Even before the appearance of man, the world is filled with various living organisms. We started building shelters, but that doesn't help. Often we find insects living in rooms, pantries and in the bathroom, which frighten. Almost all of them are disgusting. In the article, we will analyze some species that live in wet areas and find out which ones are dangerous to he alth and which ones are just annoying. We will also analyze methods of dealing with uninvited guests.
Reasons for the presence of insects
It's no secret that we are often the ones responsible for the appearance and reproduction of "bad neighbors" in our house. Even if the bathroom is kept perfectly clean, you are not immune from encountering insects.
First you need to understand the reasons that contribute to these facts:
- First and perhaps most important is the high humidity in the room.
- Wonder how often the floor gets wet after a normal shower. After all, now under your feet in the bathroom are special foot mats that you do not constantly lift.
- The bottom floor, when there is a basement below, facilitates the penetration of "bugs".
- Some specieslove water, so insects in the bathroom take root if you or your neighbors have any leaks.
- Daylight affects them detrimentally, but in this room there is none.
- There are almost no pets that can harm them here.
- No disinfectant treatment.
Of course, any living organism can accidentally wander to you. But if you are not meeting him for the first time, then it's time to start taking action. Below are descriptions with photos of insects that are often found in the bathroom.
Woodlice
Interestingly, this species belongs to the family of crustaceans, although people classify them as white insects. In the bathroom, they appear most often and reach a size of 3 cm. They are easily recognizable by the oval convex shape of the body.
Sometimes the chitinous shell has a brown color. It protects the wood lice from physical influences. You can see that when threatened, they curl up like hedgehogs. Their presence in the apartment may indicate a malfunction of the water supply or sewage system. Insects can only breathe moist air, and in its absence they simply suffocate.
Beware of the appearance of such "residents" in the house is more necessary for those who have a lot of indoor plants. Their death will be inevitable. Organic remains and various garbage are also used as food.
Silfish
If you notice a crawling dark silver creature with 3 antennae on the tail and 2 on the head, then know that the "neighbor" is called silverfish. Aftermolting it changes color and becomes lighter. Silvery insects crawl in the bathroom, which have a length of no more than 1 cm, and the body is triangular in shape, that's exactly what they are.
Feed more on sugar and starch, which is available in wallpaper paste, mildew and toilet paper. It should be noted that without food, silverfish can live for almost 10 months. They do not gather in large colonies. They usually live in groups of 2-3. It can get into the house both during migration and when opening boxes with purchases, as it easily breeds in damp warehouses.
The biggest harm they can do is ruin repairs, make books look ugly.
Cockroaches
They are more likely to settle in the kitchen, where there is open access to food and garbage in the bins. But they can devour leather products, book binding, and do not shun feces. In the photo, insects in the bathroom feed on mold, which the owners did not remove in time.
This mustachioed species is turned on in apartments not only because of unsanitary conditions. They often move from neighbors, crawling to us through ventilation shafts. This is usually a black or red (Prussian) cockroach. It is known that some are brought from other countries and mastered in warm, heated rooms. There are cases when they found American cockroaches in their apartments.
Spread often occurs at lightning speed, so the fight must begin immediately.
Mosquitoes
Some notice presence in apartmentssqueaking insects even in the cold season, when they can no longer be found on the street. As you know, mosquitoes breed in rainy times, and at home in the bathroom with insects we create a similar atmosphere when water drips and stagnates somewhere or it is simply forgotten by us in any container for a long period of time.
If you notice a hairy mosquito, don't be afraid, it won't bite. This is the so-called butterfly. Usually there can be 2 or 3 pieces, since they do not fly in flocks. The wingspan is only 2 mm, they are easy to see on the walls and ceiling. They try to lay eggs in rotting waste, and have received another name - "sewer midges".
Centipede
There are two types of these insects in the bathroom. Let's take a look at the photos and names now:
- Kislyak. A caterpillar with many short legs, very similar to a worm. May give off a foul odor when coiled up in danger.
- Flycatcher. It differs from its relative in that it is not attached to a wet room and its paws are quite long, which makes it look like spiders. A fairly fast movement allows you to hide from a person.
Both species prefer to prey on other insects: spiders, cockroaches, mosquitoes, silverfish, etc.
Spiders
Oddly enough, but in the bathroom, insects from the arachnid family also take root, but there are so few species that you can rarely see a web.
Nothing harmful or badthey won't. On the one hand, they even benefit, as they catch other small and harmful animals in their nets. But if you do not touch them, then you can completely overgrow in the web.
Insect Danger
It should be noted that not all insects in the bathroom are dangerous to human he alth. So, for example, silverfish and a spider do not do any harm, but this does not mean that it is not worth fighting them.
Here's what these "inhabitants" of dark corners can endure:
- often on the paws of insects find ascaris eggs, which can get on food or body parts, and if personal hygiene is not followed, in the human body;
- being on dirty surfaces, and then moving, spread various viral infections;
- they promote the spread of many bacteria and fungi.
Don't be afraid of the bites of almost all insects except mosquitoes. Their jaws are developed only for chewing food.
Ways to fight
You have to carry out a whole range of activities for the complete destruction of insects living in the bathroom or completely in the apartment. Start by checking the humidity. If it is elevated, then check the plumbing, sewerage for leaks. Also, this factor is strongly influenced by the ventilation system, which has not been cleaned in old buildings for a long time, and in the private sector it may be completely absent.
The next step is to do a preliminary general cleaning:
- remove all trash;
- disinfect;
- remove excess furniture and old shower mats.
The third stage will be an inspection for cracks and chips in the sealants that prevent water from entering the floor.
Now let's look at options for the destruction of harmful insects:
The physical way. Perhaps the most ineffective, it does not help reliably and only if the "bugs" did not have time to breed. Of course, you can try to beat them with a slipper, but there may not be enough strength for everyone, and they will hide in hard-to-reach places
You can try to collect pests with a vacuum cleaner, and then neutralize in a bag. Also, many try to lure them out by pouring boiling water into the holes where they sit. All this will not give much result.
- Set special traps. Now household chemical stores sell such devices in abundance. The specifics of their work is such that the most active insects crawl inside and eat the poisoned bait. Then, clinging to the paws of microparticles of poison, they crawl into their lair, destroying their "brothers". This method will bring more benefit, but is often used as a prophylactic.
- Chemicals. This is the surest step to take. On the shelves you will find with an excess of substances, which include chlorine, copper or iron sulfate. On the labels or from the seller, find out which spray or aerosol helps to destroy insects in apartments. But there are drawbacks - a sharp unpleasant odor and the need to leave the room during processing. Before use, carefully read the instructions so as not to harm your he alth.
Fumigators are sold, but it is better to use them if you are sure ofelectrical wiring and checked the humidity in the bathroom. You can buy crayons, gels, which contain a very strong poison. It is applied to places inaccessible to children.
There is another way, which we will talk about separately.
Folk methods of extermination of insects
For a long time, people began to fight against harmful insects in the bathroom. Various methods have emerged, some of which we still use.
- For example, boric acid does not pose a danger to humans, but it has a very detrimental effect on pests. To achieve a result, it is enough to mix 1 tsp. of this poison with the same amount of something sweet and diluted in a glass of water. Treat surfaces in the shower and toilet. The composition will corrode unwanted guests from the inside.
- Also, this acid is mixed with boiled yolk, rolled into small balls and scattered in the corners.
- It is also believed that a solution of a small spoonful of vinegar with a bucket of water and the treatment of walls and floors drives insects out of the house.
- Few people know that ordinary baking soda also has a detrimental effect on harmful organisms living in a humid environment.
In any case, the way to fix the problem is up to you.
Preventive measures
If you think in advance all the factors that affect the appearance and reproduction of pests, then you don’t have to decide how to get rid of them. You will never see white insects in the bathroom if:
- monitor the condition of the water and sewer pipes in the room;
- you have high-quality waterproofing of the joints between the sink, sink, bathtub and wall;
- room humidity is notexceeds the norm, and ventilation also works well (it is better when there is an electric hood in such rooms);
- all joints and holes in the floor are sealed, especially for apartments on the first floor;
- at least once a month do a general cleaning with disinfectants and dry places with difficult air access;
- for preventive purposes, set and change traps under the bathtub, sink and toilet.
Creating discomfort for bathroom insects will greatly help you to put off meeting them on the back burner. But be careful, as some drugs can get into the hands of young children and harm them.
