted to light. They can fly. They are dark brown in color. I don't have air conditioning so I have to have my windows open in the summer time, but I get hundreds, and I'm not joking of these bugs. There are many more when it's night time and lights are on, but they are still here during the day. They are on the windows, the walls, inside of lampshades, etc. They are everywhere. I'm trying to paint my window frames and I can't because of these critters are everywhere! They are not attracted to food. What are they and how do I get rid of them?

I did spray Home Defense around the house just recently, hoping it would get rid of these buggers, and all the spiders I get. Didn't seem to work on these guys.

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (3)

larry_gene
16 years ago
This message has topped the forum charts longer than the Monkees "I'm A Believer", time to send it down.
bluebars
16 years ago
Capture some on scotch tape and send them to your local Home Extension Center.
If you have a loupe or magnifying glass maybe you could get a better look, even a closeup photo.
BlueBars
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catch-fly
16 years ago
Well for starters they are beetles. The magnification is way too low for a decent identification, but I'll hazard a guess:

Given their size, I'm guessing they are fungal feeding deadwood specialists, such as Cisidae (there isn't a common name to my knowledge). These are not wood borers per se, but feed on fungi growing on deadwood or untreated wood.

How to get rid of them ... well, I wouldn't want to unless they are attacking the structure of your premises. You might want to keep them out though (just so they aren't a nuisance and that you don't have to keep cleaning up dead ones that die trying to get back out). First step might be to get finer mesh on your windows ... but then I don't know what grade mesh you have right now.

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