need info on an insect

[Enani]

is anyone good with biology/insects around here

to make a long story short, I have had some dead house flies in an unused room in my house for some time now (don't ask why)

today I wanted to take a close photo of one (macro, again, don't ask why) and under magnification I could see something moving inside the house fly.

upon closer inspection, it was something like an insect, I believe. It was a color like a light creamy brown about 1 millimeter in length, thin and at the tail (or what I assume was the tail) it had many long thin hairs sticking straight out.

I'm somewhat disgusted and fascinated by this. I vacuumed the room, but now I need to know what kind of insect it was. what type of insect would live and possibly feed on an old dry house fly?

anyway, my house needs a good scrubbing...

[Nurseman]

Jumpin' Jesus Christ, man! Can't you come up with something BETTER than that to post about?

Eyahhhh!

[kuju]

this thread reminded me that my garbage SERIOUSLY needed taking out.

[Enani]

sort of like a PSA. I aim to please (and for the bowl)

but while you take your garbage out, do you mind checking it out with a microscope and telling me if you see anything that resembles my mystery critter?

[Nurseman]

Ok, this is going to take a while to post. It's hard to type while holding your nose. (And running to the crapper with dry heaves)

It is not unknown for flies to lay eggs on their own (dead) kind. Its also conceivable for the fly to have died and the eggs develop within the dead body, with the maggots eventually munching their way through to body to the outside.

.......Is this really what you wanted to hear? (Hey, who wants RICE for dinner?)

Anyway, what you describe doesn't sound like a typical maggot. I believe that what you have is an infestation of the rare Pakistani Bush-Maggot. I've never heard of them living in any part of the Americas. This is bad. They are capable of transmitting both Schistosomiasis and the African Hotsie-Totsie viruses. You could DIE from these diseases. And it won't be pleasant. Going to the hospital will do no good. It's too late for that. Your only hope is thorough decontamination.

Here's what you have to do: Fresh air and cold weather are the ONLY way to combat these deadly viruses. Right now, open ALL the windows in your place. Keep them open for 24 hours. NO HEAT. (These are tropical diseases we're talking about, here) You must decontaminate yourself as well. Go get in the shower, RIGHT NOW, using COLD WATER ONLY you have to vigorously scrub every inch of skin with industrial strength lye soap. Use the roughest scrub-brush you have. (A toilet brush is perfect). It is important you scrub for no less than 20 minutes. A half hour is better. Then (Remember, only COLD will kill the viruses) you absolutely MUST leave your apartment, wearing only a towel, (flip-flops are optional) and walk around your block for at least 30 minutes. The colder the weather the better. Since these viruses are so very contagious, it's only fair, to your fellow citizens, to yell a warning, "STAY AWAY. I HAVE HOTSIE-TOTSIE!! Do this constantly as you continue your decontamination walk. After all you don't want to be blamed for the worst thing since SARS do you?
Anyway, do all this 3 times over the next 7 days and I think you'll be ok.

[Squirrel]

:blink:

*drags pillow and duvet into fridge to settle down for the weekend*

[Enani]

Ok, this is going to take a while to post. It's hard to type while holding your nose. (And running to the crapper with dry heaves)

It is not unknown for flies to lay eggs on their own (dead) kind. Its also conceivable for the fly to have died and the eggs develop within the dead body, with the maggots eventually munching their way through to body to the outside.


no, it wasn't a maggot, it was definitely an insect. first of all those flies have been dead for months (as I said, I never use that room, and I didn't bother vacuuming a few dead flies on the floor)
second, when I looked at it, through my lens (though I didn't see all of it, it was inside the fly and when I opened up the fly I accidentally also cut the critter) it looked closer to an ant in the sense that I believe it had a thin segmented body with legs.

it wasn't an ant, I'm thinking more like a mite, but from the descriptions of dust mites, it wasn't that either...

anyway, if you're disgusted by this, I have bad news for you. there are living organisms (mites) all over the place, too small for you to see, on your pillows, on the floor, everywhere (not to mention bacteria)

[kuju]

geez.... just call Grissom! lol.

[erinwithane]

How do you expect an answer without posting a pic? Seems a bit unfair dont you think?

[Enani]

well, I took pictures but it's mainly the dead fly
when I cut open the fly to look inside, I accidentaly cut up the insect inside too. so no pics.

then I was too disgusted to see if any other flies had this sort of thing inside, I just vacuumed all of them away.

[Gezus]

Well now I'm disturbed. Thank you.

[erinwithane]

well, I took pictures but it's mainly the dead fly
when I cut open the fly to look inside, I accidentaly cut up the insect inside too. so no pics.

then I was too disgusted to see if any other flies had this sort of thing inside, I just vacuumed all of them away.

Why would you bother posting if you didnt have a pic? How an I or anybody else supposed to help you figure this out without a pic or at least a better description?

I am very frustrated :(

[Enani]

Why would you bother posting if you didnt have a pic? How an I or anybody else supposed to help you figure this out without a pic or at least a better description?

I am very frustrated :(

I have pictures of a dead spider if you want.

[Enani]

here http://picasaweb.google.com/tudor.victor2/FocusStacks#5271331125744180434

I found it in the same room. it's about 5 millimeters long. focus stack at 1.4:1 magnification.

[Kuky]

Um... that's a spider

[Nurseman]

Hummm. Mites growing inside dead flies.

I am now positive you have been invaded by Siberian Fly-Mites. These mites are believed to carry diseases that can cause severe diarrhea, fevers, chills, acne, vomiting, hair loss, erectile dysfunction, change of eye color, explosive flatulence, night (and day) sweats, delusions, nasal congestion, tremors, esophoria, tinnitus, blood in urine, psychosis, bilateral periorbital hemotoma, swelling in the armpits and groin, headache, giggling, delirium, uncontrollable desire to post obsessively (Kuju, any flies in YOUR house?) alcoholism, incontinence of bowell and bladder, excessive toenail growth, fuzzy vision, inability to walk upright, severe pica (Yeah, it's a word), Republicanism, and an uncontrollable urge to listen to Marylin Manson.

There is only one cure: Fire. You MUST apply gasoline liberally throughout your apartment. (I highly recommend NOT poring it on yourself) and lighting a match.

As for treating yourself, take 800mg of ibuprofen, go outside. Stand in middle of the street, facing your now decontaminated apartment. Remove all clothing. Jump up and down yelling "Burn, baby, burn". It is important to yell as loudly as possible.
Naturally, the Police will respond to investigate the commotion. This is understandable. They have been trained to recognise these symptoms and will not harm you.

[Enani]

Um... that's a spider

yeah, which is why I said "dead spider". because, you know, it's a spider. and dead.

[Squirrel]

Hummm. Mites growing inside dead flies.

I am now positive you have been invaded by Siberian Fly-Mites. These mites are believed to carry diseases that can cause severe diarrhea, fevers, chills, acne, vomiting, hair loss, erectile dysfunction, change of eye color, explosive flatulence, night (and day) sweats, delusions, nasal congestion, tremors, esophoria, tinnitus, blood in urine, psychosis, bilateral periorbital hemotoma, swelling in the armpits and groin, headache, giggling, delirium, uncontrollable desire to post obsessively (Kuju, any flies in YOUR house?) alcoholism, incontinence of bowell and bladder, excessive toenail growth, fuzzy vision, inability to walk upright, severe pica (Yeah, it's a word), Republicanism, and an uncontrollable urge to listen to Marylin Manson.

There is only one cure: Fire. You MUST apply gasoline liberally throughout your apartment. (I highly recommend NOT poring it on yourself) and lighting a match.

As for treating yourself, take 800mg of ibuprofen, go outside. Stand in middle of the street, facing your now decontaminated apartment. Remove all clothing. Jump up and down yelling "Burn, baby, burn". It is important to yell as loudly as possible.
Naturally, the Police will respond to investigate the commotion. This is understandable. They have been trained to recognise these symptoms and will not harm you.


LOL, honestly, you crack me up nurseman :lol3:

[Kuky]

Oh I missed the post from before hehe.

[Nurseman]

LOL, honestly, you crack me up nurseman :lol3:

My day is made.

**blushes**



You should have been here a few years ago when we had a member named Lavalamp69. He was the Master. Good God he was funny.

[kuju]

a poser... but funny, yeah. Nice one again Nurseman!

[erinwithane]

You didnt ask about a spider, you asked about a tiny bug living inside a fly. How is a pic of a spider supposed to help?

[Enani]

You didnt ask about a spider, you asked about a tiny bug living inside a fly. How is a pic of a spider supposed to help?

The spider to supposed to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly,
Perhaps she'll die.

[water nymph]

Can we dredge up some of lava's old posts?

Yes, I think that is what I will do instead of packing.

10 minutes later:
Nevermind. Can't find him. Damn!

[Enani]

10 minutes later:
Nevermind. Can't find him. Damn!

he's tied up in my basement.

[Bath of Glitter]

How was he a poser?

[water nymph]

he's tied up in my basement.

Well damn. Drag him out, I could use some amusement.

[Kuky]

I think I've figured out the source of your mysterious infestation :lol:

[Enani]

I think I've figured out the source of your mysterious infestation :lol:

ooops... I knew I forgot to do something...

this is why I should have any pets.

[AbnormalBob]

Yeah, why was lavalamp69 a poser? I can't really remember anything he posted, but I don't remember not liking the guy.

And you probably can't find any of his posts because the host has changed a few times in the past few years and I'm sure a bunch of really old posts were lost in the process.

Hmm...makes me wonder if my post count is accurate. Probably not! haha

[water nymph]

All the posts I found that contained his name were in the Staff Lounge and were basically just mentioning him in passing. Very frustrating.

[kuju]

Everyone from the old forums has an incorrect post count.

He was a poser because he kept stealing stuff from Jared. Jared? Chime in here! If you don't want to call him a poser, call him a thief.

[Enani]

I don't have fond memories of him.