When insects are found in an apartment, the only desire that arises is to get rid of them as quickly as possible and preferably forever. These uninvited guests can appear even in the cleanest apartment, but whatever the reason for their appearance, their presence is unpleasant.
There are also creatures that live in the bathroom. Because the warm and humid environment and open access to water, characteristic of this room, are excellent stimuli for the development of various parasites.
woodlouse
One such creature that prefers a humid climate is woodlice. You can see them if you suddenly look into a damp, dark room, as they are nocturnal. White woodlice occurs during molting. Usually this crustacean (which, by the way, many people mistakenly consider to be an insect) has a gray or brown color.
If the room is damp and warm, then this white “insect” will settle in the bathroom quickly and for a long time. Convenient conditions for living and development are the main reason why uninvited guests will choose this place in the apartment. Most often, they settle in places where moisture accumulates: in pipes, as well as where moisture is concentrated or where wet floor rags and rugs are stored.
Many, seeing these creatures, experience a feeling of fear and disgust. By the way, for good reason, because they can carry infections that are harmful to animals and humans. Therefore, when noticing a white insect in the bathroom, it is difficult to experience positive emotions.
Pest definition
The white woodlouse is mistaken for an insect, but it is actually a crustacean. It is characterized as a terrarium nurse and can be used as food for exotic pets. The species is native to Central and South America , but has spread throughout the world.
Any decomposing plant debris is suitable for feeding the crustacean. The white woodlouse is exclusively nocturnal and is most active at this time. Find out what woodlice eat in the bathroom, apartment and other rooms here.
Information : in its natural environment, this species is found under stones, fences, and especially often under rotten stumps.
Read general information about woodlice here, we talked about other types of woodlice here, and the description, characteristics and classification of woodlice can be found in this material.
Silverfish
But silverfish will not cause any harm to people, but it is dangerous for wallpaper. The insect lives in damp and dark places. Its nutrition consists of plant substances that contain starch and polysaccharides.
The silverfish ventures outside its home in order to obtain food for itself. And she looks for it in places that are similar in microclimate to her home.
It is not difficult to recognize the named white insect in the bathroom. What does it look like? Its body is elongated and white; it has long front and rear forked antennae. But, by the way, silverfish become white after the third molt. Before that it was dark.
Lifestyle
The white woodlouse belongs to the order of isopods, the suborder of crustaceans. The body of a sexually mature individual reaches a length of 6 mm, where 6 pairs of abdominal legs are located. The eyes are on the sides of the head. The color is most often light white, less often with a grayish tint.
During the daytime, the woodlouse hides in cracks, while at night it actively inspects the territory in search of food. The source of food is a variety of organic decompositions, where the pest is concentrated.
There are more than 3,600 species of woodlice in the world, and a good half of them live in water.
Active reproduction of the pest occurs in the months of April-May. It is at this time that he can move into the house. The average lifespan of a sexually mature individual is between 9-12 months. During this time, the female can be fertilized only once.
How to remove insects
If you noticed silverfish in the bathroom, how to get rid of it immediately so that the problem does not become global in the future? It is believed that insects are very difficult to remove. But it is still possible.
Forced ventilation in the bathroom can help you with this. With it, it will be possible to regulate the level of humidity, as a result of which it will be more difficult for uninvited guests to stay without the necessary conditions.
Comfortable living temperature for silverfish is 21-27 °C. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the temperature in the apartment. This can be done through ventilation.
In this case, all hard-to-reach places must be cleared of dust, and wet corners and other damp areas must be thoroughly dried. In addition, the apartment should be cleaned using chlorine-containing substances to ensure disinfection.
What is the danger?
The white woodlouse does not cause significant harm to humans: it does not bite and does not carry harmful bacteria (this fact has not been confirmed by scientists). The harm of these crustaceans is :
- feeling of hostility and disgust of residents;
- death of domestic plants (the pest eats the root system and the upper part of the leaves);
- spoilage of vegetables and fruits in cellars and closets.
Find out more about the harm woodlice can cause to humans and others living in an apartment, how they are dangerous and how to deal with them here.
Ventilation
The most effective insect repellent in the bathroom, as we have already said, is forced ventilation. It helps reduce humidity levels. To install it, you need to select the type of fan.
To simultaneously serve both the bathroom and the toilet, you can install a duct fan in the ventilation duct in the attic. This device is best used for installation in a private home. Depending on the volume of the premises and the number of people living, you need to calculate the power of the device that is needed for the entire building.
If installation was required in an apartment, then difficulties may arise here. To install a duct fan, you need to hide the ventilation ducts in the suspended ceiling or install a box, which can harm the appearance of the home. Therefore, another device is used here - an axial fan.
With its help, the problem of poor ventilation in one room, for example, in the bathroom, is solved, and then a second device is installed, but in the toilet. Fixation is carried out in the opening of the hood. Therefore, it is necessary to take measurements in advance. Then look for the required fan in the store.
Additional ventilation is the most effective insect repellent. By the way, strong humidity damages furniture and newly made repairs. If the humidity level is high, the wallpaper will fall off and must be re-glued all the time. Fungus and mold are also frequent guests in damp rooms. Moreover, they not only spoil the appearance, but can also harm human health.
Traps
But there are other methods of controlling insects in the bathroom. These can be traps and baits:
- If you place wet birch brooms in the corners and leave them overnight, then in the morning you will notice that small insects have been caught in the trap. It is best to burn brooms.
- The glass jar should be wrapped with paper or tape to make it easier for the silverfish to get inside. The rough surface will easily get her there, but she won’t be able to get out.
- Leave a roll of paper soaked in water in the bathroom overnight and throw it away the next morning or burn it without even unrolling it.
Traditional methods
Folk remedies can also help get rid of uninvited guests:
- A food powder called “Diatomite” will kill crawling insects if it is used to treat cracks and crevices in the walls, on the floor and between tiles, as well as baseboards throughout the apartment
- Zest shavings are great for getting rid of insects. The smell is pleasant only to humans, but to insects it is pungent. Therefore, you need to scatter the zest in all the cracks and places where they accumulate and renew it after 5 days.
- The smell of cloves is also unpleasant for silverfish. Therefore, you can sprinkle spices in the kitchen cabinet. The aroma is pleasant and the pests will go away.
- Boric acid will also help you out. It is sprinkled on pipelines and around sinks. A solution of this acid can be applied to the surface of the pipes.
Such methods will also help in the fight against woodlice extermination. Just like silverfish, woodlice loves moisture. Therefore, the methods described above will help you get rid of them.
If there are objects in the room where silverfish and woodlice live, for example, a bathroom cabinet, then you need to carefully inspect it. It is necessary to check that moisture does not accumulate there, so as not to increase the area for insects.
If this has already happened, and they still fill the bathroom cabinet, then it should be thoroughly dried and disinfected. Then fill it out again.
Causes of appearance and damage caused
The main habitat of crustaceans are areas of land where a lot of moisture has accumulated, but where there is no light. The main reasons for the appearance of woodlice in an apartment are excessive humidity and dampness. It is in such an environment that they actively reproduce and develop. Therefore, they can often be found under water pipes, sinks, and bedside tables. They “graze” close to the trash can, under rugs, near or in flower pots. They can live under wallpaper, tiles, and floors. There are also additional reasons for the appearance of crustaceans:
- garbage - rotting food or plants that have not been thrown away for a long time;
- cracks, crevices - in places where light does not reach;
- flowers - they grow actively and require a lot of moisture;
- dirt - stagnant water, clogged pipes.
Parasites come from basements and attics, enter the house through ventilation grilles and sewer pipes. The main food of uninvited “guests” is leftover food, plants, and garbage.
They don't bite, but they cause a feeling of disgust. They are dangerous because they can destroy indoor flowers. Especially those with thin stems and delicate leaves. This is an inexhaustible source of their food. Crustaceans can settle in flower soil. In this case, they reach the root system, which increases the risk of crop death.
Pests often move around the apartment, visiting the kitchen in search of food. They are not carriers of infections. But fungus and harmful microorganisms can cling to their paws, which can get onto kitchen surfaces and into food. Food that comes into contact with crustaceans quickly deteriorates. In rare cases, they lead to poisoning.
Many people confuse wood lice with silverfish. The difference lies in size - the first ones are noticeably smaller. In addition, the body of silverfish is covered not with a shell, but with scales. Unlike woodlice, they have long antennae. They consume products of plant origin, which contain large amounts of sugar and starch. What both pests have in common is their habitat.
A small conclusion
Now it’s clear what to do if woodlice or silverfish have settled in the bathroom. How to get rid of them? There are many methods and methods. You just need to choose the most comfortable one that suits you.
But do not forget about one thing: even if the unpleasant white insect has disappeared from the bathroom, it can return very soon, you just need to make living conditions comfortable for it. Moreover, silverfish reproduce very quickly. Therefore, having noticed at least one of the creatures described in the article, it is necessary to immediately take measures to exterminate them.
