To be losing the plot over thrips

[Furries]

The bastard things do my head in! Four days this weeks have seen the evil gits invading my kitchen - covering walls, cupboards, oven, fridge.

I know they’re harmless, but they are seriously doing my head in.

Anyone else suffering with them at the moment?

Oh, and to top it off, I don’t think it will be too long until the flying ants emerge from the lairs. I love summer, apart from these two pests.

Malathion. I have only seen thrips on house plants but that’s the stuff to get rid of them. It’s not nice though so mask and ventilation required.
Luckily not seen flying ants, but moths are bad with us this year.
You have my sympathy.

Yes here too!! We're surrounded by fields with a pond out front - it seems they've been hiding waiting to come in. I must have hoovered 1000 off my walls yesterday. Horrendous! I've taken to spraying with soapy water now - fingers crossed it works!

I have no idea what thrips are, but yesterday and the day before I went downstairs in the morning to a carpet of dead flying ants, plus sweeping newly dead ones throughout the day. Last summer I was in a different house and they congregated on my front wall, but these are in my actual kitchen and I hate them. I'd rather face sharks than ants

@Quickchangeartiste

Malathion. I have only seen thrips on house plants but that’s the stuff to get rid of them. It’s not nice though so mask and ventilation required. Luckily not seen flying ants, but moths are bad with us this year. You have my sympathy.

Thanks - but I think I’m going to avoid pesticides indoors, mainly due to my pets.

Oh, that’s funny that you mention moths. I’ve had quite a few over the past week, but didn’t really register it until you mentioned it. It’s definitely unusual.

Fingers crossed that the flying ants don’t launch where you are!

@PickleAF

Yes here too!! We're surrounded by fields with a pond out front - it seems they've been hiding waiting to come in. I must have hoovered 1000 off my walls yesterday. Horrendous! I've taken to spraying with soapy water now - fingers crossed it works!

Yes, I’m fairly rural too - definitely a downside of being surrounded by fields. Let me know how you get on with the soapy water spray.

@BillyRaywasapreachersson

I have no idea what thrips are, but yesterday and the day before I went downstairs in the morning to a carpet of dead flying ants, plus sweeping newly dead ones throughout the day. Last summer I was in a different house and they congregated on my front wall, but these are in my actual kitchen and I hate them. I'd rather face sharks than ants

Oh blimey, that sounds awful. Luckily, I’ve never had them in the house.

Love the fact you’d rather face a shark! Hopefully the invasion is short-lived and that the swarming is over where you are.

I’m suffering too. Can’t sit outside as they crawl all over me. We keep windows and doors shut but they still get in. Even the cat is covered

What is a thrip?

@MichaelGovesBeard - ugh, I hate the way that they silently descend on you outside. Don’t feel a thing, obviously, as they’re so small, but one you clock them then that’s it - get that itchy feeling like they’re all in your hair etc.

Thank you for a new and very lovely word

@Rollergirl1980 - they are teeny, tiny black insects. Just a couple of millimetres long, so small that you can’t see wings or feet on them. They basically look like tiny hyphens!

@Pilateswife - you’re welcome for the new word. Would you also like to take the little bastards off my hands?!

They are also called thunder flies, but I definitely prefer the word thrips as it sounds unusual.

Thrips? Rhyming slang for knockers where I come from.

😂.

Oh, thunderbugs! Oddly enough we've had almost none of those this year, but lots of almost every other flying insect there is. It's quite strange really, they're noticeably absent.

That’s not fair. Do you want to swap homes for a couple of weeks? Mine comes fully equipped with a giant hairy dog and a large fluffy cat for company and entertainment.

We call them thunderbugs! They make me itchy all over even without touching any.

@ColettesEarrings

Oh, thunderbugs! Oddly enough we've had almost none of those this year, but lots of almost every other flying insect there is. It's quite strange really, they're noticeably absent.

They’re all at my house that’s why

Thanks @Furries I never knew their name. Just called them bugs!

@Furries I'll take the dog and the house for sure, you can bring the cat with you!

Yes! South Yorkshire. They're all over the house, DS had one in his eye yesterday 😫

@ColettesEarrings - aww, how could you turn away this little cutie?! 🤣

Sod it, am packing a bag for me and him now. I’ll leave the keys under the doormat for you. Bring a lint roller - Dog is shedding her double coat for summer, the fur might annoy you more than the thrips.

@AnUnoriginalUsername

Yes! South Yorkshire. They're all over the house, DS had one in his eye yesterday 😫

Urgh, poor lad, that’s made me feel all queasy.

Everywhere. Itchy little bustards. Had to have a shower yesterday just to stop itching. It will be be even worse when the harvesting starts.

@Furries soapy water was okay, but a 50/50 vinegar water mix has worked really well! Sprayed on the areas and they're all dropping ready to be hovered. I've also sprayed in vents etc where they might be sneaking in. House does have a slight smell but I can open a window now!