Hi guys,
Recently flew back to site in a camp in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Our rooms were covered in the types of bugs attached. Mainly on floors but have migrated to the beds etc.
2 questions really, is it harmful to people and or furniture/clothing etc?
Second question is is it transmissible to further breed etc. So basically could i end up bringing this bug home and possibly infecting my home too?
Love what you do,
Thanks in advance,
Dave.
Dear Dave,
We believe you have two different identifications attached. The cluster of bugs does not have the necessary detail to be certain, but we are nearly certain this is some type of Seed Bug. We found a Northern Territory government site (https://industry.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/228011/ent7_swarming_bugs.pdf) with information on Seed Bugs in the family Lygaeidae where it states: “The control of the Graptostethus and Oxycarenus is difficult. Sprays have a very limited effect on the swarms. Often if a pesticide is applied to the swarm, the bugs that are sprayed directly will die but further swarms may move in. Since the bugs are native, they breed in bushland and it is not feasible to spray ‘host plants’. However, it may be necessary to apply sprays to reduce the numbers but this will not prevent any further swarms from moving onto properties.”
The closeup of the individual insect appears to be a Carpet Beetle larva, a cosmopolitan species that is frequently found in homes.
Neither Seed Bugs nor Carpet Beetles are injurious to humans, but they can be a nuisance when they are numerous. There is always a danger of introducing exotic species when people travel and return home.
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