Bugs are back

C

cliffdale

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HELP!!!

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Two weeks ago I mentioned my little black bugs. They are about the size of a grain of sugar, some are smaller. They are very weak, you only have to touch them lightly and they fall apart! What are they???? grrrrrrrr

We sprayed everywhere with fly killer which seemed to work very well. The bugs died within seconds of being sprayed.

Went down to the boat last weekend and the buggies are back.

Apart from getting rentokil out, are there any bug bombs I can try? They must be all over, inside linings, bilges etc

Are these bugs unusual or do you expect them on boats?

Cliff /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Take two cans of crawling insect killer (shelltox or similar) - rest an upturned chair, or heavy object, on the spray buttons and seal up the cabin. Let both cans fully discharge into the boat and leave for a couple of hours - that should sort the little sods!!
 
I've used the smoke bomb types that you set off and retire to a safe distance when leaving boats laid up in the tropics, I think they need to be left for a few days before its safe to go back and then clean up and dust with a mask on. That was to prevent infecstations of the dreaded cockroach. But the spray can idea sounds like a good one.
 
Remember that most bug killers only work on the live ones, and dont affect the eggs, so you need to do the de-infestation at least twice.

The first time to kill all the live ones

The second time to kill all the new bugs that have hatched from the eggs

the third time because you were either to quick after the first and some eggs have subsequently hatched, or you were too slow and the next generation have already laid more eggs!



An alternative to the chemical warfare, is to use steam as this kills both live and eggs. You will need a high pressure steam source and methodically do the whole boat including all furnishings and carpets. This will not work if your headlining is vinyl and foam as the steam will nt be able to penetrate (and the chemicals probably wont either!)
 
They seem quite common...

We've got these too (current and last boat). They seem to vary in colour depending on where they live - light on light surfaces and dark on dark; so the little buggers blend in!

They seem to live in the crevices between panels and crawl out from time to time. So far all I've done is kill on sight, but I'd be very interested to know if you dicsover a good way to deal with them on-mass.

Cheers,

Jerry
 
You could also try an electronic device.
Cost from £10 - £40
just plug into 240v and leave.
They work by emitting
Ultrasonic
electromagnetic
Ionic
waves that drive away insects including

mice
mosquitoes
silverfish
ants
cockroaches
spiders

I have used one at home for two years now to get rid of ants and it has worked, I have one in the Garage to keep mice away and I haven't seen a spider or a mouse for years.
The waves go all around the house and catch on to any wires so the relatively small area of a boat full of 12v wires should be an ideal area to use one .
It might be worth a quick search under electronic pest control to look for better details.

I have a larger one on a PIR to keep Foxes out the garden, that works very well too.



You will appreciate I have tried to give a Humane suggestion.
As the season of good will approaches don't forget
' mites have feelings too '.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have a larger one on a PIR to keep Foxes out the garden, that works very well too.

[/ QUOTE ]

I use one of these. It scare the sh*t out of cats and foxes as it hits them with a spray of water.

scarecrow.spin.gif


Not good for the inside of a boat though.
 
could be useful on a boat in Boulogne to stop 15 dutch sail boats trying to raft along side. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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