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Fire-brat

Fire-brat

Thermobia domestica

A species of Thermobia, Also known as Silverfish

Fire-brats are insects that prefer warm, humid environments and can often be found near furnaces, boilers, bakeries, or similar locations. They mainly feed on carbohydrates and starches, so they will seek out animal foods, books, and grains as food sources when they are indoors.

General Info About Fire-brat
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Attributes of Fire-brat
Habitat
bakery; boiler; rock; leaf litter; indoor
Adult Food Sources
Starch materials, glue from bookbindings, paper, cotton products, dead insects
Larva Food Source
Starch materials, glue from bookbindings, paper, cotton products, dead insects
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Venomous
Not reported
Non-poisonous
The Fire-brat is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
The Fire-brat feeds on plants, usually without causing significant harm. However, it's important to take the situation seriously if their numbers begin to increase significantly.
Predatory
Not reported
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Species Status of Fire-brat
They are distributed throughout most parts of the world.
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Distribution Area of Fire-brat
California
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Adult Size of Fire-brat
9 - 13 mm
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Predators of Fire-brat Larvae
Frogs and toads, birds, spiders, ants, cockroaches, centipedes
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Predators of Adult Fire-brat
Frogs and toads, birds, spiders, ants, cockroaches, centipedes, lizards, mammals
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Interesting Facts About Fire-brat
Fire-brat can thermoregulate by changing their bodily moisture levels, a rare trait for terrestrial invertebrates.
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Scientific Classification of Fire-brat
Tips for Finding Fire-brat
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Youth Habitat of Fire-brat
Urban and Suburban Areas, Rotting and Decaying Matter
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Adult Habitat of Fire-brat
Urban and Suburban Areas, Rotting and Decaying Matter
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When is the Best Time to Observe Fire-brat
The best time to look for fire-brat is during the night or in low light conditions since fire-brat is nocturnal and avoids light.
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What is the Best Weather to Observe Fire-brat
Warm and humid climates are ideal for finding fire-brat, as they prefer environments that are not too hot or dry.
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How and Where Can You Find Fire-brat at Different Life Stages
Egg Fire-brat eggs are often laid in small crevices or under objects in warm, humid environments. Check under objects near food sources and in basements or attics for tiny white, oval eggs.
Juvenile Fire-brat nymphs resemble miniature adults and can be found in the same areas as adult fire-brat. Look for them in dark, secluded areas behind furniture, in cupboards, or around bookshelves.
Adult Adult fire-brat can be found in crevices, bookcases, behind baseboards, or anywhere with paper or glue products. Use a flashlight at night to check along walls, in closets, or in storage areas for these silver, wingless insects.
Are Fire-brat harmful?
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Fire-brat frequently appears in houses and disturbs humans' lives. Fire-brat can also feed on textiles and other goods, causing damage to humans' properties.

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Are Fire-brat harmful to humans?

Cause sensitization. The habit of fire-brat makes it less exposed to pathogens than other domestic pests. But the dust on it is easy to cause allergies in allergic people.
Damage to property. Fire-brat can eat bookbinding glue, carpets, paper, photos, wallpaper, plaster sculptures, leather products, clothes made of linen or silk or other synthetic fibers, and it even feeds on paint.
Bother humans frequently. Fire-brat often appears in human living areas. Even in urban areas, it can be found easily in the attic, basement, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, dining room, garage, classroom.
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Where do Fire-brat come from?

Entering proactively. Fire-brat likes warmer spaces. So they often like to hide in the vicinity of refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and hot water pipes.
Entering passively. When book cabinets, bookshelves, bookcases, and book piles are moved, the hidden eggs, larvae, and adult pests can transport elsewhere with them and infest the new storage space.
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How to get rid of Fire-brat?

Notice fire-brat and abnormalities
  • Finding the trace of fire-brat.
  • Transparent shed skin of fire-brat.
  • Suddenly appearing things like small black pepper particles (its manure).
  • Irregular holes and yellow stains on items such as clothes or wallpaper.
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Drive away fire-brat
Dry books and turn the pages repeatedly. Slapping the books that fire-brat feeds on will make it frightened and run away.
Dry clothes. In sunny weather, the clothes can be flipped and dried outdoors, which can not only drive away many kinds of hidden insects but also dehumidify and kill mites .
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Clean indoors and outdoors. Clean up moist and rotting items indoors and outdoors. Sweep the barely exposed surface to reduce the spawning habitat and number of spawning.
Use homemade lemon juice spray. Squeeze the lemon juice into clean water. After mixing well, spray on any area where fire-brat appears. This little tip can effectively avoid fire-brat. Except for low persistence, it is highly efficient, completely non-toxic and harmless.
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Homemade traps for trapping fire-brat
Use a glass bottle with food inside as a trap. Choose a glass bottle with a smooth inner wall. Wrap the outside with tapes or things that have rough surfaces such as newspapers. Place a small piece of bread in a bottle. Put the device in a dark and wet corner. Fire-brat can climb the rough outer wall, but cannot escape through the smooth inner wall after entering the trap.
Use the wet newspaper as a trap. Roll up the old newspaper and tie the ends with a rope. Don’t tie too tightly. Before falling asleep, wet the newspaper and put the newspaper in the place where fire-brat appears. When waking up in the morning, in order to avoid fire-brat running away, do not open the newspaper and discard or burn it directly.
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Buy and use insect viscose board as a trap. Place the purchased one correctly according to the instructions for use. Put the starch-rich food as the bait in the center of the viscose board.
Buy and use cedar shavings. Fire-brat will be scattered by their odor and run out of the room. Due to the scattered wood chips, they should not be put in the place where they could affect public health. It is advised to replace them with new wood chips in a week. Clean debris with a vacuum cleaner.
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Buy and use diatomaceous earth. Before falling asleep, sprinkle diatomaceous earth in cabinets, baseboards and any other places. The next morning, use a vacuum cleaner to dry the powder and the killed fire-brat. Inhalation of diatomaceous earth can cause irritation to the lungs. Thus, wear a mask while sprinkling.
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Buy and use boric acid. Sprinkle boric acid in places where fire-brat is frequented. Due to the toxicity of boric acid, be careful not to inhale while using it. Households with babies or pets should avoid using.
Buy and use scented spice bags. Fire-brat does not like the smell of spices. Besides avoiding fire-brat damaging the clothes, Putting a scent bag in the closet and drawer can scent the clothes as well.
Harmful Effects of Fire-brat
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Stored Produce Pest

Fire-brat directly harms dry storage commodities like grains, cereals, and pet food by feeding and contaminating them. This pest's presence can range from mild nuisances, causing minor spoilage, to severe infestations that result in substantial food loss.

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Textile Pest

Fire-brat is considered a nuisance in homes, libraries, and storage environments. Feasting primarily on carbohydrates, they can cause mild to severe damage to items containing starch or protein. They are notorious for their destructiveness on paper products including book bindings and photographs, as well as a variety of other materials such as sugar, coffee, and textiles like cotton, linen, and silk. The presence of this pest can lead to a loss of structural integrity in paper-based materials and textiles, signifying losses of both cultural and material value.

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Hurt Plant

Fire-brat inflict damage through both their nymph and adult stages by chewing plant tissues, notably leaves. As generalist feeders, they demonstrate no plant preference, leading to potential widespread plant damage. Consequences range from defoliation to growth retardation, with severity dependent on infestation levels.

More Effects of Fire-brat

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