No-see-ums in the house (Tucson: live, moving, relocating to)

[seedy]

I've got tiny little toe-biters and neck crawlers that come out at night mostly. I can hear them hitting the bedspread. Told by exterminator they are flying and sprays won't work unless it's a direct hit. Have tried spraying with several things, they are still here.

Tempted to try bombs even though the thought of having everything covered with pesticide doesn't make my day. There is one that is pyrethrin, which has a short viability, maybe I would poison myself less.

Any hints welcomed.

Sleepless in Tucson

[paradiseca]

Bug bombs would seem to do the trick for a bedroom. I have used those in the past. It seems early in the year though for the no-see ums. Last year towards May I had a number of bites and never saw or hear anything.

[wit-nit]

You got house plants, they're probably fungus gnats.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05584.html

[atlarge]

How common are these critters in Tucson? I know similar to mosquitoes they thrive in warm/wet tropical climate, but in Tucson? I wouldn't think they'd be a problem here.

[Saguarogirl507]

We had those in the Florida keys in summer and they literally drove us out. I too never thought of them here in Tucson. Are they in monsoon season then?

[Bummer]

Definitely no "Bug Expert" here, Seedy . . .

However, in the almost 17 years since relocating to Tucson, my very limited experience with No See-Ums has always been during the Monsoons (July and August) and never this time of year, either inside or out.

I would strongly suggest a good Exterminator rather than a post on here as you must have some type of infestation caused by an "attraction" that needs to be eliminated.

Good Luck

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

You got house plants, they're probably fungus gnats.

Fungus Gnats as Houseplant and Indoor Pests

I have had those in Tucson. Got rid of the plant and they went away. Poke the dirt on all your plants with a pencil or some such thing and you will see them moving around.

[seedy]

In town I would not expect no-see-ums, they need mud to lay eggs and the eggs die if the mud dries. This house has grey water drains so there are places around it that are muddy just from me using the sink or shower.

No indoor plants. I do live a mile or so from natural water. And have some water trays out for wild animals, they get changed regularly.

These bite, unlike the gnats linked, they like my feet and crawling under layers. And they are tiny, barely visible without magnifier. The bites feel like something much larger biting.

Exterminator came out, suggested a fly light. I bought one, caught very few with it, seemed to attract even more into house so I sealed all windows and doors. But house is not tightly constructed and there have not been many freezing nights, so there are probably holes not yet found and no natural kill-off.

Exterminator told me on a followup call that I'm doing all he would do.

So I'm taking it as a sign that it's time to move on. I find out anything useful I'll post back.

Thank you all for the kind thoughts and words.

[Windwalker2]

I have these too, usually in the winter. The bite feels like a painful pin prick. I thought it was because I have dogs. I only saw one once and they are really tiny, much smaller than fungus gnats. The extent of them varies from year to year, some years there are almost none.

[Peeperpuppy]

have you tried those sticky glue traps? I know they're ugly but anything flying that lights on them ain't getting off Also when I had gnat problems I was told to put cider vinegar in a glass & put saran wrap over the top & poke a few slits in it. The buggers get in & can't get out. Worked for my gnats anyway. They're drawn to the cider vinegar.