Monday, September 21, 2009

Those cute and lovable silverfish


I was cleaning one of my bookshelves last weekend when I was surprised to find a nest of silverfish in one of my books. Being the bookworm that I am, I exclaimed, "My babies! Don't flee! Me likey books too!"

I love those tiny critters. They can do one thing that I've unsuccessfully attempted many times before -- eat the pages from my books. These creatures can also eat the glue that binds the pages too. If I do believe in reincarnation, I wish that, for my next life, I'd be a silverfish. I just want to live the rest of my life in the company of books.

And speaking of insects, it seems that the offices of Penguin in New York has a bug infestation. Although, it's not silverfish but bedbugs! Bedbugs are nasty little bugs. Their bites are as itchy as hell.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Me likey books too, but me not likey horrible bugs =[

Peter S. said...

Hi, Hilda! I learned to live with those critters.

Ceri said...

Oh my Gosh, your real life bookworms! Ergghh... I hate creepy crawlies.

Patrick said...

So they're called silverfish? I've always seen them in our old books. Just didn't know what they were called. Hehe.

Do they pose a lot of harm on books? I don't mind seeing them in my older books but would hate to have them eat my newer ones as well.

Peter S. said...

Hi, Ceri! LOL at the "real-life bookworms".

Hello, Patrick. Actually, they can damage your books. So, better do some pest control once in a while.

Stepford Mum said...

Funnily enough, I keep finding these creatures in my bathroom! They like glue, you say, so maybe they like tile grout? I hope they stay away from my books!

eye_spy said...

ohh.. so they're called silverfish. now i know.

i just hate insects. sorry but when i see some of those hovering near my books i never hesitate to squish the life out of them. i know. im evil. =)

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

Well, all I have to say is I don't like to share... When it comes to creepy crawly things. My friends who will take care of my books I will share with, but not these little creatures that could eat my books. Eeewww.

Peter S. said...

Hi, Lya! Yes, I've heard they like glue. Does tile grout have adhesive?

Hello, eye-spy! Hahaha. When I think about the damage they can inflict on books, I can't help but feel hate toward these critters as well. But I guess I learned to live with them.

cindysloveofbooks said...

I guess the moral of the story will be no more reading in bed and double checking packages from Penguin now LOL

Me no likey the bugs unless they will start paying rent LOL

Peter S. said...

Hi, Melissa! Sometimes, they're unavoidable. They gravitate toward books!

Hello, Cyndy! Hahaha. That's a funny quip! Oooohhhh. I love Penguin!

Anonymous said...

I'd die if these bugs were eating my books. *Shivers*

Charlie said...

So is anything else bugging you?

LoF said...

i seem to only find one scattering when i thoroughly reorganize my library, i have never found a nest.

Anonymous said...

I've found them in my bathroom, but never in my books (thankfully!). And I've never experienced bedbugs either (thankfully!).
I felt a shiver just typing about them.

Peter S. said...

@Insertbooktitle: LOL. Sometimes, it's inevitable that these critters get into our books. They seem to come out of nowhere!

@Charlie: This is pretty much it.

@line of flight: You know what they say about these insects -- if you find one, there's bound to be hundreds.

@stacybuckeye: You're lucky. Bedbugs can be a pain the ass.

Jeane said...

Cute and loveable? I would scream and call the exterminator if I found bugs eating my precious books.

Anonymous said...

One of my dogs ate a book once... I think I would rather be a dog than a bug.

Unknown said...

@Jeane: LOL! I know several people who would have the same reaction.

@nanscorner: Oh my goodness! I can't imagine my dog eating a book!

Krista said...

Yeah, I'm not a fan of book eating bugs! LOL! Fun post, I hope you enjoy the bug life....LOL!

Krista said...

Oh, my puppy ate one of my books, too! Not to mention the fact that it was the one I was actually reading! She didn't eat so much as tore it up, really...LOL!

Tina said...

Me likey my books---that's why me NO likey the buggies that eat them. Get thee a couple of geckos my man. I know from experience they live in the PI.

Unknown said...

@Krista!: I can imagine how you feel seeing your book being eaten by a puppy. Those puppies will indeed try to eat anything that comes their way.

@Tina: I love those geckos! They're our natural pest control.

Anonymous said...

Eww.

Unknown said...

Hello, StephanieD! Ewww indeed! LOL!

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

UGHHHHHHHHH...found one on my front step....EWW

Unknown said...

Hello, Diane! Oh my goodness! I hope it doesn't find its way to your books!

BienBrendle said...

I actually really like them too :) them eating everything vaguely bothers me-but I am a horrible caretaker to my books in the first place so it would be hypocritical to be angry at them for damages.

Anonymous said...

FOUND ONE IN DORM HELP THERE R THREE> DO THEY HAVE STINGERS?

Jasper said...

I like them - they’re cute. However, now that I’ve learned they eat books, clothing etc.. I’ll have to evict them. They certainly are interesting characters eating glue, coffee, and sugar 😄