BUGS IN THE BATHROOM NEWTOWN, PA
Finding bathroom bugs in your home or office is never a nice experience, and trying to figure out why they came indoors is enough to give anyone a headache.
Fortunately, the answers are pretty straightforward.
Usually, insects come inside looking for food, but why do they come into the bathroom? Surely there's no food for them in there?
WHY DO I HAVE BUGS IN MY BATHROOM?
If you're wondering how do bugs get in your house, the answer can be boiled down to a single word: moisture. Virtually all species of bugs are attracted to moisture, and when they find it in a home or office, they will stay until someone evicts them.
Of course, some bugs end up in the bathroom because they fell into the bathtub or sink and didn't have any way to get back out again. Others are able to avoid falling into these damp traps but stay there because they like the atmosphere.
They get into the bathroom through open windows that either do not have screens or have screens with holes. Even a tiny crack or crevice in a wall or a window frame can let bugs inside your bathroom.
Bugs don't have to enter your home or commercial building through the bathroom. Vulnerabilities located in other rooms may let the bugs indoors, but the dampness in the bathroom soon draws the pests.
Did you know that all sorts of crawling pests also like to spend their time in plumbing pipes and sewers? These places are not only wet but also loaded with attractive sources of food. This means that the bugs may come up through the bathtub drain at night, perhaps looking for something to eat.
BUGS THAT LIVE IN THE BATHROOM
Finding ants in your bathroom is one thing. But many other bugs can make their way into the bathroom. Here are some of the worst:
• SILVERFISH
These pests are infamous for their love of moisture. Dark, quiet conditions are also preferable. Considering these characteristics, it is easy to see why silverfish are so often found in bathrooms. Spots like the shower, bathtub, toilet and sink where moisture is likely to gather are the most common places to find silverfish.
The shiny, pearl-gray body of the silverfish makes this pest easy to identify. With an appearance that is reminiscent of a fish, this bug is covered in scales and is roughly shaped like a tear. It lacks wings and can grow to a length of between three and four inches. Three bristling appendages protrude from the back, and the segmented body has a pointed abdomen.
• WATER BUGS
Sometimes mistaken for cockroaches, water bugs are aquatic insects in the order Hemiptera. Some species of water bug use their legs like paddles to move through bodies of water while others rely on surface tension to keep them on the water without sinking beneath it.
Some species of water bug can grow to as much as one inch long and two inches wide. Usually tan or brown, their bodies are flat and oval shaped. The front feet typically are clawed so that prey can be easily captured. Specialized mouthparts and beaks are used for sucking and piercing. Interestingly, their antennae are placed beneath the eyes and generally are shorter than the head.
As suggested by their name, water bugs spend most of their life cycle in water. Sometimes, they leave ponds and lakes in favor of a damp bathroom.
• MOLD MITES
These little pests are tiny, with most full-grown specimens measuring just .03 millimeters. This makes them about the same size as dust mites, but this pest species feeds on mold instead of dust.
Because of their size, mold mites are pretty nearly invisible without magnification. Even a single tiny patch of mold in the bathroom may be feeding thousands of these minuscule arthropods. The warmer and more humid a climate is, the more optimum it is for mold mites.
The body of the mold mite is soft and covered in hairs. These hairs act as sensory receptors. Usually tan or white, the mold mite does not have wings. In addition to mold, this species may feed on yeast, fungi and any foods that are high in fats and protein. When a particularly heavy infestation of mold mites is underway, the pests may migrate to other food sources, which can lead to misidentification of the mites and improper treatments.
People sometimes experience irritated skin from coming into contact with mold mite hairs.
• CENTIPEDES
These pests intensely dislike cold conditions, so when temperatures drop, they move indoors. Because they cannot retain moisture, the centipede prefers to find suitably humid or moist conditions. This is why people so frequently spy these bugs crawling out of the drain in the shower.
Centipedes usually have numerous legs, typically between 15 and nearly 200 pairs. Their bodies are flattened and elongated, making their appearance similar to worms. Colorations may include tan, dark brown and yellow, and they may have stripes.
Although centipedes are not really a threat to property or health, no one wants to share a shower with them. With their quick, darting movements and many legs, people are frequently unsettled when they see a centipede in the bathroom.
• COCKROACHES
These pests have many options when it comes to getting into bathrooms. By crawling up through drains, sliding beneath doors, exploiting gaps in baseboards and wriggling through leaky pipes, cockroaches seem to be experts at finding damp and humid bathrooms.
Cockroaches need only a few things to ensure survival. These include lots of water, a good place to hide, heat, darkness and food sources. Bathrooms offer all of these characteristics in large numbers. Although you may not think that bathrooms have any obvious sources of food, cockroaches think otherwise. Skincare products containing mud, used ear swabs, toilet paper, toothpaste and soap all can be consumed by these opportunistic pests.
The cockroach's body typically is oval-shaped and flat. If you happen to touch one, you may notice that it feels rather oily. With a small head and a mouth that is directed down and back, the cockroach has six spiny legs that enable them to run and climb. These pests can even run across ceilings.
HOW TO KEEP BUGS OUT OF YOUR BATHROOM
Usually, it's necessary to address numerous issues to reduce the likelihood of bugs coming into your bathroom. Each item that is corrected makes the building just a little better protected against the invasion of unwanted bugs.
• EXCESSIVE MOISTURE
The number-one reason that bugs come into any bathroom is because of excessive moisture. Air ceiling vents are perhaps the most critical solution to moisture problems. It's wise to keep these running during each shower and for a minimum of 20 minutes after finishing. Be certain to regularly clean the fan's filter to ensure efficient operation.
Other ways to reduce moisture in the bathroom include leaving the door open while showering, keeping a window open while showering and demisting the mirror. Speed up the drying process in the shower stall by wiping down the walls after each shower, and focus on keeping your showers cooler and shorter in duration.
• EXCESSIVE HUMIDITY
On a related subject, a bathroom in which excessive humidity is common is going to be immensely attractive to bugs. Place a powerful dehumidifier in your bathroom, using it during each shower to help control humidity levels. These appliances can be found in most stores that sell housewares. Before you choose the right model, be certain to consider factors such as the size of the bathroom as well as the extraction capacity and airflow rate of the dehumidifier.
Are you looking for another way to minimize humidity in the bathroom? Consider adding a plant that thrives in humid conditions. Such a plant will absorb a great deal of moisture and return healthy oxygen into the air. Plants inhibit mold growth as well. Reliable options include peace lilies, Boston ferns, orchids and Chinese evergreens.
• PLUMBING PROBLEMS
Sometimes, the building's plumbing may contribute to pest issues. A leak can cause water accumulation, which is undoubtedly attractive to pests. Those water leaks can migrate to surrounding wooden items, inviting termites to come inside and stay. The water can also attract ants, mosquitoes, spiders, silverfish and other less destructive pests.
Plumbing leaks are not the only thing that attracts bugs to bathrooms. A dirty drain frequently turns into a drain that's infested with pests, leading to drain flies and other bugs coming from drains. If your sink or tub has a standing water problem because of a clog, this can invite bugs as well.
Fix these plumbing problems, and you are less likely to find bugs in the bathroom.
• ENTRY POINTS
Bugs are exceptionally good at finding entry points into man-made structures. Even the smallest crevices and cracks can provide easy access into the bathroom and any other room. Torn window screens, open doors and roof vents that are not covered by mesh all may admit bugs into the building. It is essential that these and all other possible entry points are sealed or otherwise eliminated to keep pests from coming inside.
HOW TO GET RID OF BUGS IN YOUR BATHROOM
Are you tired of sharing your shower with bugs? Chances are that many factors contributed to the situation. The bathroom may be suffering from excessive moisture and humidity, and it also may have gaps, cracks and crevices that are making it easy for the bugs to get indoors.
Clogged drains, mold and dirty surfaces also contribute to the issues, so keeping the bathroom clean and using drain cleaner when necessary can help prevent such issues. Nevertheless, many bugs are unlikely to leave unless they are forced out.
Hire a licensed pest control professional to identify the bugs in your bathroom and propose a tried-and-tested treatment plan that will get them out for good.
Bugs are not only frustrating and repellent, but may also cause damage such as carpenter ants, as well as causing allergic reactions and spreading disease such as with cockroaches and rodents. Don't tolerate having bugs in the bathroom or elsewhere for another day.
Call for a FREE inspection today.
