DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

18/10/2009 5:59 PM

Help! Insect ID

I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and on
two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each board).
At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY small. I took
laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am not sure termites
can be that small. I have google my butt off and cannot find any reference
to a termite of that size. Baby termite??

Any ideas??

Dave


This topic has 29 replies

Nn

Nova

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 1:51 PM

Upscale wrote:
> "Nova" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
>>>>don't have access to ABPW.
>
>
>>>....or even know what it is.
>
>
>>It's a binary news group.
>>alt.binaries.pictures.furniture
>
>
> That would be alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking
>
>

Doh, is that what the "W" for?

A brain fart on my part.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]

Nn

Nova

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 1:59 PM

jo4hn wrote:

> Nova wrote:
>
>> Upscale wrote:
>>
>>> "Nova" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>
>>>>>> don't have access to ABPW.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>> ....or even know what it is.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> It's a binary news group.
>>>> alt.binaries.pictures.furniture
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> That would be alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Doh, is that what the "W" for?
>>
>> A brain fart on my part.
>>
> There is a forum called alt.binaries.pictures.furniture. Not used any
> more by folks here. I took a look at it and found that the last real
> entry was dated in mid-2008. After that there be naught but dragons and
> spam.
> mahalo,
> jo4hn

I used to subscribe to both of them. That's why I got the two mixed up
as I was typing.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 2:31 PM


"Dave - Parkville, MD" wrote:

> Problem! The wood has been in the house! Any recommendation on
> insecticide to use that won't trash the wood?

You have just raised the threat level from orange to red.

IMHO, time to quit screwing around and get a pro involved before you
expose your home to a greater threat than you already have.

If it turns out the bug is benign, chalk it up to a lesson learned.

Lew


Nn

Nova

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 4:02 PM

notbob wrote:
> On 2009-10-18, Doug Miller <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>don't have access to ABPW.
>
>
> ....or even know what it is.
>
> nb

It's a binary news group.

alt.binaries.pictures.furniture

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]

Rr

RicodJour

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 2:08 PM

On Oct 18, 5:01=A0pm, [email protected] (Doug Miller) wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, "Dave =
- Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >[email protected] (Doug Miller) wrote in
> >news:[email protected]:
>
> >>>I added a pic to ABPW
>
> >> How about posting a pic on the web, to some photo-sharing site? Lots
> >> of us don't have access to ABPW.
>
> >Try this:
> >http://www.flickr.com/photos/42458793@N06/4022770427/
>
> The insect is waaaaay smaller than any termite I've ever seen; even termi=
te
> pupae and larvae are much larger than that. The damage to the wood sure l=
ooks
> like termite damage to me, though.

It's possible that there's termite damage and another bug as well.
Termites defend their territory pretty aggressively, so it's possible
the damage is from termites and older.

Google "wood boring insect tiny white" and click on the Images tab.

R

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

20/10/2009 6:02 AM

On Oct 20, 8:27=A0am, Steve Turner <[email protected]>
wrote:
> dadiOH wrote:
> > Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
> >> "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >>news:[email protected]:
>
> >>> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
> >>> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
> >>> board). =A0At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALL=
Y
> >>> small. =A0I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. =A0=
I am
> >>> not sure termites can be that small. =A0I have google my butt off and
> >>> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. =A0Baby termite?=
?
>
> >>> Any ideas??
>
> >>> Dave
>
> >> I sent a copy of the picture to the University of Maryland Extension
> >> Service and got a reply. =A0They say my bug is a "spider hatchling" an=
d
> >> nothing to worry about.
>
> > Wonderful news!! =A0Err,...where did all the wood damage come from?
>
> You should take some of that wood and dissect it, looking for evidence
> of larvae still buried deep within. =A0I bet you'll find something...
>
> --
> See Nad. =A0See Nad go. =A0Go Nad!
> To reply, eat the taco.http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/- Hide quote=
d text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I will cut it up on the band saw and see what I find.

MH

"Martin H. Eastburn"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 9:56 PM

Looks like a "mite" to me.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/insect/05507.html

Small spider mite type bug. Should bug bomb the wood or you will
have them in the house.

Normally a vacuum is pulled and a bug spray is introduced.

Martin


Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
> [email protected] (Doug Miller) wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>>> I added a pic to ABPW
>> How about posting a pic on the web, to some photo-sharing site? Lots
>> of us don't have access to ABPW.
>>
>
> Try this:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/42458793@N06/4022770427/

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

20/10/2009 8:14 AM

Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
> "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
>> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
>> board). At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY
>> small. I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am
>> not sure termites can be that small. I have google my butt off and
>> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. Baby termite??
>>
>> Any ideas??
>>
>> Dave
>>
>
> I sent a copy of the picture to the University of Maryland Extension
> Service and got a reply. They say my bug is a "spider hatchling" and
> nothing to worry about.

Wonderful news!! Err,...where did all the wood damage come from?

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico


Uu

"Upscale"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 4:09 PM


"Nova" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >>don't have access to ABPW.

> > ....or even know what it is.

> It's a binary news group.
> alt.binaries.pictures.furniture

That would be alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

20/10/2009 6:01 AM

On Oct 20, 8:14=A0am, "dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >news:[email protected]:
>
> >> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
> >> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
> >> board). =A0At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY
> >> small. =A0I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. =A0I=
am
> >> not sure termites can be that small. =A0I have google my butt off and
> >> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. =A0Baby termite??
>
> >> Any ideas??
>
> >> Dave
>
> > I sent a copy of the picture to the University of Maryland Extension
> > Service and got a reply. =A0They say my bug is a "spider hatchling" and
> > nothing to worry about.
>
> Wonderful news!! =A0Err,...where did all the wood damage come from?
>
> --
>
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it athttp://mysite.verizon.net/xico- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I believe this board had that damage when I acquired it. The picture
of the little bugger just happen to be on that board. The other one I
saw (I only saw two) was on a 2x4. I bought about 200 bf of misc oak,
cherry and walnut from someone in the area off of Craigslist for $50.
I will certainly be more careful with what I bring into the house. I
still need to inspect the cherry to make sure there is no other boards
like this one.

MH

"Martin H. Eastburn"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

20/10/2009 9:19 PM

Talk to a house exterminator. They "Bag houses" and gas them.

In the state I used to live in and had lots of wood art and crafts for sale -
they had to be gassed before delivery. Buy a redwood table and get it in a week.
They had a container - cargo type - that was sealed - put in a massive amount
of this week stuff - and suck it a bit - then fill it with gas.

They have the gas - and likely have a service. You might check the local
furniture for like effects - get all done. Or have the whole house bombed
as it might be in the house and got to the wood.

Suggest a home inspection for that item - and maybe save a wall or more.

Martin

Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
> "Martin H. Eastburn" <[email protected]> wrote in news:3zQCm.60121
> [email protected]:
>
>> Small spider mite type bug. Should bug bomb the wood or you will
>> have them in the house.
>>
>> Normally a vacuum is pulled and a bug spray is introduced.
>
> Problem! The wood has been in the house! Any recommendation on
> insecticide to use that won't trash the wood?
>
> Dave

EE

"Ed Edelenbos"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 11:42 PM



"Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
>> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
>> board). At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY
>> small. I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am
>> not sure termites can be that small. I have google my butt off and
>> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. Baby termite??
>>
>> Any ideas??
>>
>> Dave
>>
>
> I sent a copy of the picture to the University of Maryland Extension
> Service and got a reply. They say my bug is a "spider hatchling" and
> nothing to worry about.
>
> I am pulling all my lumber off the shelves and inspecting it anyway.
>
>
> Thanks everybody for your replies.
>
> Dave

As a fellow Marylander, I appreciate the followup.

Ed

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 6:44 PM

"Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
> board). At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY
> small. I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am
> not sure termites can be that small. I have google my butt off and
> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. Baby termite??
>
> Any ideas??
>
> Dave
>

I added a pic to ABPW

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 7:43 PM

[email protected] (Doug Miller) wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>
>>I added a pic to ABPW
>
> How about posting a pic on the web, to some photo-sharing site? Lots
> of us don't have access to ABPW.
>

Try this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42458793@N06/4022770427/

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 11:15 AM

RicodJour <[email protected]> wrote in news:223ad18b-cc66-40f6-9504-
[email protected]:

> Google "wood boring insect tiny white" and click on the Images tab.
>

Just tried that. Don't see anything similar

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 11:18 AM

"Martin H. Eastburn" <[email protected]> wrote in news:3zQCm.60121
[email protected]:

> Small spider mite type bug. Should bug bomb the wood or you will
> have them in the house.
>
> Normally a vacuum is pulled and a bug spray is introduced.

Problem! The wood has been in the house! Any recommendation on
insecticide to use that won't trash the wood?

Dave

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 11:21 AM

RicodJour <[email protected]> wrote in news:e704f693-0f58-4207-9b88-
[email protected]:

> The shape doesn't look like a termite to me. It's small like a powder
> post beetle, but the damage to the wood in that picture points to a
> bigger bug.

I agree that it doesn't look like a termite. I also don't think it did the
damage you see in the photo. The walnut is just the board it happend to be
on.

Dave

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 11:57 AM

"Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>> Any ideas??

May have a winner?

http://www.rcreptiles.com/blog/index.php/2008/10/16/what_mite_those_white
_bugs_be

DP

"Dave - Parkville, MD"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 11:56 PM

"Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
> board). At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY
> small. I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am
> not sure termites can be that small. I have google my butt off and
> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. Baby termite??
>
> Any ideas??
>
> Dave
>

I sent a copy of the picture to the University of Maryland Extension
Service and got a reply. They say my bug is a "spider hatchling" and
nothing to worry about.

I am pulling all my lumber off the shelves and inspecting it anyway.


Thanks everybody for your replies.

Dave

jj

jo4hn

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 10:57 AM

Nova wrote:
> Upscale wrote:
>> "Nova" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>>>>> don't have access to ABPW.
>>
>>
>>>> ....or even know what it is.
>>
>>
>>> It's a binary news group.
>>> alt.binaries.pictures.furniture
>>
>>
>> That would be alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking
>>
>>
>
> Doh, is that what the "W" for?
>
> A brain fart on my part.
>
There is a forum called alt.binaries.pictures.furniture. Not used any
more by folks here. I took a look at it and found that the last real
entry was dated in mid-2008. After that there be naught but dragons and
spam.
mahalo,
jo4hn

Rr

RicodJour

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 12:46 PM

On Oct 18, 1:59=A0pm, "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and on
> two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each board). =
=A0
> At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY small. =A0I t=
ook
> laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. =A0I am not sure termite=
s
> can be that small. =A0I have google my butt off and cannot find any refer=
ence
> to a termite of that size. =A0Baby termite??
>
> Any ideas??

The shape doesn't look like a termite to me. It's small like a powder
post beetle, but the damage to the wood in that picture points to a
bigger bug. Powder post beetles leave tiny round holes like someone
stuck an awl in the wood repeatedly.

Send your pictures ( a better close-up would be very helpful) to this
place:
http://pmo.umext.maine.edu/homeowner/homeownerIPM-bugreporter.htm
They'll probably be able to identify it for you.

R

sD

[email protected] (Doug Miller)

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 7:20 PM

In article <[email protected]>, "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote:
>"Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
>news:[email protected]:
>
>> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
>> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
>> board). At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY
>> small. I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am
>> not sure termites can be that small. I have google my butt off and
>> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. Baby termite??

>I added a pic to ABPW

How about posting a pic on the web, to some photo-sharing site? Lots of us
don't have access to ABPW.

sD

[email protected] (Doug Miller)

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 9:01 PM

In article <[email protected]>, "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote:
>[email protected] (Doug Miller) wrote in
>news:[email protected]:
>
>>
>>>I added a pic to ABPW
>>
>> How about posting a pic on the web, to some photo-sharing site? Lots
>> of us don't have access to ABPW.
>>
>
>Try this:
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/42458793@N06/4022770427/

The insect is waaaaay smaller than any termite I've ever seen; even termite
pupae and larvae are much larger than that. The damage to the wood sure looks
like termite damage to me, though.

ST

Steve Turner

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 4:54 PM

Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and on
> two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each board).
> At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY small. I took
> laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am not sure termites
> can be that small. I have google my butt off and cannot find any reference
> to a termite of that size. Baby termite??
>
> Any ideas??
>
> Dave

Smaller than anything I've seen, but I agree with what the fellow said
over on ABPW - get those boards away from the rest of your supply or you
could have a disaster on your hands. Turn 'em into firewood or put them
in a heated kiln for a few weeks to kill the bugs. What kind of wood
were they in and what kind of wood is in the rest of your supply?

I did a cursory search and didn't pin down any particular species, but
you might try looking on http://bugguide.net to see if you can figure
out what kind of bugs they are. That site has an *incredible* array of
photographs and resources. It didn't take me long at all to find the
little bastards that wreak all the havoc with Mesquite trees here in Texas:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/37159

--
See Nad. See Nad go. Go Nad!
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

ST

Steve Turner

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

20/10/2009 7:27 AM

dadiOH wrote:
> Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
>> "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and
>>> on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each
>>> board). At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY
>>> small. I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am
>>> not sure termites can be that small. I have google my butt off and
>>> cannot find any reference to a termite of that size. Baby termite??
>>>
>>> Any ideas??
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>> I sent a copy of the picture to the University of Maryland Extension
>> Service and got a reply. They say my bug is a "spider hatchling" and
>> nothing to worry about.
>
> Wonderful news!! Err,...where did all the wood damage come from?

You should take some of that wood and dissect it, looking for evidence
of larvae still buried deep within. I bet you'll find something...

--
See Nad. See Nad go. Go Nad!
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

GR

Gerald Ross

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 5:59 PM

Dave - Parkville, MD wrote:
> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop and on
> two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on each board).
> At first I thought they were termites, but they were REALLY small. I took
> laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32" long. I am not sure termites
> can be that small. I have google my butt off and cannot find any reference
> to a termite of that size. Baby termite??
>
> Any ideas??
>
> Dave
Albino fleas?

--
Gerald Ross
Cochran, GA

No man is an island, but then no man
is a potato salad, either.




nn

notbob

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 7:44 PM

On 2009-10-18, Doug Miller <[email protected]> wrote:

> don't have access to ABPW.

...or even know what it is.

nb

dt

"diggerop"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

19/10/2009 10:48 PM

"Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>>> Any ideas??
>
> May have a winner?
>
> http://www.rcreptiles.com/blog/index.php/2008/10/16/what_mite_those_white
> _bugs_be
>



Maybe it's a ........... Normite : p

diggerop

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to "Dave - Parkville, MD" on 18/10/2009 5:59 PM

18/10/2009 4:50 PM

RicodJour wrote:
> On Oct 18, 1:59 pm, "Dave - Parkville, MD" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>> I was pulling some board off my storage shelf in my basement shop
>> and on two different boards is saw two small white insects (one on
>> each board). At first I thought they were termites, but they were
>> REALLY small. I took laid a ruler next one and it a maybe 1/32"
>> long. I am not sure termites can be that small. I have google my
>> butt off and cannot find any reference to a termite of that size.
>> Baby termite??
>>
>> Any ideas??
>
> The shape doesn't look like a termite to me. It's small like a powder
> post beetle, but the damage to the wood in that picture points to a
> bigger bug. Powder post beetles leave tiny round holes like someone
> stuck an awl in the wood repeatedly.

I think powder post beetles. The hole where they emerge is toothpick size
but inside the excavations can be/are much larger. One thing sure, they
aren't teredos :)
http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/fetch21/FRST308/lab8/hemicoelus_gibbicollis/Hemicoelus%20damage1_1.JPG

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=Powderpost%20beetles&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico



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