A strangely fast-moving silver bug,
Where do the paper fish (stains) come from?
- Others
- 2019/06/17
Near bookshelves and books, in toilets and bathrooms, on walls in dimly lit rooms, on duvets, shoji screens and tatami mats ... Have you ever seen a bug like a Ligia exotica? It shines brightly and is about 1 cm in size. Perhaps it is a bug called a paper fish (stain). After all, this bug, which looks unpleasant, has a strange appearance that moves quickly and wiggles, and when it is wrapped in tissue paper and crushed, silvery powder is attached, which further increases disgust.
It's often said, but don't worry, it doesn't affect the human body. However, is it more unpleasant for people than cockroaches? We will approach the mystery of a mysterious paper fish. I will explain with images from now on, so be careful when browsing.
It looks unpleasant, but is it also a fashionable synonym?
A non-metamorphic primitive insect, a paper fish (stain).
It is written as "paper fish" and read as "stain". It is also called "paper fish" or "clothed fish" because its body shape resembles a fish and it damages paper. Although it is not well known, it has a surprisingly high appearance rate. Since it appears in places with high humidity, it is called "wet insect", and because it is covered with something like silver scales and glitters, it is called "mica insect", "kiramushi", and "foil insect". It is also called "scale". In Europe and the United States, it has a cool name "silverfish" in English.
The paper fish that was said to have existed even before cockroaches is a primitive insect of the family Thysanura. Its origin is estimated to be more than 300 million years ago, but its morphology is almost unchanged from its current form. Thysanura is a seasonal word that is classified as late summer and often appears in haiku. In addition, the story of Genji, which is a story in the middle of the Heian period, also states, "It has become a habitat for stains and molds, and it has a mildewy appearance. It remains clearly in) ”. It seems that it has been recognized as an insect that easily occurs in books and hanging scrolls for a long time.
You can live for more than a year in a fasted state.
The ecology of paper fish is too mysterious!
Both larvae and adults of paper fish (thysanura) damage the surface of the glued cover of used books, hanging scrolls, etc. to make them tattered, but they do not cause enough damage to make holes. If you find a hole in an old book, another insect such as Anobiidae is probably the culprit.
Even if you don't have an old book or hanging scroll, you can still see paper fish in a warm environment even in winter because of the high humidity and heating. This is because the insect called thysanura can live for more than a year even when there is no food. Moreover, it has a long lifespan among insects, 7 to 8 years. Due to its nocturnal nature, it is rarely seen in dark places and gaps in the room during the day, in the library and storage room, but it is also commonly found in ordinary households. When you come home at night, or when you wake up in the middle of the night and turn on the lights in your room or toilet, you may be surprised to find a mysterious insect that escapes quickly.
The length of the paper fish is around 8 to 10 mm, although there are some variations depending on the type. The body is covered with scales, has long antennae and tail hairs, and features six slightly shorter legs. You can't fly because you don't have wings. The adult body color of Ctenolepisma is slightly blackish, and the body color of adult silverfish is silvery and glossy. Originally a Western book pest, silverfish has expanded its distribution in Japan, and in recent years it has become more common than Yamatosimi. It also occurs in large numbers in Hokkaido and can cause problems. As the name suggests, firebrats distributed in temperate and tropical regions have a mottled pattern, so it is easy to distinguish them from the two species listed above.
(Body length about 8-10mm)
A paper fish that comes from nowhere and stays longer.
I prefer a place with high humidity, but ...?
It seems that there are people who try to put lavender and herbs, make sure that there are no gaps that can be an invasion route, and make various efforts, but it seems that there are many people who are disappointed to find paper fish without making efforts... Since the body of the paper fish is flat, it can be easily invaded through a small gap. It's possible that a paper fish will come to your house from the outside before you know it. Although it is a paper fish that has established a solid position as an unpleasant pest due to its unpleasant appearance, it does not sting or bite, so it is okay to see only a few of them.
It may also appear in the bathroom in search of a humid place, but it also has the side of being a little unhateable, as it drowns in a little water. If you find out about such a gap and don't like what you don't like, please take measures against the paper fish that we will introduce.
I don't want to see it anymore!
What are the causes and countermeasures for the occurrence of Thysanura?
1Clean frequently and throw away paper immediately
Cleaning is one of the effective measures against all insects, not just paper fish. Let's aim for an environment where insects are hard to live by reducing food and hiding places. We recommend that you throw away the cardboard and paper bags immediately.
2Dry insects on a sunny day
Store your precious books, hanging scrolls, Japanese paper, etc. in a paulownia box so that you will not be damaged by insects. It is also very effective to "dry the insects" by exposing them to sunlight on a regular basis.
3.Pest Control to eliminate any insects you see.
Some people use Boric acid balls or Mosquito Repellent Coils, but it is recommended to keep an aerosol Pest Control (insecticide) that can also be used on silverfish on hand and spray it quickly when you spot them to get rid of them.
I introduced you to a mysterious insect, a paper fish (stain) that behaves strangely. How was it? By learning the ecology and habits of thysanura and knowing how to prevent, exterminate, and exterminate them in case of emergency, you may be able to calmly deal with them if you encounter them.
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