[Strawbale]Psocids infestation

[Kester Wilkinson]

We hovered up all the dust we could find and then sprayed in some
insecticides into the cracks.  They have not come back.

I think it is related to the depth of plaster that has to dry out, it
just takes time.  They had exactly the same problem in findhorn, I don't
think it has recurred there either.

The psocids go, it takes some time for the paranoia that you have messed
up and your house is rotting around you to subside tho... must just go
and sniff that truth window, is that the sweet smell of black goo ?!

kes

-----Original Message-----
From: strawbale-admin at amper....muni.cz
[mailto:strawbale-admin at amper....muni.cz] On Behalf Of Chug.
Sent: 17 August 2004 09:24
To: strawbale at amper....muni.cz
Subject: Re: [Strawbale]Psocids infestation

Hi Lieve,

from looking into this problem myself it seems that most people seem to
have had the problem when the weather warms up soon after
rendering/plastering a building, and in most cases the psochids
disappear
on their own and do not return.
Kester did spray or treat them with something? but I cannot remember
what
it was.

bale on
Chug
chug at strawbale-building....uk
www.strawbale-building.co.uk/

----- Original Message -----
From: "lieve van landeghem" <lieve.vanlandeghem at skynet...>
To: <strawbale at amper....muni.cz>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 8:05 AM
Subject: [Strawbale]Psocids infestation


Hi all,

Last May, Andre de Bouter reported Erica Sapir's 'critters' problem.
Chug replied that the critters were probably psocids, and that Kester
Wilkinson had had a similar problem.

A month ago I moved into my strawbale house, and just a few days ago I
noticed that it is infested by tiny insects.  The problem is not their
concentration in one spot as was, I understand, the case in Erica's
house.
But they are all over the house : mainly underneath carpets and other
stuff
on the floors downstairs and upstairs which are pine planks, and they
also
crawl on the white painted plaster panel (gyproc) walls and ceiling of
the
bathroom.  Neither do they shun the bed.  (Some of you visited the house
with Herwig Van Soom, I believe on June 10th, when you were on your way
to
the congress in Denmark.   Or you can take a look at the webpage that
Herwig
made http://nebraska.skynetblogs.be/)

I went searching on the internet and yes, it's psocids, also called
booklice
or Liposcelis Bostrychophila.  (for a picture, see
http://www.anticimex.se/?objectid=878).

I did some more reading on the web
(http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ip/bryanturner/other/index-psocids.html and
http://www.sofht.co.uk/isfht/irish_98_psocids.htm) and learned that I
have
to "try to deny them the conditions they need to survive and multiply,
i.e.
warmth and moisture".  Which is beyond my control, assuming they come
from
the straw in the walls.  With the warm weather here and no sun
protection
in
place yet, temperatures inside the house have been up to 30 degrees
Celcius.
I do ventilate the house though, as often as the weather allows.

Can any of you experts give me some advice, or could the people who
experienced a similar problem, feedback on how they dealt with it ?

Many thanks.
Kind regards.
Lieve


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____________________________________________________
    European strawbale building discussion list

Send all messages to:
Strawbale at amper....muni.cz

Archives, subscription options, etc:
http://amper.ped.muni.cz/mailman/listinfo/strawbale
____________________________________________________