Hi

We have these little insects from time to time in our flat.

They are about 1 cm long or less, and run fast along the floor... when you approach close

Is it something I should worry about or do something about please? If so please advise on the best thing.

Dont want them turning into something bigger like cockroaches / flesh eating monsters etc etc.

If its nothing - then we can leave them in peace... maybe they eat the ants!

Please look at photo .... super - enlarged.

Thanks in advance
Jon

They are silverfish.You get them where conditions are damp ie the bathroom.

I think they are silverfish

We have them as well but don't know why.

Hi Jon, they are harmless, common silver fish. Here is a link so that you can find out all you need to know about them :-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverfish

Regards Bryony

Wow thanks Shirley, Snikpoh and Bryony for the prompt response and links etc.

'Silverfish' - strange name for a bug on the land, but good to know that they are not harmful in any way.

Can always count on the forum to get good help and advice.... thanks again
Jon

Hi Jon

That looks like a silverfish to me. They are harmless but are usually attracted to damp places-but then it was a very wet February / March! We sometimes get them in our place too.

Pat

Silverfish and libraries don't go well together, Jon.

Of course, without wanting to worry you too much, it could be the baby of the lesser known giant silverfish so all I can say is don't feed it

Regards Bryony

That is so true Carol, I have to check all our books at regular intervals to make sure they haven't been munching on them.

It's the way they slither - eeugh! Better than flying cockroaches, though.

I read in the link above that they are attracted to the glue in the book bindings... So are bad for libraries.

I hope they aren't attracted to my kindle, you can put 3000 books in it

They are hard to catch, don't like killing them so chase them around like the looney that I am!

Jon

Seasonal reminder: sorry back to a serious post.

Thank goodness they aren't spider fish some may recall my post that my wife got bit whilst swimming in Praia Verde. Horrible pain and luckily there was a Red Cross nurse on the beach who could administer help, including 5 injections in the foot!! The nurse said she was proud of her for not crying as she had seen grown men crying in pain, and sadly some die from the bite..(very rare). Her leg swelled up and actually whilst ok, reasonably quickly, had to have some more treatment on returning home.

There were hundreds on the beach, swimming barefoot, so she was very unlucky, but a child with that much painful poison would have hurt even more.

We only wear those thin rubber soled beach/swimming shoes now when we want to swim in the ocean there.

Jon

Just been reading that Canela and VR beach's have been closed to swimming for a few days this month because of Jelly Fish.

Very dangerous ones too. Portuguese man of war!