Bug (Thrip) inside LCD TFT laptop screen

As a computer engineer I've seen a number of LCD monitors and laptop screens with Thrips (better know as thunderflies, thunderbugs or storm flies in the UK) trapped between the various layers that make up a LCD panel.

I've only ever seen thrips trapped inside the screens and not other types of bugs.
This is probably due to them being very slender, but with legs powerful enough to navigate them through and over the sticky sealing strips around the panel.

Thrips have sticky feet which enables them to walk up any surface, so when they eventually die they stay put as a lasting memorial :(

No amount of bashing your screen will shift them, youll probably just end up damaging your screen.

I left before this one snuffed it; I just hope it didnt die slap-bang in the middle of the screen.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Bug
• Insect
• LCD
• Monitor
• Laptop
• Screen
• TFT
• Thrips
• Thrip
• Thunderflie
• Thunderbug
• Storm
• Fly

[Melazee01]

Hi! I found today that I have an infestation of these horrible creatures in my laptop. They aren't on the inside of the screen, they are all crawling on the outside, out of the vents and on the surface of the screen. Is there a good way of getting rid of them? My laptop is in a bag right now, sealed up with some bug powder.

[ZilinaSK]

I wouldn't kill them with poison as they will die in situ. Put your laptop somewhere very dark with the screen open so they can easily crawl away. Similarly as I did, pop your laptop in a dark wardrobe for a few days. They will quickly start to leave the laptop and head for any points of light they see. Thrips are very poor fliers, so need time to leave your laptop on foot :)

[ZilinaSK]

Just my luck!

A few weeks ago one turned up wandering around inside my own LCD screen :(

As they are attracted to light I switched off my monitor and left it inside a pitch black wardrobe for 48 hours.

When I next used my screen he was gone and I haven’t seen the little bugger again.

My thinking was…. if there is no light to attract him (or her) to the screen they may wander to the outer edge and get stuck on the sealing tape or escape through a hole?

It worked for me :)

[ZilinaSK]

Unfortunately if it’s dead you’ll have to replace the LCD panel.

Attempting to dismantle the LCD panel will destroy it.

I’ve had 3 thrips in my LCD monitor and all have been encouraged to leave :)

The best method I have found is to remove the rear panel from the monitor, cover the whole LCD panel with a close fitting piece of cardboard and shine a very bright light directly onto the desk or wall behind.

Leave the monitor off for a few days.

The thrip should leave and head for the bright light.

[Melazee01]

@ZilinaSK Haha, it's alright, we found out that they were moth larvae, and they weren't coming from the laptop, they were coming from the lampshade above us :P

[SassyGirI]

Hey one week ago I also found one in my laptop! It was already dead and I am pretty sure it is a bug, cause I can see its legs :( Annoying cause it stole my pixels for rest of my laptops life -_-

[candleberry52]

Can they be taken out?

[2803jmwatt]

yeah i have 6 in there now i hate summer anyway to get the little fukkers out ?

[butler1122]

yer i just found one on mine pushed my screen stupidly and killed it right in the centre of my screen :( its like a dead pixel worm

[RICOBLAB]

Often to be found in picture frames too!