Thanks for the responce. I've never sprayed for flys. I've sprayed for roaches and crawling bugs. Is there a special spray for flys? I need to find out from my neighbors if they are having the problem too. Yes, it's been annoying to deal with all this mess. But, there are others that are much worse off from it than I was. We had lots of roaches, sppiders, crickets, ailversish and who knows what else. We actually had to set off two bombs in the house. So, then we had to wash every dish after that. My husband said we are never doing that again.We don't have a dishwasher. I still see some things around now and then. It would just be nice to enter a room and turn on the light without knowing you will see something crawling or flying around. Oh, it has been dry outside for weeks now. It is just the odor that has been left behind. It's been really cool outside. The type of weather where I'd just like to open the windows. But, not with that smell.

If the bugs go for the face and eyes, they sound like gnats to me. Do they bite? The gnats here in Virginia (which are very common at our home in the mountains) will bite if you let them on your skin for a minute. They will also fly into your eyes. However, it's been my experience that gnats are almost exclusively an outside pest... I really don't see them inside. Your climate and the after-effects of the storm may be making a difference in this regard, though.

Gnats breed in tiny fetid pockets of water, including places like mounds of leaves and brush, as well as clogged gutters on your house. The first step to eliminating them is to remove all possible pockets of standing water. Then, I'd seal the house and set off a couple of bug bombs. Stick whatever you want to protect (dishes, pots, cutlery, clothes) into trash bags but still plan on rinsing your plates, cookware and cutlery just to be safe.

I'm sure Ada knows a heckuva hot more about this than I do, so maybe there still some advice to come. Good luck!

--Bob

We don't have carpet. Just Lenoleum floors. We didn't get very much water in the house. But anything touching the floor got wet. We went through everything that got wet. Not much as far as mold. Anything with a fabric that got wet was smelly. But, we took care of all that. As far as itentifing what it looks like, it won't stay still long enough. It seems to like the light of the computer screen. But, when I try to see it up close, it flys away. All the pictureshave side views of the legs and all. I can't see the legs or a side view. I called a local agriculture place. They said to try and catch some and bring them buy to look at. Oh, no they don't bite. They really don't land on me at all.

RE: hey Ada...

STEPS:
1. Take an old, large cottage cheese container and punch holes in the top of its cover with a screwdriver (or something like it) so it resembles a huge salt shaker. Pour in the 20 mule Borax detergent. Shake a generous (medium-amount) over all your carpets and use the push broom to press/push the powder between the fibers and down into the bottom of your carpets/rugs.

2. Use the Virbac Knockout liquid from your vet and spray every inch of your carpets with it; this will coat the top of your carpet while the powder (i.e. 20 Mule Borax) coats the middle and bottom of carpet fibers. This leaves no area for fleas to survive. You must also spray linoleum and(or) tile flooring as well as between mattresses, all upholstered furniture (including under cushions), and any other porous or hard-to-reach areas in your home where fleas could hide and reproduce. Be careful not to contaminate pet/human food-sources.

3. Finally, you must pour an entire individual packet (liquid) of Frontline Plus (one pkt. per cat) on the back of the cat's neck, between where their shoulder bones meet. Spread the fur apart while doing this to make sure it touches the skin so it can't be washed away when/if you bathe them (this product is waterproof).

This whole process is a bit exasperating due to how tedious and time-consuming it is...but so well worth it!!! I've never had another flea problem since!

Lastly & most important, please consult your personal vet and physician before using any of these products. I personally have had no problems resulting from using any of the above mentioned products even though my family has various allergies, but everyone is different so please be cautious in your use of these items.

Here's what to do:

First, you go to your vet and buy Virbac Knockout (household spray pump); one 16oz. bottle will cover approximately a two-bedroom sized house.

Second, I noticed you said you had your cat(s) flea-dipped. Very well. However, I personally bought Frontline Plus from my vet which is simply a small amount of liquid you put on the back of your cat's neck (by spreading the fur so it makes direct contact with their skin, making sure it will stay). This kills any fleas of all life-cycle stages (eggs, larvae, pupae). Also, note: Hartz flea & tick shampoo (purchasable at Walmart; fuchsia colored) works great as well and is a good extra--kills the ticks almost instantly!

Third, if you go to Wal-Mart you can buy a detergent called 20 Mule Borax (you'll find it by the other clothes detergents). You will also need to buy a small push-broom.

This all is a lengthy & tedious process, but well worth it because it eliminates ALL the fleas and protects against reinfestation for an entire year! Also, you MUST coat EVERY INCH of your home...carpets & vinyl/tile-flooring--this means lifting furniture as well to get every square inch or the fleas will have an area to re-breed.

Another note: wear a cotton face-mask while you push the powder into the rugs so as to not breath this in, and if you have skin & sinus allergies like myself be very careful of this and wash your hands, etc., thoroughly after completing the whole process. The borax in this detergent is toxic to the flea's small digestive system & will kill them.

Then once a year you should re-do your house with the spray because it only lasts one year (though I've gone over that a bit and it has still worked for me). Fortunately, you probably shouldn't have to repeat the powder process (i.e. 20 Mule Borax) as it is fairly permanent even when you deep-clean your carpets.

Lastly & most important, please consult your personal vet and physician before using any of these products. I personally have had no problems resulting from using any of the above mentioned products even though my family has various allergies, but everyone is different so please be cautious in your use of these items.

Thank you, Ada...for your fruit-fly solution. I've tried a variety of things and nothing's seemed to work. I appreciate this idea/information. Thanks, again.
Cat

Thanks for the advice Coupeman. I had bought one at a fair this year. We took it everywhere until it broke. The one you recommended works great and it has a warrantee!!!!! Fries the little buggers. with no mess Poof! they are gone. Great gift idea too!
Thanks.

Bonous! Thanks again Coupeman you rock! the hand held zapper you recomended are on sale for the holidays. Works great
The brooks-zapit.com folks are great to deal with as well.
Again Thanks you rock!

In case anyone is wondering, this is the post from coupeman:

My sister uses a electris paddle she got from brooks-zapit.com. She uses it for all crawly critters in her house.

--Bob

I have been reading the posts with the great ideas about getting rid of these pests but havent seen any ideas about the cat litter box. What can I do? And I have seen the lovely little house guests crawling in the litter box. We already started our home made fruit jar traps & catching these little critters by the tons. What happened is while we were out of state our adult son was living in our home & had some food go bad. He did not discard it immediately & the problem began. WE WELCOME ANY IDEAS/SUGGESTIONS!

Hi - I also have a problem with fruit flies in my cat's litter box. I went on a weekend trip and forgot to take out the garbage, and when I returned, there were fruit flies in my garbage and cat's litter box. I am at a loss for how to deal with the cat box.
I've been spraying and swatting the flies, and throwing the litter away every few days, but somehow, the last few flies always manage to breed in the cat box again. I can't leave my cats without their litter! Help! Any ideas welcome. Thanks.

help i've got the water bags hanging pest strips in the house a dispenser with fly spray on the carport can't seem to get rid of the flies.

Whew! It seems you've done all that's possible. Do you happen to live in a rural area where there are horses?

Perhaps you could try the fly strips outside near the water bags? Also, don't forget you can buy those fly houses in the grocery/hardware store. These were very effective in my place. Perhaps they call them hotels? Not sure but there are such things.

Good luck. Keep us posted, okay? Maybe you'll find something none of us has tried.

Lorace

Hello,

It's been a while since I last posted but I have still been trying to get rid of these larvae / bugs that are rampant in the cupboards, in wall cracks, floor cracks, bathroom through the drains, etc.

The larvae are about 4 mm long or so, but the bugs get as big as 1.5 - 2 inches.

They vary in colour, usually grey or brown.

I managed to snap a photo of a fast moving one. This one was among 6 others in between two window panes in the window sill.

I think I'm developing severe anxiety over these things because I have no idea what they are and hope someone can help. Thank you.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/cricketc/Bug.jpg

My gosh. No wonder you're upset. This thing looks like its got a thousand legs. What part of the country do you live in? I'm amazed that you could post a picture on here, too! It was wonderful to be able to see it first hand.

The only thing that's ever really cleaned out everything for us is SPECTRACIDE. I noticed WalMart has some now with its own sprayer and it can be used inside or outside.

It got rid of ticks (for 5 years) and black widows and most of the sewer roaches we get. You might try it.

I wish I had a name for this. It sort of looks like the water bugs we get now and then.

Good luck, hope someone has other ideas.

Lorace

Well, first - where are you living? That would help narrow down the list of possible bugs.

Look at this site on Centipedes, Millipedes and Pill Bugs and see if any of them look like your culprit.

Of course, we really have to identify them for certain before we can determine how to get rid of them, but some things you can try:

1. First, eliminate their entrances by caulking up the openings! Not only will this stop the bugs getting in, but any opening big enough for a bug also lets in the outside air. You can cut down heating bills by simply eliminating these cracks.

2. It sounds like your bugs are attracted to dark, damp places. In cupboards, try using a dehumidifier, or leave the doors open and turn on a fan directed into the cupboard at night. Really dry out areas around sinks, showers, tubs after use. Same thing around windows that sweat: dry them with a dehumidifier or fan.

3. Look for a product called Baygon, which has a spray with a slender tip for spraying down in cracks and crevices. It uses pyrethrins, which are effective against most of the creepy/crawly crew. (Be careful with this around children and pets, as it can be toxic if ingested, but is generally safe otherwise.)

Hi Lorace,

Thanks for your reply! I was having trouble sleeping last night due to my bug anxiety! I'm a bit bug phobic so this is just creeping me out.

I had to snap a few photos to get a good one - this one was moving so fast, I'm surprised it came out so clear!

I live in the prairie region of Canada.

I have seen the underside of this bug and it looks like it's got a thousand legs for sure - but they aren't even like legs. The underside is really fuzzy.

I will try Spectracide - although I don't even know where to spray it! I have no idea where these bugs are coming from and am contemplating moving just to get away from them!

Cindy

Hi Ada,

Thank you for your reply as well! I checked out your helpful link. I wondered last year if they were Pill bugs. Yesterday when I poked one with a cotton swap, it did curl up in a ball.

However, their outside isn't a hard shell like the ones in the pill bugs and it's not segmented like that either. I do wonder if it is some sort of member of this centipede, millipede, pill bug family though.

Thank you for your wonderful tips! I will try caulking up the openings - if I can find them all! I hate that I don't know where they are coming from, if they are living in the walls or what. It grosses me out that they are just in the cupboards. Usually I will open up a box of pasta or reach out to grab some tin foil, and the larvae or the larvae shells will be in the boxes. Weird huh?

If I can't find out what these things are and how to get rid of them, well, I just have to MOVE!

Thanks again! Hope someone out there has maybe had this problem! LOL!

Cindy