PeterSmith Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 I have been collecting comics for some time now and I started to notice some small grey like bugs crawling atop the lids of my comic boxes. I was wondering if anyone knows what they are and how to get rid of them? Its hard to get a good picture of them because of how tiny they are, no bigger than an eyelash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvelmaniac Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 (edited) Welcome To The Boards!!! Where are your comic boxes being stored and under what environmental conditions? Comic Books (and all paper) need to be stored in a controlled cool, dry (50-70% humidity) environment away from All light and heat sources, they cannot be stored in a non-temperature controlled attic/garage or outdoor shed or anywhere that water is present. Are these bugs present on anything else that is being stored with the comic boxes? I am not an exterminator but it sounds to me like you need one or will at least have to "bomb" the place with some sort of insecticide, hopefully your books are securely bagged and boarded. Edited August 8, 2019 by marvelmaniac PeterSmith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvelmaniac Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 This should help... https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/ theCapraAegagrus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theCapraAegagrus Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Crabs? J/k. Infant silverfish...? PeterSmith and The Lions Den 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divad Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 If they're spiders, leave 'em be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divad Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Got pets? Probably mites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterSmith Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 On 8/8/2019 at 12:05 PM, marvelmaniac said: Welcome To The Boards!!! Where are your comic boxes being stored and under what environmental conditions? Comic Books (and all paper) need to be stored in a controlled cool, dry (50-70% humidity) environment away from All light and heat sources, they cannot be stored in a non-temperature controlled attic/garage or outdoor shed or anywhere that water is present. Are these bugs present on anything else that is being stored with the comic boxes? I am not an exterminator but it sounds to me like you need one or will at least have to "bomb" the place with some sort of insecticide, hopefully your books are securely bagged and boarded. They are stored in my room, it does tend to get a bit humid in there Im thinking about putting a dehumidifier in there to see if it solves the problem. And as for your other question I have not seen them on any books as all the books in the boxes are bagged and boarded, only crawling atop the lids of the cardboard boxes. Maybe switching to plastic boxes is my next move haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterSmith Posted August 9, 2019 Author Share Posted August 9, 2019 On 8/8/2019 at 2:03 PM, divad said: Got pets? Probably mites. Yes 4 cats in the home, Im thinking they could possibly be booklice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comicginger1789 Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Silverfish? I’ve seen them before in basements The Lions Den 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvelmaniac Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Again, I am not an exterminator nor a entomologist but IMO you need to find out... What they are, where they came from and what you can do/change in your current environment to prevent them from returning. I would start with a Thorough Cleaning and vacuum up any crawly creatures you can see. If they are Paper Mites/Book Lice... https://www.hunker.com/13405741/how-to-kill-paper-mites https://www.americanpest.net/blog/post/help-what-are-these-tiny-bugs-in-my-books https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Booklice Paraphrasing... “Your mission, Peter, should you decide to accept it, is… As usual, should you or any member of your I.M. Force be captured or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your existence. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Peter.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaard Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 On 8/8/2019 at 2:01 PM, divad said: If they're spiders, leave 'em be. I hate spiders. And sex with fat women. Those are my two bugaboos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaard Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 On 8/8/2019 at 12:05 PM, marvelmaniac said: Welcome To The Boards!!! Where are your comic boxes being stored and under what environmental conditions? Comic Books (and all paper) need to be stored in a controlled cool, dry (50-70% humidity) environment away from All light and heat sources, they cannot be stored in a non-temperature controlled attic/garage or outdoor shed or anywhere that water is present. Are these bugs present on anything else that is being stored with the comic boxes? I am not an exterminator but it sounds to me like you need one or will at least have to "bomb" the place with some sort of insecticide, hopefully your books are securely bagged and boarded. This is the exception... I had a dozen or so long boxes stored up in my mom's garage from the 80s. I recently pulled a few books out and sent them to CGC. I sent 3 New Mutants #1 & 2 Wolverine Limited Series #1. I got back 2 9.8s and a 9.6 NM 1 & a 9.8 and 9.6 Wolvie 1. My mom's garage was located in lower Michigan (White Cloud). Again, I know this is an exception ... but they were up their for decades w/o any kind of AC/Heat or humidity control. (with all the bugs, cobwebs, and mice - but they were off the floor, maybe that saved them.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Readcomix Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 On 8/7/2019 at 5:05 PM, PeterSmith said: I have been collecting comics for some time now and I started to notice some small grey like bugs crawling atop the lids of my comic boxes. I was wondering if anyone knows what they are and how to get rid of them? Its hard to get a good picture of them because of how tiny they are, no bigger than an eyelash. This is a job for @oakman29 ! oakman29 and Azkaban 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakman29 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 4 minutes ago, Readcomix said: This is a job for @oakman29 ! Howdy! To the OP , do you have pics of the pests in question? Are they silver, and quick moving? I am a professional exterminator, and need to identify the pest to give you a proper course of action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakman29 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 My guess would be that you have silverfish. Here's what you do with that. Pull all your bag and boarded books out of the longboxes/shortboxes, and throw the boxes away. There are probably eggs in between the cardboard. Replace the boxes. Then thoroughly vacuum the area in question. Get boric acid powder and place the powder in the cracks near your baseboards. Please wear gloves when doing so. The boric acid powder dries out any remaining silverfish. divad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterSmith Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 4 hours ago, oakman29 said: Howdy! To the OP , do you have pics of the pests in question? Are they silver, and quick moving? I am a professional exterminator, and need to identify the pest to give you a proper course of action. Hello! Its hard for me to get a good picture but yes they are a very silver/white, some of the more noticeable ones have antennas and they blend in with the white boxes themselves. They are pretty quick moving for the most part but when I observe them they are kinda just chillin on the lid. As stated before they are extremely small which is why I believe they may be some sort of mice or lice? I thought silverfish at first but I have never seen an adult one (knock on wood) unless if they are extremely small as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divad Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 1 hour ago, PeterSmith said: some of the more noticeable ones have antennas Silverfish are big. I think you may have been right with booklice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakman29 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 (edited) 9 minutes ago, divad said: Silverfish are big. I think you may have been right with booklice. Well I'd that's the case, which is very rare. The Boric acid powder will also work. Edited August 11, 2019 by oakman29 Still think it is silverfish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterSmith Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 5 hours ago, oakman29 said: Well I'd that's the case, which is very rare. The Boric acid powder will also work. Im trying upload a picture but it keeps failing but yes they are small enough to fit a pinhead so maybe it is an early stage of silverfish? Or could be booklice? Like I said I never seen any bigger than the very very small ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakman29 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 10 minutes ago, PeterSmith said: Im trying upload a picture but it keeps failing but yes they are small enough to fit a pinhead so maybe it is an early stage of silverfish? Or could be booklice? Like I said I never seen any bigger than the very very small ones. Just do the same thing I mentioned earlier and you will be fine. I promise. PeterSmith and divad 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
