Little black bugs - Page 2

Julie-Ann · #11 20-06-2010, 04:27 PM

I think I have found the source of these pesky critters. I have some bags of sheep manure sitting out in the back garden. It was left over from mulching in spring. The bags were covered in the bugs. I whipped out the fly spray but I think I will get DH to spread the manure and hopefully once it is watered in that will solve the problem.

. I still don't know what they are though.

Julie-Ann · #12 10-08-2010, 10:34 AM

The black bugs are now at plague proportions (okay maybe a slight exaggeration

) and driving us insane. They are all around the outside of the house - flying around the eaves. So I pulled out the heavy duty Mortein and sprayed the eaves, windows and doors - twice. And yet we continued to have swarms of these critters flying inside.
So yesterday I decide on another strategy. Perhaps they are coming up through the drains. I placed containers over all the floor wastes and plugs in all the sinks. The population dropped from an annoying level to an occasional swipe. DH feels there is no way they are coming through the sinks - I'm not so sure, they are clever little things. Anyway, today I have unplugged the kitchen sinks to test his theory. So far only 1 black bug has been spotted

. Tomorrow I will unplug the bathroom sinks too.
But the question is- if they are coming in through the drains- how on earth am I going to get rid of them? I can't leave plastic containers over all the floor wastes for you to step over in the laundry and the bathrooms

.

tracyel · #13 10-08-2010, 11:50 AM

Juli-Ann, we recently had some plumbing work done and we were told that there is no way anything can come up through the drain as there are 'traps in the drain pipes.

This website will explain it better than I can.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-plumbing-trap.htm

Hope it helps.

Julie-Ann · #14 10-08-2010, 11:57 AM

Yes this is the logic behind my DH's argument that they aren't coming up through the sinks. But I'm not sure if there are traps on floor wastes. I can't tell you what a difference covering the wastes and plugging the sinks has made. We have been killing around 15 per day. Today I have killed 1. So I think somehow they are coming through the floor wastes

Tomorrow I will remove all the other plugs to test the theory they can't get through the plumbing trap. Stay tuned

.

tracyel · #15 10-08-2010, 12:00 PM

Good luck. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Julie-Ann · #16 31-08-2010, 07:00 PM

Today I went to have my bugs identified by the loveliest old man who was a entomologist. They are midgies. I also found out the neighbours have swarms of them too. The chap said they will probably move on when the weather changes but to try Coopex from Bunnings. It works on contact with them but also as a surface spray. Fingers crossed it works. Funnily enough today when I wanted to catch some of these little critters there were none inside

- unfortunately there were still plenty outside.
I also asked the chap about the white wax scale on my 218 African Box hedges. We discussed the many varied and expensive ways to kill them- all which I have tried. The final solution is to rip all 218 of them out, dig out as much soil as possible, soak Confidor twice on the remaining soil (very pricey stuff for this large space), replace with fresh soil and new plants of a different variety. OR sell the house and buy an apartment with a single pot plant on the balcony

.

rosierose · #17 01-09-2010, 08:44 AM

Rachel.......so sorry 2 hear bout the termites.......I have always had a fear of those critters a highly evolved and smart species........ great u got them in time....

Ants have always bothered me.....seem to favour new builds so not looking forward to this in new house.

Currently they do visit old house but due to 2.5 yr old leaving food about....
must house train him for new place although it feels like he will be 21 b4 we move

Julie-Ann · #18 01-09-2010, 10:42 AM

Ants are a pain if they get inside your home.
This old chap went in to great detail yesterday explaining how the ants are very kinky and like to tickle aphids bottoms to get them to secrete their sticky stuff for the ants to eat. Too much information

Julie-Ann · #19 05-09-2010, 06:35 PM

I have been very productive today. I have just sprayed the outside of my house with the Coopex. I hope the Coopex doesn't damage the paint- I forgot to check the warnings

. But I don't care - it is war against these annoying critters.
Stay tuned for the results

Julie-Ann · #20 06-09-2010, 12:14 PM

I have excellent news- the Coopex worked

. The bug man knew what he was talking about. I have only seen one lone survivor flying around inside this morning. So I ventured outside to see 100's of dead black bugs on my verandah

. It's not a pleasant sight but I won't brush them or wash them away for a week as the Coopex continues to work if any new bugs come in contact with it.
So if you have a midgy problem buy some Coopex powder from Bunnings, mix it up in a sprayer and attack.