Tips - Garrards

dusticon Dust mites can be found in most homes near coastal Australia. They are small and most people do not notice them unless they crawl on dark surfaces. However once seen, there may appear to be many as people go looking for them. Dust mites eat protein such as shed human skin. They are more likely to build up in numbers where people spend time on surfaces that are not smooth – such as in bed, on upholstered furniture etc – and other places where human skin can be found such as soft toys, combs and brushes.

High school students in the Brisbane area found a unique way to avoid school. In the first six weeks of school in 2008, 52 students were told to go home and eight of these sought medical treatment. The students complained of being ‘bitten’ in several areas of the grounds. They had seen hairy caterpillars on a table but investigation around that area showed nothing. The school called out a pest management company, they checked the wattle trees which are a known home for the bag shelter moths – but they did not find any. However, the stinging (urticating) hairs of caterpillars were the most likely cause – so where were they?

Over the last 18 months the calls have been ever increasing. “There are these things … well, they are very small, minute … they jump .. don’t sting .. never seen them before. What are they?”