HELP!! I'm at my wits end with household bugs!

Gingham_Ribbon

Just a reminder that the OP has asked for information and advice about a bug problem and personal opinions on furs etc are best placed in the arms or discussion time. Thanks.

conradmum

JCD_Capulet wrote: »

Not that I was looking for sympathy in the first place, but I must ask...Why?

As I said already (or maybe I said it elsewhere and this is where I'm confusing myself) I have worked on one piece of roadkill in the garden. My fur coats are kept in plastic storage boxes, aired once a month to make sure they stay in good condition (Furs are supposed to be kept hanging, to stop creasing/hairloss, but to prevent unwanted bug activity on them I keep mine in sealed tubs), then returned to their boxes for another month.

What with having two pets, I am a responsible hobbyest and collector. I wouldn't and don't leave animal carcases strewen across my floor, nor the utensils I use on a subject. I wouldn't and don't leave my fur coats lying on furnature or on the floor either. Some of my vintage furs date back to pre 1940's, I'm very proud of my collection as I see them as items of physical history. I do my very best to keep them in the best condition possible so I can carry on enjoying them for years to come.

Sorry if that sounds like a bit of a rant, but I can assure you that neither my hobby nor collection are responsible for my problem.

I accept what you're saying, but you have to admit your hobby would be the first suspect if the bugs are hide beetles as you identified.
Have you spoken to your neighbours about the problem?
You still have my sympathy, by the way!

patchwork_cat

I am entitled to my opinion which is a popularly held one, but if the OP has problems with beetles that infect hide and dead animals, has a collection of furs and has taxidermy as a hobby it does not take a genius to work out where they are coming from.

The OP only mentioned their hobby half way down the page after people had been trying to help by where they may be coming from.

My opinion on furs and taxidermy are irrelevant to this discussion, because the OP has lost my sympathy as the beetles are virtually self inflicted.

I also feel for the neighbours as before too long these beetles will be infesting them.

JCD_Capulet

conradmum wrote: »

I accept what you're saying, but you have to admit your hobby would be the first suspect if the bugs are hide beetles as you identified.
Have you spoken to your neighbours about the problem?
You still have my sympathy, by the way!

I understand that, I'll try to have a polite word with the neighbours today.

JCD_Capulet

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I am entitled to my opinion which is a popularly held one, but if the OP has problems with beetles that infect hide and dead animals, has a collection of furs and has taxidermy as a hobby it does not take a genius to work out where they are coming from.

I suspect you haven't read the entire thread properly. I've had this problem since I moved into this flat. I've been training in taxidermy for three years now by reading the books and watching the videos my friend in Arizona sends me. I began work on my first fox in June and have been collecting vintage furs since November '06. My hobbies came along after the bugs. Who is to say there aren't a family of dead mice waiting to be found in wall cavities causing this? Or that the beetles don't travel from one flat to another by the wall cavity which might explain why I have spells of none then they show up again? If I had a hobby which was, right in front of my eyes, causing beetles to be in my home, I'd give it up. But you seem to think I don't have that mentality.

The OP only mentioned their hobby half way down the page after people had been trying to help by where they may be coming from.
Because my hobby is irrelivant. I keep my furs in plastic boxes and do taxidermy things outside. My hobby is not the issue here.

My opinion on furs and taxidermy are irrelevant to this discussion, because the OP has lost my sympathy as the beetles are virtually self inflicted.

I also feel for the neighbours as before too long these beetles will be infesting them.
This is just down right insulting. Unless you have help or advice for someone who is looking for genuine help and advice, please don't comment here again.

Really, is there any need for this?

Uniscots97

JCD, is it possible that a bird has got trapped dehind a wooden facing on the front of the building and died? Could this be where the beetles are coming from?

JCD_Capulet

unixgirluk wrote: »

JCD, is it possible that a bird has got trapped dehind a wooden facing on the front of the building and died? Could this be where the beetles are coming from?

It's a possibility that may have occured several times unixgirluk. I'm on the 2nd floor of the close with one landing above and below me. The roof of the building used to overhang too much, so before I came along they boxed it in with what looks to me like wood with a white plastic side. There are gaps and holes in it here and there, so chances are something might be nesting up there. And this isn't just in my block either, there are four blocks on my street all with the same roof overhang and wear.

I'm going to a meeting with my housing officer about the bug issue tomorow.

conradmum

We've had mice in our loft every winter for about 3 years. Done so much to get rid of them. We've now had the soffits and fascias replaced around the entire house so have our fingers crossed for this year.
Good luck with the meeting. This really is a gross problem to live with. I didn't understand that your hobby began well after the infestation, so sorry about that.

JCD_Capulet

Good luck with the mice, conrad mum.


As it goes, I've not been the only tennant in this street to complain about the bugs. My close is third in a row of four and aparently there have been a number complaints about them. My housing officer also told me theese seem to be a rising problem for councils and housing associations, so I wasn't to worry myself in feeling that I was alone in my situation.

pest controll are booked to come out two weeks on Friday, so that's good.
Oh, and I found this link online too: advice on controll and also the story of another sufferer, her case however, far more severe.

Thanks for the advice and kind words folks x