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Identify this bug?

S

snoopdoug1

Platinum Member
For the last 2 days we've seen these little guys on our basement floor, pretty much isolated to one area (about 8x8). We just had a heavy rain, and so there is a little moisture in the basement near the area where the floor hits the wall. I sparyed them with a soapy water mix (as suggested online), and most of them seemed to be at the seam (near the moisture). If you touch them, they jump, and you can see their size compared to a penny in the picture. I should also say that the one in the picture is a "big one." There are others that are about 1/2 that size, and not nearly as black. I guess they are the babies?

My best guess from internet research says a Springtail. But we do have (indoor) pets, could they be fleas? Termites?

Your help is GREATLY appreciated!

95pikk.jpg


http://i39.tinypic.com/95pikk.jpg
 
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freaking tiny... that's for sure. I would have guessed flea. If you can push on them with your finger and they don't die then flea.
 
certainly seems like a springtail based on its shape, size, and presence of antennae, and lack of cerci (prongs on tip of abdomen like in silverfish or earwigs) but it's kinda hard to tell
based on that it's not a proturan (no antennae) or dipluran (antennae + cerci) (also these typically don't jump)

fleas have long "saltatorial" (jumping) hind legs (the picture clearly depicts short/non jumping hind legs), whereas springtails use a "furcula" hidden under their abdomen

fleas
springtails
seems more like the elongate bodied (Entomobryomorpha) kind
 
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fralexandr said:
certainly seems like a springtail based on its shape, size, and presence of antennae, and lack of cerci but it's kinda hard to tell
based on that it's not a proturan (no antennae) or dipluran (antennae + cerci) (also these typically don't jump)

fleas have long "saltatorial" (jumping) hind legs (the picture clearly depicts short/non jumping hind legs), whereas springtails use a "furcula" hidden under their abdomen

fleas
Click to expand...

You sound like you know what your talking about - any suggestion as to what to do? I'm trying to dry out the area, and then I might bleach it in case of mold/mildew?
 
Shawn said:
freaking tiny... that's for sure. I would have guessed flea. If you can push on them with your finger and they don't die then flea.
Click to expand...

We are killing them by crushing them under our hands - also as posted below fleas don't have antennae

Thanks for the help though.
 
I should also say that the one in the picture is a "big one." There are others that are about 1/2 that size, and not nearly as black. I guess they are the babies?
 
snoopdoug1 said:
You sound like you know what your talking about - any suggestion as to what to do? I'm trying to dry out the area, and then I might bleach it in case of mold/mildew?
Click to expand...

springtails are normally found in dead leaf litter or similar environments, i'm not an exterminator or house inspector though, so i'm not too familiar with what to do.

http://cooperseeds.com/springtail.php3?cartid=
based on that, you might have to deal with mold as damp/moist areas are more likely to have mold issues, but springtails themselves are rather harmless. wikipedia makes no mention of any issues other than with plants/agriculture

silverfish aren't that small 😛 and have 3 visible cerci (tail-like things)
also i'm surprised no one guessed thrips, which the picture (although not the behavioral description) also somewhat resembles, heh
 
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Damp wood in basement. I would bet termites. Either way catch one and have an exterminator look at it. Get a magnifing glass and check to see if it has two body sections or three. If two it is a termite.
 
pcgeek11 said:
Damp wood in basement. I would bet termites. Either way catch one and have an exterminator look at it. Get a magnifing glass and check to see if it has two body sections or three. If two it is a termite.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should have specified. Not damp wood, damp concrete. Basement is unfinished.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, will continue to look into them. I caught one last night on a piece of tape so I could look at the underside. It definitely had the appendage at it's back that it would flip up (like a springtail would have). I took a toothpick and pulled it back, and it had a fork on the end. I'm pretty sure it's springtails at this point...
 
I used to get those in my basement, especially during the summer when it was humid and rainy...sprayed around the foundation of the house (outside), on cracks, around windows, doors, floor drain in basement, etc with this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Ortho-0195310-3-Gallon-Defense-Perimeter/dp/B000A0LFLS and they were gone within a day or so.

I haven't seen them back and usually try to spray the house once a year. Seems to cut down on spiders and other bugs in the house as well. You can spray it indoors also.

(Buy it at Home Depot, Lowes, etc)
 
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