Insect problems?

Flylady · 07-02-2011, 10:45 PM

I just got a message from my renters that the cabin had large black dead ants throughout it even on the bed. Also they said there are small white bugs the size of pins that have crawled on them. So heres the background: I was there two weeks ago, did the final cleaning and rental prep. (Also new couch and beds were purchased). No food in the cabinets or fridge, no trash at all on the site. Left the camp all closed up two weeks ago, no open windows. Been there for five years and have never had any insect problems. Any ideas as to what happened or causes?

songkrai · 07-05-2011, 07:49 AM

You don't state how old place is. You don't state how long place is vacant during year.

I have lived in both old hand built camps and brand new modern homes in this area.

This place as many places have insects.

It doesn't take much for insects or ants to find a new "home". Keeping the place clean is crucial. But you have no control of the housekeeping habits of visitors or renters.

The only solution I have found is to purchase the granules at hardware store or big box home store. Sprinkle liberally the granules all around the outside of house. I also purchase a good brand of gallon jug of liquid bug killer and I spay around the outside of house and onto concrete if full foundation or under house if house is built on pillars. I also use Attack Wave (brand name) plug is pest controllers scattered about home. Needless to say I don't have any bug issues. And as mentioned in another post - mix 50% Borax and 50% sugar - and spread about.

ApS · 07-05-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flylady

the cabin had large black dead ants throughout it even on the bed.

I can't help with the white bugs, but if the "large black dead ants" are dead Carpenter Ants, the cabin may have been sprayed for Carpenter Ants in your absense.

(Maybe by the tenants themselves

).

Did you mean the white bugs are on the bed? Those could be "bed-bugs", a growing plague thoroughout North America. Check for a substance on the mattress edges that appears like a brown granular powder: those "leavings" are a sure sign of "bed-bug" infestation.

dpg · 07-05-2011, 11:10 AM

mix 50% Borax and 50% sugar - and spread about.

Borax the cleaner??

Flylady · 07-05-2011, 09:30 PM

Good questions: 50 year old cabin on posts. The place is closed from October until end of May. No issues when I was there to get it ready for rent mid June. No food, and place is cleaned from top to bottom.
Unless the rental agent sprayed (which they have not said they did) there was no one their since I left and the first renter arrived last Saturday.
The white bugs are mites. Seems they we coming in from a bird nest built underneath the kitchen, where there is a dead bird (wren maybe). Seems the mites are coming in through the kitchen floor....but why would be the question if the dead bird is outside......anyway I have my handyman going over to remove the nest and spray around where it was.

I will look into the 50/50 solution when I return at the end of July.

Thanks All!

Sunrise Point · 07-06-2011, 05:41 AM

Is it possible that you have a carpenter ant infestation somewhere in the framing? They can swarm on a really warm day (usually the first warm day of the season). If they can't get outside, they eventually die.

We didn't have many warm days in early June so the timing may be right for this type of thing.

Were some of the ants winged?

07-02-2011, 10:45 PM	#1
Flylady Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: So. California & Lakes Region Posts: 256 Thanks: 225 Thanked 106 Times in 61 Posts	Insect problems? I just got a message from my renters that the cabin had large black dead ants throughout it even on the bed. Also they said there are small white bugs the size of pins that have crawled on them. So heres the background: I was there two weeks ago, did the final cleaning and rental prep. (Also new couch and beds were purchased). No food in the cabinets or fridge, no trash at all on the site. Left the camp all closed up two weeks ago, no open windows. Been there for five years and have never had any insect problems. Any ideas as to what happened or causes?

07-05-2011, 09:30 PM	#5
Flylady Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: So. California & Lakes Region Posts: 256 Thanks: 225 Thanked 106 Times in 61 Posts	Thanks.... Good questions: 50 year old cabin on posts. The place is closed from October until end of May. No issues when I was there to get it ready for rent mid June. No food, and place is cleaned from top to bottom. Unless the rental agent sprayed (which they have not said they did) there was no one their since I left and the first renter arrived last Saturday. The white bugs are mites. Seems they we coming in from a bird nest built underneath the kitchen, where there is a dead bird (wren maybe). Seems the mites are coming in through the kitchen floor....but why would be the question if the dead bird is outside......anyway I have my handyman going over to remove the nest and spray around where it was. I will look into the 50/50 solution when I return at the end of July. Thanks All!

07-06-2011, 05:41 AM	#6
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	Warm weather swarm? Is it possible that you have a carpenter ant infestation somewhere in the framing? They can swarm on a really warm day (usually the first warm day of the season). If they can't get outside, they eventually die. We didn't have many warm days in early June so the timing may be right for this type of thing. Were some of the ants winged?

07-05-2011, 07:49 AM	#2
songkrai Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 725 Thanks: 35 Thanked 145 Times in 98 Posts	You don't state how old place is. You don't state how long place is vacant during year. I have lived in both old hand built camps and brand new modern homes in this area. This place as many places have insects. It doesn't take much for insects or ants to find a new "home". Keeping the place clean is crucial. But you have no control of the housekeeping habits of visitors or renters. The only solution I have found is to purchase the granules at hardware store or big box home store. Sprinkle liberally the granules all around the outside of house. I also purchase a good brand of gallon jug of liquid bug killer and I spay around the outside of house and onto concrete if full foundation or under house if house is built on pillars. I also use Attack Wave (brand name) plug is pest controllers scattered about home. Needless to say I don't have any bug issues. And as mentioned in another post - mix 50% Borax and 50% sugar - and spread about.

07-05-2011, 11:10 AM	#4
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	mix 50% Borax and 50% sugar - and spread about. Borax the cleaner??