Indoor Pest Control - Tiny insects on gas fireplace?

Hi there,

I live in the Niagara Region in Southern Ontario, Canada. During the past 3 weeks we have noticed tiny bugs crawling around the fireplace. There are two slabs of stone (one where the tools sit) and another at about eye level. The rest of it is red brick. We only find the bugs crawling around on the stone slabs. They are less than 1 mm long and they kind of run around in a random pattern when you blow on them. I constantly vacuum them up but the next day there will be 3-4 more.

I initially thought they may be mites but I am not sure now. They are cream coloured and appear to have some long feelers on their head (they are so small that it is hard to see any detail). Their backend appears to be a bit bigger than their heads. I have searched the rest of the basement looking at the walls etc. and cannot find these creatures anywhere else - they just seem to love the stone slab portion of the fireplace.

I have pulled the unit from the wall and vacuumed extensively behind and all around it. I have even turned it on and left it running for a few hours to try and cook the little critters from their hiding place. I have also washed the stone mantles with a cleaning solution incase there was something that they liked on it (maybe they are eating something?).

Anyway I just don't get it. I have only lived here for 3 years but this is the first time I have seen them. If anyone has any ideas on what they are or could be please let me know!

Thanks!

Josh

Hi Josh,
we have the same problem. We do not know what they are either! Have you found out what they are yet? Have you discovered how to get rid of them?
Regards from Tony

Josh and Tony, can either one of you take a picture and post a link to it here?

Newt