You now have your very own pet fruit fly to accompany you as you work, free of charge and no maintenance required. Give it a name and you might grow to like it
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iMac has a bug, literally
- Thread starter Frustratedperson
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My iMac has had a bug in its display assembly — and it’s not alive like your little friend fortunately is — for over two years now. It was well outside warranty when it happened, and I never bothered to get it fixed. The iMac still works just fine and is assuredly not “useless.”
Do we know what kind of bug it is and that bug’s life expectancy? I’d be inclined to wait him out. Probably hot in there too. Little feller will presumably cook to death soon
Agreed, wait until the bug dies and and if it dies on the screen you can just claim the screen is faulty (which it is really).
The insect here is a Thrip also known as a Thunder bug or Storm fly: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrips
They’re quite common in the UK and I’ve been a victim too, years and years ago. Whatever you do, don’t push the screen! After weeks the one I had just died right in the middle of the bloody screen 😒
I have no real advice other than two conflicting suggestions. If it’s attracted to heat, then try turning the iMac off and running a fan directly at the screen since if you’re in the UK then the chance of you having A/C in your home is little to none. Maybe the cold air will discourage it from living under the glass. Alternatively if it’s phobic of light maybe you could chase it to the screen edge with a white browser window 😅
At least now you know what it is, someone else on the internet might have a solution I never knew about in 2001.
I’m awfully sorry to say it’s extremely unlikely it was there from the factory. Not sure about your legal recourse, do Apple ever stipulate the internals are sealed? Maybe on a phone but certainly not the Mac.
If it expires under the glass, the final stage may be acceptance and running dark mode. Either that or trying to open it up yourself…
They’re quite common in the UK and I’ve been a victim too, years and years ago. Whatever you do, don’t push the screen! After weeks the one I had just died right in the middle of the bloody screen 😒
I have no real advice other than two conflicting suggestions. If it’s attracted to heat, then try turning the iMac off and running a fan directly at the screen since if you’re in the UK then the chance of you having A/C in your home is little to none. Maybe the cold air will discourage it from living under the glass. Alternatively if it’s phobic of light maybe you could chase it to the screen edge with a white browser window 😅
At least now you know what it is, someone else on the internet might have a solution I never knew about in 2001.
I’m awfully sorry to say it’s extremely unlikely it was there from the factory. Not sure about your legal recourse, do Apple ever stipulate the internals are sealed? Maybe on a phone but certainly not the Mac.
If it expires under the glass, the final stage may be acceptance and running dark mode. Either that or trying to open it up yourself…
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The machine has likely been repaired. The screen can be put back on. Try running the Mac with full fans to blow it out.
Shut down. Hold down power button whilst plugging in power.
Shut down. Hold down power button whilst plugging in power.
Last I check Apple is a fruit. Why are you surprised there’s a fruit fly on your Apple.
I had the same some time ago (twice now). Turned off and left the insect to follow the light or due off screen. Vents in the bottom of my iMac , or the exhaust vents I would wager as the entry.
Which magazine has a handy explainer for UK consumer rights
www.which.co.uk
Which magazine has a handy explainer for UK consumer rights
Consumer Rights Act 2015 - Which?
The Consumer Rights Act protects you in almost all purchases you make. Here we explain what it means when buying goods or services
Apple will classify this as a biohazard, they won’t work on it, and the warranty is void. I hope things work out differently for you, but that is the standard policy. I’ve opened many of them, and as said earlier, there is usually many more inside, apple will document this, bag it up and decline to repair it. Insects come from the environment the computer is in, not the manufacturer. And especially not after 3 months after purchase. It’s a tough, awkward conversation for sure, but I’ve never seen an owner come away with a replacement for insects in the machine.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Unless you dropped fruit juice in there it’s very likely that there’s only one. And it will die within a few days. You can try the tips given above to move it out of sight so it won’t die in the middle of the view. Alternative call Apple and politely explain the issue. It will take Apples lawyer 5 minutes to proof that it cannot have been there from the start due to its short life span. Case closed. If anything you should claim that the fault is that the screen is not perfectly sealed, but that’s probably an uphill battle since Apple doesn’t claim that it should be.
As long as the bug won’t die mid screen your Mac works fine.
As long as the bug won’t die mid screen your Mac works fine.
I’m sorry, but your whole claim is ridiculous. There’s no way at all you can back up this claim, much less it being the result of manufacture or Apple’s fault. Literally, doesn’t even on a scientific level have any kind of realistic explanation to support it being any else’s fault then yourself.
Those Bugs are called "Thrips" - the German Wiki even has a section about their affinity to Displays: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fransenflügler#Fransenflügler_und_TFT-Monitore
Just run it through google translator. They are quite common here and very annoying. They often come out when there has been a change in weather and a summer thunderstorm is upcoming - thats why they are also named "Gewittertierchen" // Thunderstorm-animals.... One way to get them out is to put the monitor in a dark room - then put a bright light source like a desk lamp a few meters away. Wait for a few hours, then it should crawl out.
Just run it through google translator. They are quite common here and very annoying. They often come out when there has been a change in weather and a summer thunderstorm is upcoming - thats why they are also named "Gewittertierchen" // Thunderstorm-animals.... One way to get them out is to put the monitor in a dark room - then put a bright light source like a desk lamp a few meters away. Wait for a few hours, then it should crawl out.
Nobody’s saying you deliberately put it in there yourself. Neither did Apple design the Mac so it would work as a efficient fly trap just to annoy you. It got in there by accident and it happened while the Mac was in your possession.
If you noticed it within the first week it would be a different story.
The bug will either find its way out by it self (not likely) or it will die in there. Or you can ask Apple politely for advice
If you noticed it within the first week it would be a different story.
The bug will either find its way out by it self (not likely) or it will die in there. Or you can ask Apple politely for advice
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It’s a fruit fly. Of course it will be attracted to an Apple.
One time I put an iPad I bought at Best Buy on top of my car when I got a phone call as I was leaving in the morning. I drove off with the iPad still on the roof, and it fell off and the screen shattered.
I did not have AppleCare and again, did not even buy it at an Apple Store. But took it to an Apple Store to see how much it would cost to replace the screen, told them what happened, and they handed me another brand new, sealed in box iPad for free as a one time courtesy.
I concur with those who said at least take it to an Apple Store. If they see it's still new, not that old, maybe you'll get lucky and they'll either fix or replace for free.
I did not have AppleCare and again, did not even buy it at an Apple Store. But took it to an Apple Store to see how much it would cost to replace the screen, told them what happened, and they handed me another brand new, sealed in box iPad for free as a one time courtesy.
I concur with those who said at least take it to an Apple Store. If they see it's still new, not that old, maybe you'll get lucky and they'll either fix or replace for free.
Don’t worry I have a solution. Those kinds of bugs are attracted to light, that’s why it flew in there, switch off the iMac for a day or so and leave the lights in the room it’s in on for that time, it should fly back out, leave windows open so it can fly out or if there are no windows in that room, leave doors open till the nearest window and leave that window open.
If I get no joy with Apple or the shop I bought it from, I’ll try that for a few days and see what happens. I’ll also get a good hoover and hold it by the vents for a bit too. Thanks for the non snarky reply. Seems some people just love adding their ultimate wisdom to other peoples issues.
Sounds worth a try, turn the iMac off but better to put a lamp or light source under the vents no? as to try to guide the bug out, no ceiling lights as the iMac has no exit way on top, better be quick as the insect will be nearing dead as we speak…
I have a bright light that I can rest underneath the iMac vents. Will do that.
The shop I bought it from don’t have any in stock and I work from home (hence I can’t wait a week or so for them to get some)