Insect coming into house from Turf

jim4321 · 03-01-2017 11:43AM #1

Hi

I am getting bugs/insects in my house.
They appear in the house after I bring in the turf.

They are obviously either on the turf when it was brought home from the bog and they are hatching now or a nest of them has just decided to nest in the turf shed now and hence are being brought into the house with the turf...

Does anyone know how to get rid of them?

Thanks for any help offered...

me_right_one · 03-01-2017 11:47AM

Happens all the time. We usually keep the turf outside the back door in a bucket, just take a few sods as you need them.

jim4321 · 03-01-2017 11:53AM

Thanks me_right_one,

Have you any idea what type of insect they are or how to get rid of them...

In the Irish weather the turf will be drenched outside? I know I can cover them...

me_right_one · 03-01-2017 12:10PM

We got all kinds, from spiders that would fight you, to little yokes that look like scorpions. So not one particular type. We usually throw them outside, it not like there's an infestation of them or anything.

You could use a blue barrell with a lid, e10. Would be a pain filling it and getting it to your back door though.

https://www.donedeal.ie/otherfarming-for-sale/barrels-for-sale/14164327

jim4321 · 03-01-2017 12:28PM

I getting 5 or 6 (might look like fruit flies) of these per bag of turf at the minute.

You cant see them in the shed but when disturbed in the bag when taking out the turf to put into the fire, they come out of the bag.

I might have to barrow them to the house and leave them outside as I cannot let these insects into the house.

me_right_one · 03-01-2017 12:37PM

What about fly paper then? Fruit flies are a baxtard to catch, but fly paper gets rid of most of them

jim4321 · 03-01-2017 12:47PM

Worth a try I guess, but no point hanging it in the shed as the insects are either inside the turf bags or inside the core of the loose turf...

My plan woud be not to let them inside the house at all but i guess i could hang some up just in case some of them get in....

They are a real pain, hopefully they are not biting me at night!!!!

jim4321 · 04-01-2017 09:38AM

Any other advice guys on this issue?

Zebbedee · 05-01-2017 10:38AM

We have the same problem with logs.
Lots of spiders, wood lice and other critters clinging on to them.
The only solution is to bang each log vigorously once or twice on the ground before bringing them inside.
This dislodges the vast majority of insects/spiders.

jim4321 · 05-01-2017 04:42PM

Thank you Zebbedee...

Yes the main thing is to keep these insects out of the house!!!
So i guess thrown them from the shed onto the ground outside and then bang them together....
All this after bagging my turf in the bog :-(
I will need to empty out all the bags again :-(

me_right_one · 05-01-2017 10:40PM

Why not violently empty a bag into your wheel barrow in the shed, banging the turf in the process, wheel it to the back door giving it some more banging treatment along the way, and leave it outside the back door under an aul oilskin and just take a few sods into the house as you need them. One final bag together before you put them in the bucket.

jim4321 · 06-01-2017 11:06AM

I was considering getting renkotil to fumigate the shed....is this overkill?

Rancid · 06-01-2017 01:12PM

jim4321 wrote: »

I was considering getting renkotil to fumigate the shed....is this overkill?

Totally overkill.
You said you're getting " 5 or 6 (might look like fruit flies) of these per bag of turf" . Not an infestation, by any means!!

You can assume these insects like the dark and the damp environment of bagged turf.
As already suggested take out a few sods and tap them on the ground a few times, leave them on a rack or shelf protected from the rain and exposed to the light for a day or two, then tap them on the ground again before bringing them inside.
Simple solution.

Just as a matter of interest... have you a pic of any of the insects?

jim4321 · 06-01-2017 02:42PM

I have a pic ...see below..
http://imgur.com/Mh6lxcC

Rancid · 06-01-2017 03:11PM

jim4321 wrote: »

I have a pic ...see below..
http://imgur.com/Mh6lxcC

Hope someone can ID it for you.
Some kind of gnat, maybe?

demanufactured · 06-01-2017 04:02PM

Wouldn't worry about it op.

jim4321 · 06-01-2017 05:05PM

Im starting to think they are
"aquatic midge adult fly"

Not sure ..but i do live close to a canal...

Rancid · 06-01-2017 05:46PM

jim4321 wrote: »

Im starting to think they are
"aquatic midge adult fly"

Not sure ..but i do live close to a canal...

Possibly.
Your pic is too blurry to do more than guess.

Either way, airing the turf before you bring it in should make it a less desirable habitat for them!

me_right_one · 06-01-2017 06:42PM

Yes. They are just midgets. Completely harmless, swallows and other birds eat them. Their natural habitat is the bog or other wet places, so its no surprise they're on the turf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9IJSI2Ebzo

demanufactured · 06-01-2017 11:11PM

me_right_one wrote: »

Yes. They are just midgets. Completely harmless, swallows and other birds eat them. Their natural habitat is the bog or other wet places, so its no surprise they're on the turf.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9IJSI2Ebzo

Midgets LOL

Insect coming into house from Turf

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