We have recently been join in our bathroom by some "bugs" that have taken up residence behind our tiles and more seem to appear when they feel vibration in the room! They vary in size, the smallest ones being the size of a period "." and the largest ones being around 3x that size. They appear to be greyish in colour but it is difficult to tell due to their size.
I suspect we have only noticed them at all because the tiles are white so they show up easily. Where they are we know there is a small hole through the brick wall to the outside which remains from when a toliet cistern overflow pipe was removed and the hole was never filled by the contractors. (We don't have a cavity in this wall due to the age of the house).
The tiles are edged with that plastic tile edging you can use so there is a small gap all the way along the top for them to wonder in and out of.
First question - does anyone know what they are?
Second question - what is the best method to get rid of them?
Originally posted by Jackeh: Wow... erm, what do you mean they seem to like vibration!!! Lol!
Maybe they are 'Ladybugs'?
But seriously, if they are like a typical black beetle but very small, then they are the adult of the woodworm grub. You usually get them in the bathroom because the wood is always damp due to 'bad marksmanship' and wet feet.
If this is the case you need to get a couple of boards up and spray with a woodworm treatment.
Can you see any 'flight holes'? If not they may be 'silverfish' or 'leatherjackets' or something harmless.
Woodworm, I never thought of that, it is the right time of year for them I suppose!
The house did have woodworm when we moved in just under 5 years ago and was treated. I hope this doesn't mean they are back I've got some antique furniture I'd rather they didn't take a shine too.
Not sure if it will help, but the link below takes you to an 'insect identification' site. Sounds like you need to block up that insect highway from the great outdoors to your bathroom though!
Thanks, the Plaster Beetles (who knew!) on this page looks like a possible - http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/domest.htm Although the largest ones are around 1mm and a lot of them are smaller, sometimes *much* smaller.
Having checked out their wood boring beetle page too I don't think my guests are big enough and it seems we are a little early in the year too.
TypicallyLynch - yes, I think that's a good candidate too. The size is close at 2mm, but you also have lots of smaller ones, and their colour is lighter, although the preference for damp conditions and liking for mould/mildew fits nicely with the single brick wall, the (impermeable) tiles, and the steam/moisture in a bathroom.
well if you think thats bad, we get slugs and earthworms in our bathroom...ewwwww. Not sure why or where they are coming from. I have found them on the wall, behind the toilet, down by the side of the bath and ( in the dcase of earth worms) in the bath. We live in a bunglow and are wondering whether it is something todo with the vents. Unfortunately there is not a lot we can do about it as we are renting! Pity cos Id love to rip up the 30 year old bathroom suiteand see what is behind. Any ideas?
We get the slugs but not the earthworms (ew!) although only in our kitchen - they come in behind the cooker, where it vents against an outside wall - as we can't block it off, I find sprinkling some salt down there every so often does the trick at warding them off - that or going down at 5am and finishing off the ones that have made it out of there individually - but that's only because we've got a new baby so we're up anyway!
We used to get them in the downstairs shower room but once we re-did it and tiled the floor we no longer had the problem in there (they just found another way in, darn them!); as you're renting that's probably not much use to you... but you have my sympathies!
___________________________________________________________________________ strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!
unfortunately we get them in the kitchen too! am completely baffled about the earthworms, as i didnt know they could climb walls!) Have tried the salt, but its not very nice to have salt all around a small bathroom, particularly as our landlord has put a carpet down there! (I hate carpets in bathrooms and kitchens - why do they do it?!)and it doesnt stop them going in the bath or on the wall.
am completely baffled about the earthworms, as i didnt know they could climb walls!) Have tried the salt, but its not very nice to have salt all around a small bathroom, particularly as our landlord has put a carpet down there! (I hate carpets in bathrooms and kitchens - why do they do it?!)and it doesnt stop them going in the bath or on the wall.
