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House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 10:18 am
by jawa_
Over past weeks I've noticed increasing numbers of little bugs in my flat. They're small, thin, dark in colour and move very quickly. I've only seen them at night; not during the day. I'll switch a light on and see one moving. 95% of the time I see them on hard flooring (hallway/bathroom/kitchen) but once one was on a wall. Horrible!
This morning I started an official investigation - i.e. I did a few Google searches - and I think the bugs are silverfish. I'd never heard of them but apparently they live on dust/paper/damp and dislike light.
I just ordered a spray from Amazon which should be delivered on Wednesday. I hope that it'll get rid of them
.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:18 pm
by Hypes
RIP jawa's books
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:33 pm
by Preezy
If it's silverfish you can get these little boxes that go in the corner of the rooms, they attract the silverfish and then once they're in they can't get out - probably full of wasps or blu tac or something.
They also like damp locations like bathrooms so make sure rooms are well ventilated to avoid moisture building up.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:35 pm
by SEP
Jawa, is there anything that your house isn't infested with?
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:42 pm
by Vermilion
Silverfish are fairly harmless critters and not worth the worry tbh.
It's the giant spiders hiding behind your furniture you should be more concerned about.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 1:58 pm
by Imrahil
Yeah, I think they say every house has silverfish to some extent. I just ignore them when I see them. Sort of like woodlice.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 2:02 pm
by Qikz
Imrahil wrote:Yeah, I think they say every house has silverfish to some extent. I just ignore them when I see them. Sort of like woodlice.
I just smoosh the ones I find, they're usually in my bathroom but some appear in my kitchen sometimes. The good thing is for the most part they don't do too much damage but they're still icky.
Vermilion wrote:Silverfish are fairly harmless critters and not worth the worry tbh.
It's the giant spiders hiding behind your furniture you should be more concerned about.
Silverfish sometimes were making their way into my bedroom, but then a spider moved in in the corner by the floor where one of my bookcases are and since he's been there I can't seen another one.
That spider has been there now over a year and is still active, I'm glad I kept him around as he seemed to help with a problem I had at some point with tiny little moths appearing every once in a while too.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 3:14 pm
by Zilnad
I've seen the odd silver fish here and there over the years. Creepy looking little guys.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 3:17 pm
by Moggy
Are Silverfish Harmful? These insects are generally nuisance pests. They won't hurt you, but they can contaminate your food. Silverfish leave their poop behind in your food, so make sure to check for any insects.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 3:32 pm
by Vermilion
Speaking of spiders, I get a lot of harvesman type spindly spiders in my house. I always leave them alone as they have proved most handy when it comes to dealing with gnats, mozzies, and other small critters which enter through open windows during the summer.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 3:36 pm
by PatSharpsMullet
SEP wrote:Jawa, is there anything that your house isn't infested with?
He lives in Jawasic Park.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 4:17 pm
by Victor Mildew
Jawa you're taking the fallout 76 role play too far.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 6:34 pm
by Ironhide
Once stayed in a farmhouse gite in France that had these horrific hairy centipede things that would run up and along the walls, there were other bugs and stuff too (including a treefrog, which I didn't even know lived in Europe).
Was definitely glad to get home even though it was an otherwise enjoyable holiday.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2024 6:44 pm
by rinks
I see the occasional silverfish, but they don’t bother me much. It amuses me, when you catch them out by putting the light on and they run for cover. I imagine them shouting, in a high-pitched voice, “Oh shiiiiiiiiit”.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:06 pm
by jawa_
Thanks, guys. It's kinda reassuring to know that other folk have had silverfish around, too - and that they're not overly troublesome!
I hope to pick up the spray on Thursday and I'll give it a go to see if it helps get rid of 'em.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 7:36 pm
by BTB
We had a few when we first moved into our house and I was sure that the reason they sold was because it was infested
Turns out that wasn't the case and we got rid of them pretty quick, occasionally see the odd one every once in a while.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:30 pm
by Green Gecko
I find them amusing and quite like them.
They live in walls, under tiles, under vinyl, floorboards or whatever.
As do tiny slugs, woodlice, various miniscule beetles and the like.
Homes are made of reconstituted sand, rock, grit and earth of some description or another. They exist and are harmless.
If you see ten at once, fine, maybe look into damp. Otherwise I've learnt not to bother with it as no home can truly be 100% secure.
tl;dr you're doomed.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:23 pm
by kazanova_Frankenstein
I have heard Parakeets will feast on them.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 1:36 pm
by Green Gecko
kazanova_Frankenstein wrote:I have heard Parakeets will feast on them.
Re: House bugs | Getting rid of them
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2024 2:01 pm
by kazanova_Frankenstein
Green Gecko wrote:kazanova_Frankenstein wrote:I have heard Parakeets will feast on them.
Thanks for that - my one phobia captured magnificently in that thumbnail.