That might sound strange but it's common for old houses to have many bugs and other insect pests. They populate the houses from the inside out, affecting the living standards. If there are small tiny brown bugs in your house living all around the place, do not panic - this is a common issue among New Zealand householders. Many of them have similar pest problems. There are three primary species of tiny bugs that inhabit old-fashioned houses: silverfish, beetle, and the tick. Each of them has their habits, diet, behavior, and means of containing their numbers.
Silverfish
Silverfish is one of New Zealand's common household bugs. It is the most peculiar and destructive insect species. It inhabits most old-fashioned houses. They cause damage to wallpaper, books, walls, and everything made out of wood. They move fast by jumping all around the place as you try to catch them. They can be found anywhere in the house: kitchen, bathroom, attic, or even containers with food.
Silverfish Characteristics
The silverfish (Lepisma Saccharina) is one of the bugs. They are small, primitive, wingless insects of silvery light grey color. They have a fish-like appearance, hence the name. The silverfish's diet consists of carbohydrates such as sugar or starches.
Silverfish are nocturnal insects, noisy, and very active at night. Their size ranges between 13 to 25 mm long. The silverfish is wingless. It moves in a wiggling motion that reminds of how fish moves. One silverfish lives for up to three years.
Where to Search for Silverfish
The silverfish is an outrageous runner, outrunning most of its predators. It is found in Africa, America, Eurasia, and other parts of the Pacific including New Zealand. They inhabit moist areas, requiring relative humidity between 75 and 95%. They can also be found in attics, basements, bathtubs, sinks, kitchens, old books, and showers.
Silverfish's diet consists of polysaccharides, such as starches and dextrin. Dextrin is found in adhesives, book bindings, carpets, clothing, glue, paper, and photos. They also eat cotton, linen, silk, leftover crumbs, or even leather and synthetic fabrics. Some old-fashioned houses may have walls covered in linoleum. This is especially important to consider as silverfish can be present there.
How to Get Rid of Silverfish
Silverfish consume and destroy property, contaminate food, and do other types of damage. As it produces so much discomfort to householders, it is wise to consider methods of getting rid of them. To get rid of them, use essential oil of the Japanese cedar Cryptomeria japonica. It has been proven to repel and insecticide against silverfish with promising results.
You can apply the oil to paper to repel 80% of silverfish. Exposure to vapors of 0.16 mg/cm^3 of essential oil for 10 hours caused a 100% mortality rate among silverfish.
Cleaning places with mold, damp or humid corners inside your house can also be good tactics at battling the silverfish at your house.
Small Tiny Brown Bugs (Beetles)
If you happen to have small tiny brown bugs in the house, do not be shocked. These bugs are known as beetles, which are found in kitchens and anywhere else where there is a food source. These bugs are known to feed on flour, animal or vegetable products, spices, and even drugs. They prefer warm, dark areas with temperatures above 23C. Due to their fast reproduction with food, you should consider disposing of any opened food packages should you find a bug nearby.
Beetles often produce clicks to attract the attention of the opposite sex. They reproduce at night and can be very irritating in their noises.
To Get Rid of Beetle
Take a look at anything food-related in your house. Check pantry and cupboards or any open food packages. Beetles can be found in oat packages, spices, flour, and other food. Clean everything up and throw away contaminated packages.
Once the food source is removed, the beetles will disappear.
Tick
This is a less common type of tiny brown bug but the most dangerous. This insect’s life involves feeding on the blood of animals and pets at your house. If you find one that must mean the culprit is nearby such as a wild animal or a pet. It's hard to face a tick infestation if you don't own any pets but if you do this is the worst type of tiny brown bug you may fight.
Ticks are parasitic and can transmit a few diseases. It is necessary to get rid of them as soon as possible. Take your pet to a professional for tick removal.
Getting Rid of Ticks
It's best to take it to the professional vet to deal with the issue. You will have to approach your vet to buy something against ticks. Examine where their source is and apply the trap at that place.
Other Bugs
To get rid of other bugs use ordinary means of pest control. You can buy a UV-based home trap for better pest management at your house. Any kind of insect trap will do. Refer to the Department of Conservation or Ministry of Health - Pests and Insects. They offer good pest control services.
Conclusion
We have covered three types of house-infiltrating insects: Silverfish, Beetles, and Ticks. The removal strategies for each one are based on looking for contaminated food or spots where they prefer to spawn. The spawning locations might be food packages, books, paper, linen, sinks, kitchens, showers, and pets. Placing a trap at the source may solve the problem.
With the above ideas in mind, you will be better equipped to fight those pests at home. Hope you will have luck battling the bugs at your house should any of them appear.
