Small black fly that jumps?! Please help.

[Rachael91]

For the past few days me and my friend have been getting itchy spots mainly on our legs/feet and thought it might be down to the washing powder because no one else in the house has these, but last night and this morning I have noticed tiny black bugs all over the place, even on me, about 1-2mm in size that jump and fly.
When you go near them they jump away so fast and are really hard to catch, I've also saw them flying around and again, when I go to catch one they fly away too fast. The one's that I have caught have been too small to photograph.

I have no idea where they are coming from as they don't seem to be particularly in one area, they're just all over the house it seems.

I've looked all over the internet for a possible match, but no luck.
I thought maybe 'springtails' but they don't look like the pictures I have found.
I don't have any plants or fruit so fruit flies and other things that harbor in them types of thing have been ruled out.

I'm not sure if these bugs are causing the itchy spots as a result of biting or if it is the washing powder, but they are really annoying and I'm constantly feeling like something's crawling on me so if anyone could possibly help with this it would be really appreciated.
Thank you


Oh, we did have a mould problem that's still being dealt with if it might be related to that?

[fairplay]

Hello Rachael91 and welcome to WAB.
Firstly you do not say what part of the country you are from as infestations of flies, etc, can be very local.
However, I doubt you would both be allergic to whatever is the cause.
None too sure why you should think a mould would bring spots up on your legs.

Seems your best bet is to book an appointment with your doctor and take the fly along with you.

Neil.

[Jason Green]

Do you have any pets? Even an exceedingly-poor photo may still help narrow-down the options.

Welcome to WAB

[triops]

Itchy bumps on legs and feet are often flea bites. I don't think any tiny flies will be involved. Again, pictures will get you proper identification. Do you or your friends have a cat or dog?

[Rachael91]

Ok so I've tried my best to get a picture of these things but my camera is really bad and they just come out like a black/brown blur.
The recent ones I've caught haven't had wings so I think when my friend said they were flying she was mistaken.
We've only been living in the house for just over a month now but we haven't had any pets, I have a dog in my parents house but it hasn't got fleas for me to bring back into the house, can fleas live in houses without a pet there to feed on? Because I was ruling fleas out because of this fact but if it's possible for them too then it might be fleas :O
If it is how do I get rid of them, is there anything specific I can buy?

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by Rachael91

can fleas live in houses without a pet there to feed on? Because I was ruling fleas out because of this fact but if it's possible for them too then it might be fleas :O
If it is how do I get rid of them, is there anything specific I can buy?

The answer is "yes". Fleas can stay dormant in empty houses and and other places for a long time, usually "left over" from a pervious pet owning tenant. When the flea larva completes its development and turns into an adult flea, these new adults can sit in their coccoon "waiting" for a substantial period of time until "disturbed" by vibrations from a new potential "host", then they can emerge "en-mass". In the wild this would allow them to wait in an unoccupied nest or burrow untill it becomes used again, in houses the new occupant can get flea bites. Your problem does sound a lot like fleas.

[Billabong Karen]

I agree; it sounds like fleas. Especially if you have a carpet, not floorboards... If it is a major infestation you will probably have to get the bug man in (but you can deal with it yourself). However, if they are bedbugs (horrors!) then you will almost certainly have to call the experts.

Your first port of call should probably be the doctor's. He should be able to confirm what is causing the itchy spots.

Good luck and keep us informed!

Eek, just writing this is making me itch!!

[Rachael91]

yeah they're defiantly fleas went to the walk in center and they gave me some cream to stop the itching and make the bites go down and it's working so far.
we have mostly wood flooring in the house and leather couches so how would we clean them out of there? I've read online about how to get them out of carpets and fabrics but nothing about wood flooring.
ahhhh this is horrible aha.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Rachael91

ahhhh this is horrible aha.

You'll have to wear one of those flea collars that pets have!

;^)

Jim

[Hedera]

You can get a fleaspray for spraying rooms from a vet or pet suppliers. You may have to do it more than once. Shut the room up when done for a few hours. Follow the instructions on the can. It is expensive but works.