What insect was it?

[Pork]

Hi all,

Bit off my patch here but can anyone help identify a tiny insect I saw recently?

It was on the floor in the bathroom at home and it as probably only around 5-6mm, shaped a bit like a teardrop (head being the big bit) and wiggled the tail when it walked. It looked like a prehistoric animal (but tiny!).

I don't think it was a Rove Beetle, a Firebrat or a silverfish (I couldnt see any antenae on it). Any idea's what it was? It was certainly a cool looking thing.....

I;ve not got an infestation or anything (at least, I dont think so!) just never seen one before and wanted to know what it was.

Cheers

[JFReturns]

You mentioned it is not a Rove Beetle, but are you sure it isn't? Sounds very much like a Devil's Coach Horse...

[Pork]

Blimey, thats an ugly bugger!

Ni, it didnt look like that. It was really small and, odd though it sounds, it didnt look like it had legs. When it walked, it almost looked like condenstaion running down a mirror.

The more I look at the pics on the web, I think it might be a Silverfish, but I cant recall the antenae.

Thanks for the reply though, much appreciated.

[Moo27]

Teardrop beetle?

[Pork]

Moo27 said:

Teardrop beetle?

Nah, its not that little fella. It was grey in colour and was shaped like a teardop, certainly, but wasnt that. If I see another, I'll get a pic of the litte blighter.

[mrmaggit]

Pork said:

Hi all,

Bit off my patch here but can anyone help identify a tiny insect I saw recently?

It was on the floor in the bathroom at home and it as probably only around 5-6mm, shaped a bit like a teardrop (head being the big bit) and wiggled the tail when it walked. It looked like a prehistoric animal (but tiny!).

I don't think it was a Rove Beetle, a Firebrat or a silverfish (I couldnt see any antenae on it). Any idea's what it was? It was certainly a cool looking thing.....

I;ve not got an infestation or anything (at least, I dont think so!) just never seen one before and wanted to know what it was.

Cheers

If it was about 1mm wide at the widest, and silver in colour, it was a silverfish.

[Pork]

mrmaggit said:

If it was about 1mm wide at the widest, and silver in colour, it was a silverfish.

Yeah, it was, possibly 2mm, but certainly a little thing.

Thanks. Pics on the web just show more detail than I can see, I suspect.

Now to see if theres more and if they're a nuisance!

[dudleybloke]

bedbug?

[goldblum]

I hope it wasn't one of these..

[Pork]

dudleybloke said:

bedbug?

Nah, I dont think so - it couldnt have been further away from the beds in the house.

goldblum said:

I hope it wasn't one of these..

What's that little fella? Didnt look anything like that - it was a teardrop with no (apparent) legs.

I'm going with silverfish, though I'm assuming this is a massive close up!

[Simpo Two]

Silverfish are damn fast, they look like a drop of mercury running off a slope.

[mrsxllifts]

The oldies around say that silverfish are the sign of a clean house! Don't ask me how that works.

[Pork]

Simpo Two said:

Silverfish are damn fast, they look like a drop of mercury running off a slope.

Yep, thats the one! Must be one of them then, thanks.

mrsxllifts said:

The oldies around say that silverfish are the sign of a clean house! Don't ask me how that works.

Ah, now you're making me doubt the above

[jinkster]

Got silverfish in my house. Any ideas how to get rid of the damn things?

[dudleybloke]

jinkster said:

Got silverfish in my house. Any ideas how to get rid of the damn things?

they're afraid of polar bears.

[Pork]

jinkster said:

Got silverfish in my house. Any ideas how to get rid of the damn things?

When I googled about them, it said they like dark and damp conditions and the way to get rid of them was to get rid of dark and damp conditions - IIRC there were suggestions of temporarily lighting the affected area, but as we don't really have a problem with them (touch wood!), I've not looked into it any further.