Which bugs are these please?

ayreli
New Member

Posts: 2

Which bugs are these please? Oct 20, 2020 10:07:48 GMT -8

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Post by ayreli on Oct 20, 2020 10:07:48 GMT -8

Dear bug experts,

I have received a child clothes item, supposedly not used, with tags which had quite a few bugs in it. They all look dead but I'm afraid of eggs and possibility of house infestation.
Bugs are tiny - around 2-3 mm long, narrow and dark looking. There are some pictures from under the microscope and also how they look with the bare eye on the item.
I'd be very grateful if you could help to identify the bug and confirm if it is of any danger. Sample is from the UK, Leicestershire.

Many thanks!

ibb.co/NWD0Nb7

ibb.co/gWTB34v

ibb.co/G38nWr8

ibb.co/z78fY6T

kevinkk
Premium Member - 2022

Posts: 827
Country: Oregon,USA

Which bugs are these please? Oct 20, 2020 11:57:09 GMT -8 ayreli likes this

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Post by kevinkk on Oct 20, 2020 11:57:09 GMT -8

The item may have been stored and is unused.

That is a weird looking one, the eyes are fly like, other than that, that's all I have.

Flies- unlikely to be a danger, other human pests look quite different.

bandrow
Nabokov

Posts: 624

Which bugs are these please? Oct 20, 2020 17:34:22 GMT -8 ayreli likes this

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Post by bandrow on Oct 20, 2020 17:34:22 GMT -8

Greetings,

These really look to me to be some species of thrips - in the Order Thysanoptera. I have no idea why they'd be in clothing, as they feed on plant tissues or fungi. Search the order name on the web and you'll find more information - and maybe a clue as to why they're in the clothing you purchased. As they are dead, I would assume that a simple laundering of the item would resolve the issue...

Cheers!
Bandrow

ayreli New Member Posts: 2	Which bugs are these please? Oct 22, 2020 3:39:25 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ayreli on Oct 22, 2020 3:39:25 GMT -8 Thank you everybody! The bugs were identified as thunder flies, which are thrips indeed. Apparently they are also attracted to bright/white objects, so that is my version of how they ended up in the clothes
	Last Edit: Oct 22, 2020 3:42:06 GMT -8 by ayreli

Post by ayreli on Oct 20, 2020 10:07:48 GMT -8

Post by kevinkk on Oct 20, 2020 11:57:09 GMT -8

Post by bandrow on Oct 20, 2020 17:34:22 GMT -8

Post by ayreli on Oct 22, 2020 3:39:25 GMT -8