Bug ID: still haven't seen a bed bug, I HAVE seen these bugs, though

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Bug ID: still haven't seen a bed bug, I HAVE seen these bugs, though

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acs80

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Fri Sep 11 2009 23:51:00
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As the subject line reads: I've been getting bites, but still no signs of bed bugs (though I know that absolutely does not rule out the possibility of me having them). I have TONS of the little flying bugs shown in the picture below in my apartment, though, and strangely enough, I often find them in my bed. Does anyone have any idea what they could be? I know it looks big in the picture, but in reality, it's probably about 3 or 4 mm long. I'm secretly hoping that I can blame them for the bites on my legs, but I have a a feeling this is just a shot in the dark.

http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/acs80/?action=view&current=flyingbug.jpg

Also, I found this in my bed, too. I'm embarrassed to say that I think it might be a raspberry or tomato seed...I'm not even sure if it's a bug! But now I'm really paranoid. I don't even think it has legs or a head. It's super hard; I couldn't even break it in half. Can someone confirm that this is indeed an inanimate object?

http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/acs80/?action=view&current=Whatthehellisthis.jpg

Clearly I'm losing my mind. And by the way, I never realized how much crap was lying on my sheets before I became so anal-retentive about inspecting them inch by inch.

Any ideas what that flying bug could be? Someone please tell me it's some kind of biting insect known for feasting on the calves of young women. Please HELP!
ilovemyseniors

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 8

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 0:28:13
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That little seed thing does not have any legs or anything. Maybe it is just a seed of some kind. Google bedbugs and it will show you all types.
ilovemyseniors

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Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 0:29:38
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That other thing is a mosquito. Spray some HOT SHOT around and that should help you with flying bugs.
acs80

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 0:38:13
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i love my seniors, are you sure that's a mosquito? It's only about 4 mm long...I thought mosquitoes were much larger than that...?
acs80

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 0:48:15
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Here are two more pictures of that flying bug, so you can see how small it is. I always thought a mosquito was as big as a dime (when you include wing and leg span), or at least much larger than this bug.

Does it still seem like a mosquito to you? Is there such a thing as a mini-mosquito (I'm really pulling at straws here)? I live a block from Lake Michigan in Chicago, and I know mosquitoes like water...? Yikes. I'm most definitely not an entomologist.

http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/acs80/?action=view&current=flyingbug1.jpg

http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/acs80/?action=view&current=flyingbug2.jpg

And here's a picture of it on its back (again -- the bug is really quite small; it just looks huge because I zoomed in so much):

http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/acs80/?action=view&current=flyingbug3.jpg&newest=1
spideyjg

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Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,405

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 1:12:12
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Compare to midges and Noseeums.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/19768

You really need one of our resident entomologist to really ID that.

Jim
acs80

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 1:24:07
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Thanks for the message, Jim. Yeah, I was hoping one of the entomologists I've seen on this site would ID it, but I'm guessing they're not up at 1 a.m. on a Friday night, or if they are, they aren't sitting at the computer, IDing bugs.

I was also thinking noseeum, but I think those are super hard to see, like almost microscopic. I can definitely see this guy, even if he is small. For some reason, I thought midges didn't bite, but I guess there are many different types of midges, some of which do bite. Wikipedia says that a the blood-sucking varieties live in beach or mountain habitats. I live a block from the lake here in Chicago. That's pretty beach-y. Wikipedia also indicates that "in humans, their bite can cause intensely itchy, red welts that can persist for more than a week." So maybe this is some kind of blood-sucking biting midge? God, I can't believe I'm writing this, but I'd be so happy if that was my problem.

I also forgot to mention that these little flying bugs, whatever they are, seem to be attracted to light. I've found a number of dead ones around the lamp in my home office, and there are TONS (like probably fifty+) of these little flying bugs (now dead) on the windowsill in my bedroom, which is right next to my bedside lamp (I just noticed those tonight and am going to clean that up...so gross). Some quick research online seems to suggest that both mosquitoes and midges are attracted to light...I don't think I ever knew that. Moths were the only flying insect I had ever associated with an attraction to light.

Here's one last picture of the little guy, for good measure. Wish I had a better camera to get some real detail:

http://s930.photobucket.com/albums/ad150/acs80/?action=view&current=lastflyingbug.jpg
acs80

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 2:49:24
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I seem to have insomnia tonight. Here's another update on those flying bugs. I've been sitting in my dining room, working on my computer, and I just got up and went into my bedroom to get something and saw SIX of those little flying bugs, lying on my bed, barely moving. What's that all about? I know they weren't there before because I had wiped all debris (small dirt flecks, lint, etc.) off my sheet about an hour ago, after which point the bed was totally clean. A couple of days ago I sprayed some Raid Flying Insect in my bedroom because I noticed those flying bugs (whatever they are) and they were really annoying me. It seemed to do the trick and killed them right away. I'm wondering if the ones on my bed have somehow been weakened by the leftover traces of Raid and have for some reason chosen my sheet as the place to experience their final death throes?

This just keeps getting weirder and weirder. If only I knew what was really going on...

Does anyone have any suggestions? Again, I still haven't seen any physical signs of bed bugs; I've just gotten bites.
thebedbugresource

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Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 238

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 9:41:13
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Hello,

I cannot say with 100% certainty but I am strongly leaning toward a midge. There are MANY species out there that fall under this umbrella.

You could catch a few on a glue board and bring them to a local university for identification.

Sincerely,

Sean
Entomologist / Pest Professional
www.bedbugresource.com
acs80

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 10:25:26
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Thank you, Sean! Good advice.
acs80

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Joined: Sep '09
Posts: 14

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 14:16:34
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Sean --

I e-mailed the photos to the Chair of the Biology department at the university where I teach. We don't have an entomology program per se, but one of the faculty members wrote me back to tell me he'd guess the bugs were "fungus gnats". And, sadly, I looked online and saw that fungus gnats don't bite, so that wouldn't explain my bug bites, if in fact fungus gnats are what I'm dealing with here.

Shoot. Really hoping they were biting midges. Who knows? They still could be. If I could only be sure of WHAT was biting me, I could take some action.
spideyjg

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Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,405

Posted 2 months ago
Sat Sep 12 2009 14:25:55
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On the bright side you are investigating, gathering the evidence, and getting a positive ID.
If insect related you will find something eventually.

Also that person that did the ID did it based on your pictures and a definitive ID must be in person under a microscope in many cases. Sean is an entomologist and he isn't 100% sure.

The "fungus gnats" got in and that opens the possibility of midges or other flying biters to have entered also. You just didn't catch one.

Doesn't prove or disprove anything just an alternative possibility to BBs.

Jim
loubugs

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Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 29

Posted 2 months ago
Sun Sep 13 2009 13:41:48
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From your series of images:
The mysterious "gnat" could be a chironomid fly (gnat or midge also used as names). The small insects are cockroach nymphs. The thing looks like a seed of some sort.