Weird bug problem

firecat88 · #1 06-18-2012, 07:52 PM

As in, a problem with a weird bug.

The past couple years, during the summer, I have a problem with bugs in my computer room. This one in particular looks like a cross between a wasp and an ant, is all red, and likes to divebomb at me at night. But only at night. O.o The only time I've experienced them during the day was when one was crawling across my computer desk about half an hour ago and I kinda went all 'Hulk smash!' on it.

From the description, does anyone know what this bug is? And, furthermore, any ideas on how the heck to get rid of 'em? Like I said, it's only during the summer that I see them. This year, though, it's worse than ever and I see them 2 or 3 at a time every night.

Mytical · #2 06-18-2012, 07:59 PM

Don't know for sure mind you, couldn't find a red variation..but sort of sounds like

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_dauber

Andara Bledin · #3 06-18-2012, 08:27 PM

If it looks pretty much like an ant with wings, it probably is.

Queen ants have wings until they establish their nests. I know that the apartment I was in had an ant problem inside the outer wall, and we'd get harassed by ant queens in waves. They have a thing for the light of lcd computer screens, it would seem.

^-.-^

Mytical · #4 06-18-2012, 08:29 PM

Yes..that is always a possibility. So rare for me to see a queen ant, totally skipped my mind.

firecat88 · #5 06-18-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Quoth Andara Bledin

If it looks pretty much like an ant with wings, it probably is.

Queen ants have wings until they establish their nests. I know that the apartment I was in had an ant problem inside the outer wall, and we'd get harassed by ant queens in waves. They have a thing for the light of lcd computer screens, it would seem.

^-.-^

After some research, I do believe that they are flying ants. All the pictures I've seen do look like what I've seen in the room. I have no idea where they're coming from either, unless there's a hole in one of the window screens somewhere in the house.

Thus far, I haven't seen them go toward the computer screen itself. Just at me as though I've done something to piss them off. O.o

Andara Bledin · #6 06-18-2012, 08:57 PM

I could never find the place the queens got into my place, either, but there are so many tiny gaps all over any house/apartment, that there's no way, without removing everything and going over it with a fine-toothed comb that you could ever find them all.

It seems to be queen season right now; I've killed 3 or 4 in the last couple of weeks. The new house has tiny ants; unless you see them moving, they look like flecks of dust or pepper, but the queens are still pretty large.

^-.-^

MoonCat · #7 06-19-2012, 01:26 AM

Ants have mating flights. The queens go out searching for a mate. Then they look for a place to establish a nest, and when they find a suitable place they drop the wings and set up housekeeping.

If you have this happen inside every year, there's an ant nest with access to your house.

TheSHAD0W · #8 06-19-2012, 02:05 AM

I don't think it's likely to be an ant; the wasp suggestion is more apt. There are several varieties of stingless wasp which might fit the bill.

Flying ants (and it could be both queen or drone) would tend to avoid humans, not dive-bomb them.

firecat88 · #9 06-20-2012, 06:01 PM

The spiders and the ant...wasp...thingies seem to be at war with each other. So far, it does appear that the spiders have the upper--not hand. Insects and arachnids don't have hands. Leg?

Between the two of them, I'd personally rather have the spiders. Because 1) they're easier to kill if they get in my personal space bubble and 2) they're not incredibly confrontational.