Sudden Bug Infestation in Storage Bin

bugfreekiwi · #1 Oct 9, 2009, 10:40 PM

I normally keep a storage bin that is NOT tightly sealed (the lid is partially broken) on the top shelf of my closet. About a month ago, I switched out an old pillow which has a pillowcase protector (the mite/allergen-free kind) with a brand new one and put the old pillow, some winter clothes, and a small wooden basket in this storage bin. I did not see or touch it since. Today, when I took it down, there were bugs everywhere!!! I know the picture is terrible but they were tiny! They were barely visible... At first, I thought it was dust but then I realized they were moving. They are brownish colored, and I do not think they are bed bugs (despite what the leasing office says) because no one has gotten bitten and they are not anywhere else, nor are they big and round like bed bugs. They just suddenly appeared. There were millions of them. I had to throw away an $80 pillow and probably $40 in clothing because I didn't know what they were and didn't want to try washing them.

Does anyone know what they might be? They showed up out of nowhere! It's making us quite paranoid and, even though we have an exterminator coming for bed bugs, I don't know what it is still and don't want them to look for the wrong thing! I don't know how they would have ended up in there... or why they would have multiplied... There's nothing edible in there at all.

Please help if you have any idea what it might be! Random Googling has not been successful at all for answers... Thank you!!

Catsmine · Oct 10, 2009, 03:15 AM

bugfreekiwi,

From your username I'm guessing that you're in New Zealand. I am more familiar with North American pests but your description and the (very blurry) picture lead me to think you may be dealing with a stored product pest referred to as a drugstore beetle. Keep a sample of at least half a dozen to show the exterminator. He/she will be more familiar with local conditions.

A good way to preserve the samples is by catching them with transparent cellophane tape and taping them to a white paper or card. Be sure to use the absolutely clear tape.

bugfreekiwi · Oct 10, 2009, 10:22 AM

Oh, I wish I had thought of that! I threw them all away already because I was worried about further contamination. I'm actually in California, southern California, if that helps a lot...

bugfreekiwi · Oct 10, 2009, 10:24 AM

Also, I know the picture is blurry but that is literally how small they were! They looked like baby ants... They had almost no shape to them. I'd call them... thin. Miniscule...

Catsmine · Oct 10, 2009, 10:33 AM

See if you can find them on this identification site.

ID Stored Wheat Insects

bugfreekiwi · Oct 11, 2009, 05:10 PM

Thanks for all your help, Catsmine, but unfortunately there's no way for me to identify these insects based on any pictures you've sent me or that I've found online myself. I wish I had a better picture, but unfortunately those critters were THAT small (in the picture, those folds are the small folds of my pillowcase! I hope you can see how little they were!) so they barely had any shape to them to begin with. Since they're no bigger than a couple grains of sand, I was hoping someone might have an idea of they were larvae that just hatch in huge numbers in storage or what... oh, well. Hopefully the exterminator will find something (hopefully not?).

Catsmine · Oct 11, 2009, 05:15 PM

I can tell you that they look like adult insects, but not much more. My best guess would be beetles or possibly small flies of some type, similar to fruitflies or gnats.



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