Bathroom bugs

[rninadoll]

I've recently noticed some bugs in my bathroom. They usually only come out at night and run into the the woodwork when I turn the light on. They are grayish, have tiny legs, about 6 of them or so. They have no shell and their backs remind me of snails. They are really small, about the size of my pinky fingertip and live by the shower. Anyone know what they might be?

[Greedyfly]

Are they silverfish?

[rninadoll]

No, I don't think so. They don't have any antennas or long legs. They look more like leaches.

[jjf2003]

This has got me baffled, rninadoll. How long are its legs? When you say it reminds you of a snail, do you mean its body is soft and wet and slimy? It could be some kind of larva.

[rninadoll]

It legs are really short and skinny, about the width of an eyelash, but shorter. And yes, I haven't touched the body. But it looks like it would be slimy. It is definately soft. Plus it looks like they slither, not run, but that might be because there legs are so small. They don't have any antennas or tails that I can see.

[jjf2003]

Ah, then they ARE larvae. Bettle larvae, to be precise, though which species of beetle remains to be seen when they grow. They may change to brown and grow hairs, in which case they are carpet beetles (horrible things). They are most likely carpet beetles or black house beetles. In any case, you must get rid of them, rninadoll. They are destructive, unhygenic pests. Your local DIY or household store should sell a choice of beetle insecticides.

[Michelle28]

That is the weirdest thing. I was just looking up "bathroom bugs" on the web and this website came up. I think we both have the same kind of bug. It is gross to see these things slitering around in my bathroom and it is only at night. When I turn on the light in the middle of the night I notice they go into a crack in my tile. If anybody knows what they are and how to get rid of them please let me know. Thanks. Michelle

[Jashamik]

I have a question, I have noticed some bugs in my bathroom. They stay around the toilet and the basement around the drain pipes,they move fast like a roach and they scatter when the lights come on and they have vertical brown lines across their back and they are brown in color and they have rather long antennas. I captured one in a jar thought it was dead it appeared dead for about a week and I just noticed today 8/19/04 that it is not only alive but has gotten bigger! So help me with this! I really would like to know what these bugs are. Oh! By the way they can grow rather large because I have seen a really big one as well. Thanks for anyone out there that knows about bugs!

[Rach.]

Michelle, Just wondering if you've found out what the insects are? Just searched the internet in desperation as no clue what these things are and the only matching description I can find of them is yours...small, slithering things that are quite fast, in the bathroom, and only ever there at night - eughh. Guess they're harmless but getting sick of them...If you've found out what they are or how to get rid of them, please let me know!! Thanks, Rach.

[FP]

Is this your bathroom bug? We have them in our bathroom: http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/urbanwt/education/wildlifeed ucationwebsite/woodlice.htm