[Strawbale] Re: straw itch mite

[Rob Tom]

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:38:12 -0500, Amit Kvint <amitkvint at gmail...> wrote:


> Since we have moved in I noticed there are these small bugs that you see
> once in a while tiny ones, can hardly be seen, and usually in groups.

Amit;

You may want to have a look at the files that are in the
"Bugs-r-Us" folder at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SB-r-us/files/

One of them is a file entitled:

     Bugs in Wet Conditions.pdf
     Bugs that occur in building materials with elevated moisture levels

and it will contain line drawings and IIRC, some photos, as well as  
descriptions of the conditions that create habitat for a number of bugs  
that are likely to be found in wet straw.

You will need to become a member in order to take advantage of the  
file-sharing capabilities that Yahoogroups offers to the group but you can  
opt out of getting List mail sent to your mailbox simply by selecting the  
"No Mail" option (as I do) when you set your preferences and simply  
unsubscribe once you've gotten what you need.

Generally-speaking , there are often elevated moisture levels in the straw  
during the first year or so following plastering operations, as a result  
of moisture from the wet-applied plaster migrating into the straw and that  
high humidity and warm temperatures within the straw create the conditions  
which are amenable to numerous small insects.

As the walls dry out and if no further moisture loading occurs (ie  
rain-wetted plaster, leaks) then suitable habitat for the insects will  
cease to exist and as a result so will they.

This phenomenon of elevated moisture levels during the first year of  
occupancy of new buildings is not unique to buildings with straw in the  
walls nor is the presence of tiny insects.

In fact the presence of such insects is sp common that one of the  
colloquial names for one such insect is "Plaster beetle".

One that seems to be common in SB buildings is mild climates like that of  
Europe are Psocids (order Psocoptera).

=== * ===
Rob Tom
Kanata, Ontario, Canada
<A r c h i L o g i c   at  c h a f f y a h o o   dot   c a >
winnow the chaff from my edress in your reply