A few questions:
Has anyone actually had these bugs documented as diptera (midges)?
Has anyone experienced a gastrointestinal infestation with them?
Has anyone been permanently successful in getting rid of them?

The order Diptera covers all the true flies. I think you are referring to one of these families:

biting midges, no-see-ums, Culicoides spp. (http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/aquatic/biting_midges.htm)

Botfly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oestridae)

The second family may be where you have heard of gastrointestinal involvement.

Getting rid of midges is pretty straightforward. Mosquito control measures are more effective on them than on mosquitoes.

Quite often people attribute environmental irritants to "invisible" bugs because the irritation is similar to being bitten. You will see me and others urging people to capture a sample through various methods to rule out environmental irritants before trying to kill something that isn't alive. Conversely, I often encourage people to modify their environment one factor at a time to rule out such irritants. Modifying the environment sometimes eliminates conditions that allow biting insects to thrive, as well. Each person's case is different.

Megaselia scalaris (Loew) is a small, 2 mm long, yellowish-colored fly with some dark markings. It is found nearly worldwide in warm climates, and into temperate areas in association with humans. Females of this species are easily recognized by the short, exceptionally broad tergite 6. Males have distinctive genitalia, and terminal abdominal structures of both sexes have been illustrated many times (most recently by Brown & Oliver, 2007).

Taxon biology:
These flies lay their eggs and develop as larvae in an extremely wide range of organic materials, including carrion, eggs, decaying plants, and rotting fungi. They occasionally infect the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, as well as incompletely healed wounds of humans, causing a condition known as myiasis. In tropical America, they invade the nests of stingless bees being kept for honey production, possibly after primary invasion by another phorid fly, Pseudohypocera kerteszi (Enderlein). They have even been reared from some bizarre media, such as paint and boot polish.

Following your and other experts advice to capture samples, I have done several things. Tape, glue pads, and water bowls. What I was picking up on tape (lots of black specks that emerged both from bedding and directly from my skin when wiped with alcohol or dawn detergent was categorically dismissed by the ag extension service as "nothing" . Upon putting out the hot water bowl with light overnight a larva scum covered it in the morning, which led to the search for the diptera that could be involved. It also led me away from the birdmite sites and forums (where no one ever seemed to find these samples) to this "invisible flying biting insect" forum. These are not mosquitoes, but seem to be a much smaller and more insidiously invasive order of critter. I invested in a small digital microscope and captured a couple of pictures--which I am going to figure out how to post here.
I am happy to hear that midges are easy to get rid of, but whatever these are (from other peoples experiences that match mine exactly) getting rid of them may have been more difficult.
Has anyone on these forums ever been able to capture samples of birdmites or collembola? If so, what method do they use? I am not ruling out that these other organisms may be present as we had an abandoned bird nest on the porch (now removed) and we have an ongoing rodent issue in our 100 plus year old house on pier and beam.
Thanks.

Retrieved these samples from bath water surface.
Are they different stages of the same diptera or two totally different insects?

I invested in a small digital microscope and captured a couple of pictures--which I am going to figure out how to post here.


Did you examine the samples yourself that the Ag. Extension agent dismissed? Was s/he in the Entomology or Botany side of the office?

As far as posting pics, there should be either a paperclip icon on the taskbar above the box where you type or a button under the box labeled "manage attachments." Clicking on either will open a dialog box for you to upload images from your computer or download them from a url.

Megaselia scalaris (Loew) is a small, 2 mm long, yellowish-colored fly with some dark markings. It is found nearly worldwide in warm climates, and into temperate areas in association with humans. Females of this species are easily recognized by the short, exceptionally broad tergite 6. Males have distinctive genitalia, and terminal abdominal structures of both sexes have been illustrated many times (most recently by Brown & Oliver, 2007).

Taxon biology:
These flies lay their eggs and develop as larvae in an extremely wide range of organic materials, including carrion, eggs, decaying plants, and rotting fungi. They occasionally infect the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, as well as incompletely healed wounds of humans, causing a condition known as myiasis. In tropical America, they invade the nests of stingless bees being kept for honey production, possibly after primary invasion by another phorid fly, Pseudohypocera kerteszi (Enderlein). They have even been reared from some bizarre media, such as paint and boot polish.

Why did you copy this?

Has anyone on these forums ever been able to capture samples of birdmites or collembola? If so, what method do they use? I am not ruling out that these other organisms may be present as we had an abandoned bird nest on the porch (now removed) and we have an ongoing rodent issue in our 100 plus year old house on pier and beam.
Thanks.

Bird mites, although very small, are naked eye visible. They're easiest to see when moving on a black or a pure white surface. The 'invisible' gift wrapping tape is usually sticky enough to catch them.

Springtails (collembola) are not capable of biting humans, despite several websites' insistence that they're parasitic mites. They're actually insects that have a jumping mechanism that can feel like a bite.

Rodents can carry mites as well as fleas, but they normally don't jump to human hosts well.

Antique houses are notorious for fungus of various types, which leads me back to the environmental factors I mentioned in my first answer.

I posted two pictures of the winged critters on one of the other branches of this forum-- it is a bit confusing to have so many threads going on the forum. Isn't there a way to consolidate them? Having to subscribe to each in order to respond is like like having more or less the same conversation going in several different rooms each of which requires a membership to enter.

As for the black specks, I did not have my hand-held microscope when I first gathered them. Since then I have looked at similar samples and have found them to be one of three types--none of which look like organisms so I understand why ag ex dismissed them. I think now that they may be excretions from the flies, but not sure if there are other things of interest in the mix--especially the fibrous ones that come out of my skin. I will post the black speck series (two) and then I will post what I think are the diptera series from larvae to full adult.

Black specks gathered from surface of bedding after spraying with windex generally look like irregular opaque "rocks".

Black specks gathered from skin after wiping with alcohol or dawn or windex generally look like either irregular opaque "rocks" , often arrow shaped objects (as shown) or fiber wrapped things of varying shapes and sizes.

The filament wrapped skin emergents may be secondary involvements of fungal fibers.

These are what I believe to be the stages of this insect--what I am currently assuming is some diptera.

First two images are 1. larva on hot water left out overnight with a lamp.

2. insect in the same bowl with larva scum.

Now a series of stages found from my bath water and body.

1. egg removed from my nasal passage (they swarm and lay eggs in my nose)

2. larva caught in a small strainer of bath water after an epsom salt bath.

3. larva found on my body near the "exit".

And the two insets found in the bath at two different times.

I posted two pictures of the winged critters on one of the other branches of this forum-- it is a bit confusing to have so many threads going on the forum. .

I have moved your pictures of the winged creatures to this thread.

As far as I can tell you only have this thread, if you have another thread with more information regarding your problem, please let me know and we can see if they can be merged.

If you are asking about all posts on winged, biting insects being kept in one thread, it becomes confusing when several different questions by different posters are combined into one thread. It generally ends up with someone getting incorrect information for their situation. We prefer to give you the best advice we can.

Thank you.

Because this is a diptera that has been described as hosting on humans and especially the alimentary canal-- I definitely have a parasite that is using mine.

The above post was in answer to your question why did you copy this -- the web entry regarding diptera Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) | The Diptera Site (http://diptera.myspecies.info/content/megaselia-scalaris-loew-1866-0) which will invade humans.

Also wondering whether any of the folks who have assumed they have bird mites or collembola have ever had them actually identified and, if so, how did you collect the specimens?

And, of course, are there any definitive cases of complete recovery of life and environments and, if so, how?

We should write a book!! Share the profits for research.

We should also include this cartoon:

The above post was in answer to your question why did you copy this -- the web entry regarding diptera Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) | The Diptera Site (http://diptera.myspecies.info/content/megaselia-scalaris-loew-1866-0) which will invade humans.

The reason I asked was that it appeared to be incomplete. The only thing that showed up was the copied part; there wasn't any comment or question from you.

That's one reason I like this site as compared to others where your post goes up when you hit 'enter' regardless of whether you're finished writing.

On to the pics. The resolution on those pics is fantastic. It won't be advertising if I ask what brand of scope/camera you chose. I'm in need of a new portable at the moment.

I can see why you thought of phorid flies. They are very good likenesses. You might look at Culicoides furens, a biting midge that could very easily be infesting your house.

biting midges, no-see-ums, Culicoides spp. (http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/aquatic/biting_midges.htm)

As far as control, first eliminate all the wet areas you can. Those you can't can be treated with larvacides onto any open water and lime onto any wet soil. Check under the house for leaks, too.

Inside the house, a good old fashioned field day will help tremendously: waxing all the wood that isn't painted; caulking and grouting tile, porcelin, and linoleum; cleaning and polishing the floors; and even checking ductwork and chimneys. I realize that's about 150 hours labor for a four bedroom antique house, but you'll be amazed at how much it will cut down on insects, fungi, and allergens.

It is a Celestron Microcapture pro -- can be used hand-held or in its stand. It was a little more than $112 and they have similar more expensive ones. I am so happy that I got it as sending things off to people without knowing what I had was wasting everybody's time. And the first good sample I had (seen under a 30x hand-held) I took to a dr. and it got tossed in the trash without even being looked at. Plus there seem to be few people around here who have the willingness or expertise to look at these things.

OK so I am writing to you and suddenly I get a typical sting on my finger. The bites people have been complaining about that hurt!

Here is what I saw on my finger. Actually two-- one large and one small This is the bad time of day-- late afternoon through the night.

Perhaps you can see that this little arrowhead is stuck straight up in my finger (as is the little one) like an army has been attacking. What you also can see are the tell-tale white flakes that accompany them-- everyone mentions them--they are like dust or powder and are dense-- I had no idea how much of this stuff there was until I held my hand-held up to my dark shirt! OMG-- where the naked eye saw maybe 3 or 4, the micro picked up a light snowfall of smaller ones--so small that they were in the holes between the commercial knit fibers of the t-shirt.

So, what is shooting these slings and arrows and what is the flurry of white stuff that is everywhere? Somehow doesn't seem consistent with the diptera diagnosis, but there is so little that I know about these.

Do you know an entomologist who might join this discussion? Wouldn't it be great if we could actually figure out what these invisible flying stinging bugs are exactly that are tormenting people?

To be honest that looks like a blood clot from a puncture wound.

May look like that, but I assure you it isn't. This is just a quick catch of the kind of object that is creating the stings that is happening on a regular basis. This photo on my finger was a lucky catch before it had been wiped off. Either the insect is extruding faeces through the skin from the inside or something is stinging from the outside. Most people describe these black specks as pepper-like. Because of the microscope I can see the specks with greater detail and they are often a bit rough shaped, but also many are roughly triangular with a sharp point. Do you see the small one behind it sticking straight out of my finger?

Look back at the series of photos of three objects extruded from skin.

Perhaps you might wish to try showing these to a medical professional, as they don't look like living organisms. A Dermatologist or an Allergist might be more familiar with inanimate skin irritants.

Here are a few more pics of this diptera-drawn to a warm bowl of water overnight.
Also told by an entomologist from looking at previous pictures:

"I looked at the photos and visited the forum link. What I can say is that "wingedcritter2" is certainly Order Diptera (flies). I can't identify it from the photo because there is not enough detail. The venation in the wing of the fly is not from the family Phoridae and hence it is not Megaselia scalaris as someone suggested in the forum. It is certainly not a bot fly as another person in the forum suggested.

"Wingedcritterwithmm" is of a Hemipteran (true bug) and was classified as Homoptera in the past. Basically it looks in general shape like a leafhopper or treehopper or close relative. This group of insects feeds on plants and never on people. "

I am getting ready to pack them up for a trip to the entomology Department at UT. Perseverance furthers says the I-Ching.

The good news as I see it this morning is that no birdmites or collembola have yet to show up in the overnight water dishes. It is possible that I have too much diatomaceous earth on the floor for such things to get to the pool so I will try tonight in a less well treated area. I would really love to eliminate those options if I could.

While they are not living organisms they must relate to living organisms, feces, stingers, or something. There is no dermatologist that is going to give this a first look, let alone a second look.

While they are not living organisms they must relate to living organisms, feces, stingers, or something. There is no dermatologist that is going to give this a first look, let alone a second look.

If you don't bet, you can't win. Good luck in Austin.

Can't afford to go to dermatologists! Been there, done that and not needing an anti-psychotic or anti-depression scrip. Lol not yet, at least.
Do you know of any other people on these multiple related threads who have been able to identify their "invaders"? One said they were sending samples to a university and then quit posting. The nature of these threads is like listening to interstellar communications--very intense and then fades and disappears. Hard to really gather useful linear data.

Second or third thought on your observation that they look like blood clots-- at first I took it as you thought I hd pricked my finger somehow and a little blood clot developed. Then a friend suggested that if something else had pricked my skin to feed on my blood rubbing alcohol on the surface of the skin could emit a tiny blood clot. So I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss your suggestions-- sorry.

Can't afford to go to dermatologists! Been there, done that and not needing an anti-psychotic or anti-depression scrip. lol not yet, at least.
Do you know of any other people on these multiple related threads who have been able to identify their "invaders"? One said they were sending samples to a university and then quit posting. The nature of these threads is like listening to interstellar communications--very intense and then fades and disappears. Hard to really gather useful linear data.

Normally the way this site works is that once a question has been resolved the asker sets about remedying the situation and gets on with their life. Those I hear back from once a solution is found are few and far between.

Apology accepted. Let me turn it around and apologise for snarking with the "don't bet" statement. I still wish you good luck at the University, however.

So, reading that critters sometimes make egg slaves of others I am paying more attention to the other larger insects that show up in the morning collection pool. The first two water collections with larvae each had one very recognizable moth with them. I thought incidental, but perhaps not.

This morning's water had several diptera and two other insects--and while I was observing them a third, maybe an adolescent--emerged from under one of the larger ones!

Do you have any idea what these insects are?

Do you have any idea what these insects are?

My first thoughts were lacewings, but the abdomen isn't right. The feathery wing tips make me think lepidoptera.

I think you are right about the two with the feather wings. They look mothy-- are there any small moths that bite?

Also the third character doesn't seem to be directly related to either the diptra or the moths-- is it an adolescent of some kind?

I think you are right about the two with the feather wings. They look mothy-- are there any small moths that bite?

Also the third character doesn't seem to be directly related to either the diptra or the moths-- is it an adolescent of some kind??

No, the wing structure on that one is entirely different. Is that 0.53mm the length of the entire bug?

No, that was a sort of random mark and I am going to have to recalibrate the microscope--I am not very expert at this yet-- Without measuring them, I am going to say that the moth-like characters are probably about 8-9 mm and the medium sized one (not the diptera) is 3-4 mm. Approximately. That medium sized one just suddenly appeared from under one of the moths as I was taking the pictures.

The stings that I am getting have increased in intensity--last night I got one on my foot that felt like a regular bee sting. And, no, there was no sign of a bee--or glass, or anything, actually! I was wearing socks in open toed shoes and the sting was near the bottom of my foot. Today something flew into my cheek and gave a sharp sting--but I couldn't find anything and it left no mark.

Someone on some forum --this one or another--posed a nan-o-bot theory. Maybe mini drones.
Don't worry, I am not getting delusional. Speaking of which I got a response from an entomologist today that suggested that... again. Good thing I am not or I could develop complications like paranoia --or itching! Or OCD laundry habits (oops! I am developing those).

Someone on some forum --this one or another--posed a nan-o-bot theory. Maybe mini drones.
Don't worry, I am not getting delusional. Speaking of which I got a response from an entomologist today that suggested that...again. Good thing I am not or I could develop complications like paranoia --or itching! Or OCD laundry habits (oops! I am developing those).

As methodical as you have been documenting these infestations (Yes, plural), I assume you have had a physical to rule out things like neuropathy and allergies. The only insects I'm aware of that bite that hard are naked eye visible, such as fleas, biting midges, and deerflies.

Did the "sting" result in any swelling? That would indicate some type of venom.

Seems the no-see-um bite is pretty sharp.
No, as I lack insurance and my general experience with medical investigations are that they are incredibly inefficient if not totally dismissive of things like this.
Either the diptera involved is a no-see-um relative or the possibility of the "sting" sensation is actually coming from the ejection of foreign matter from under the skin instead of from a sting from the outside. This would seem more plausible given the black specks emerging from the skin and only rare indications of bites on the skin.

Also allergies probably could be ruled out as I have no itching and the "stings" take place at really random times and locations on my body-- fortunately not very many per day.
Neuropathy is such a long-shot that I can't afford to spend money on it right now. More of a longshot than no-see-ums.

Also allergies probably could be ruled out as I have no itching and the "stings" take place at really random times and locations on my body-- fortunately not very many per day.
Neuropathy is such a long-shot that I can't afford to spend money on it right now. More of a longshot than no-see-ums.

Are they always on exposed skin? That would support your thesis.

Have not heard back from the Insect Curator yet. Meanwhile, back at the ranch... last night a sharp sting into the heel of my foot through a white cotton sock with at least three TBS of mentholated powder in it. This is what the stinger looked like from the outside of the sock. And a smaller one nearby on the same sock. The visible part of the larger one actually measures 2.5mm.

I also found a small black bug crawling on the inside of my pant leg but *#@*!! It got away!

Both of those are reminiscent of Deerfly parts. The larger looks like the insertion of a wing while the smaller reminds me of a proboscis

Hardly "Invisible".

Does have the patterning, but so much smaller! The large one is only 2.5 mm.

The point is surely I would see deer flies. (Invisible was the heading on this site before I joined)

Soooo.. I see that this forum thread has been accessed more than 400 times --wondering why no one else has any feedback?

The point is surely I would see deer flies. (Invisible was the heading on this site before I joined)

If you had stepped down on it as it bit, pieces may have broken off. Note I said the photos resembled parts.

I do believe you have multiple issues in that house. Occam's razor is a logic tool, not an environmental one.

The "scum" you have shown from the water bowl looks a lot like fungal spores. Nothing in my experience hatches that many eggs overnight.

The pyramid shaped protuberances look like blood clots, also known as scabs, over bites.

You mentioned the University of Texas. Austin is aswarm with thousands of bug species in the summer time, as evidenced by all the photos you've posted of different insects.

You mentioned your house is old and has had a rat infestation. Numerous types of mites absolutely love rats' nests.

My best advice is to deal first with the rats, then their nests or burrows.

Then look at mildew and fungi.

Once you have done everything you can to rid yourself and your house of environmental problems, look at medical issues like nutrition and allergies.

A few answers...
There are flying, biting bugs, but none are invisible. No-see-ums (http://bugguide.net/node/view/19768) do exist, but that is just a common name that refers to their tiny size. You can see um. They are not invisible. When they bite, you know it. Besides being seeing them when they bite, their bite leaves and itchy welt.

(sorry, accidentally posted too soon, see the complete response below.)

The point is surely I would see deer flies. (Invisible was the heading on this site before I joined)

First post was by you "invisible flying biting bugs " and now we are into macro flying bugs. Hmmm what is the real issue here?

A few answers... (Click on the links for more information.)

*** There are flying, biting bugs, but none are invisible. No-see-ums (http://bugguide.net/node/view/19768) are small biting flies in the genus Culicoides (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/aquatic/biting_midges.htm), family Ceratopogonidae. but "no-see-um" is just the common name that refers to Culicoides' tiny size. You can see um. It's just that they are very small, but they are not invisible. Besides seeing them when they bite, their bite leaves an itchy welt.

*** Culicoides sp. might upset your stomach is you ate a bunch of them, but they can not infest your intestine in the parasitic sense.

*** Culicoides sp. are common insects that require wetlands to complete their larval development. It is very difficult to control Culicoides, as marshes and rivers are sensitive habitats, that are not easily messed with. Biting-midge management is usually by exclusion and repellent use. Small-mesh screens are req'd to keep out no-see-ums.

This is probably a fungus gnat (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05584.html), but I can't be sure without a specimen to examine more closely. Fungus gnats are not parasitic and don't bite people. Family: Mycetophilidae (http://bugguide.net/node/view/12759), order: Diptera, class: Insecta, phylum: Arthropoda

There are similar insects from other families, but this looks like a leafhopper (http://bugguide.net/node/view/146). Leafhoppers (https://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg88.html) feed on plants, not people. Family Cicadellidae, order Hemiptera, class Insecta.

(Again, hard to be sure without a specimen to examine.)

These are not insects.

There is no way anyone can say what that is, from the picture, but it certainly is not fly larvae.

That might be an insect, but picture quality is too poor say for sure.

Those are boogers.

Dude, that is your freakin buttwipe! Myiasis and fly parasites of human intestines are extremely rare.

This is not an insect.

There are probably fungus gnats. Do you have house plants?

I see a leafhopper, a fungus gnat and moths

There is no way anyone can claim these to be insect parts based on these pictures.

I am interested in hearing that you think the diptera looking insects are fungus gnats.

No house plants but possibly mold.

The things you say are not insects -- they are stinging me -- and not like I am stepping on splinters-- the ones in my finger emerged from my finger after feeling a sting and rubbing alcohol over the sting area, the ones in my sock occurred when I was reading in bed and suddenly had a sharp sting. Looking at my sock I saw tiny black dot and slightly larger one-- this is what I saw through the microscope.
Do molds attack people?

I am interested in hearing that you think the diptera are fungus gnats.

No house plants but possibly mold.

Good job Locrian--I think you have hit on the fungus gnats id. I have asked many and no one has gotten it.

Now, if there is an ecosystem built up around mold that may have very well invaded my house and body, what else could be attacking me to eat the mold? There seems to be some kind of community between these moths, leaf hoppers and the fungus gnats. But, none of these sting, right? Also something has now infested my cat-- not fleas. So the million dollar question is: what is smaller than a moth, leaf hopper and fungus gnat that may be carried by them and that may be able to penetrate the skin delivering a sting like a small projectile?

This one is still unidentified-- sorry not a good picture.

Yeah, not a good picture.

Locrian. Stay tuned. I found a research paper that answers most of my questions and puts a large section of the puzzle together. I will copy the link to it in the morning. Thanks for identifying one of the key pieces--the first insect of interest.

Where do you live Deep? Could the cat have mange or mites? If you have mould, could this be a reaction from the mould? Cats first explained that "invisible bugs" can be environmental i.e. mould...

Check this out-- it names the fungus gnat as a diptera that can become the myiasis vector! Just what I was looking for.

Close associations: Micro-Myiasis & Morgellons Disease (http://www.morgellonsuk.org.uk/micromyiasis.htm)

Check this out-- it names the fungus gnat as a diptera that can become the myiasis vector! Just what I was looking for.

Close associations: Micro-Myiasis & Morgellons Disease (http://www.morgellonsuk.org.uk/micromyiasis.htm)

Fly-strike from fungus gnats? Sure, why not? Do you think they were released by the Grays or the Greens 150 million years ago?

Meanwhile, this thread has morphed into a discussion rather than a question/answer.

Obviously the grays.

Obviously the Grays.

Obviously Twilight Zone trolling

I vote for the Morgellons.

Biology of various species of diptera, arthropoda, etc. can be identified by rthe inrterior structure usually found in a macrophage, cytoplasm and glycoprotien encasement. Tsetse, Chagas via Rhodius Proxilus, and several Diptera species at a phase of embryogenesis will present a "key" type shape unique to the species. Not a fool proof system ibn the event of polygenesis or other indeced mutations due to medicine and health dieseases such as HIV, diabetes or in the case of coinfection with ticks or fleas (Babesia/Rickettsia) The structure you see here is possible a polygenesis larva.