Attack of the killer beetles

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The story of the digital camera purchase has many elements to it. Previously I have covered the issue of buying an overly expensive camera. Today we will cover a more interesting topic.

You see, the camera came with a photo printer. Being that I had buyer's remorse immediately upon getting home, I decided to justify my purchase by cleaning the den thoroughly and making room for the new printer. We're talking a serious cleaning here, and anyone who knows me knows that serious cleaning is actually toxic to me. So I clean everything up, and then Lisa and I spend the evening in New Glarus and at her mother's. When I arrive at home, I call my brother. While I'm on the phone, Chopper climbs onto my new printer and looks at the wall. It is then that I discover black specks all along the wall.

Further inspection reveals the fact that they are little slug-like insects. Now in a state of panic, I begin an even more thorough cleaning of the room. Before I had moved the litter box, but this time I moved all the furniture and vacuumed every nook and cranny, including the corner (and of course the bugs). I then go online to read about any insects involved with vacuuming. I learn about things called "Carpet Beetles".

The next morning several more show up. I vacuum again. Finally that evening there is no sign of them. Nonetheless both on Sunday and Monday I call the apartment people. I am convinced that it was my poor housekeeping that allowed these foul things to survive in the den.

This morning the exterminators show up. They say that there are several forms of beetle it could be, and it is impossible to tell them apart in their larva stage. He sprays around, and then asks me if I have brought any new boxes into the den recently. I show him the printer box, and he looks inside and says that was probably it. It all makes sense! The bugs seemed to be fanning out in a pattern as if they came from the box (where is that guy from Numbers when you need him).

I start getting ready to throw the box out, when I realize that I have to actually cut the UPC off of it because there are rebates I have to submit. Just two days ago I was cluelessly poking around in the box, and this morning I am now trying to decide where I can buy a hazmat suit in order to even touch the box.

I finally cut the thing up, take it outside, and of course vacuum any place it has touched, and now the waiting game begins.

Of course, I have since done a bit of online reading about these "Warehouse Beetles" (<-- actual photo from my place) and it seems that many places claim that the bug spraying of the room may not be enough, because these nasty beetles can go into some sort of hibernation-like state called diapause for a while. But on the other hand, other sites seem to indicate that the chemical can last up to 30 days and is more than adequate.

If you don't hear from me again, you know that the beetles have gotten me.