9 Bugs Eating Toilet Paper

It’s every homeowner’s nightmare. You wake up in the middle of the night, head to the bathroom, and find that your toilet paper has been eaten by bugs. But what kind of bugs are eating your toilet paper, and how can you get rid of them? Here are 9 bugs that are known for eating toilet paper, and some tips on how to get rid of them.

Do bugs like eating toilet paper?

Bugs like eating toilet paper because it is made from materials that they are attracted to. The cellulose in the paper is a major attractant, as well as the starch and sugar.

In general, bugs are attracted to environments where they can find food. This means that toilet paper, which is often found in bathrooms and other places where there is moisture and darkness, can be a magnet for bugs that like to eat paper.

While it is not common for these bugs to eat toilet paper specifically, it is something that people should be aware of as they may see these pests in their homes or businesses.

Could the bugs eating toilet paper in your bathroom be paper mites?

Paper mites are tiny, insect-like creatures that live in paper and other materials. They can be white, black, brown, silver, gray, or orange.

While paper-eating bugs don’t pose a serious health risk to humans, they can cause damage to furniture and other items made of paper or wood.

In addition to being found in many different types of paper, these bugs can be discovered on a variety of surfaces, including windowsills, bookshelves, cardboard boxes, storage units, garages, cabinets, pantries, wallpaper, and even toilet paper.

Paper mites can cause a lot of damage to paper products. They are extremely small and may be invisible to the naked eye when bitten. Paper mites thrive in areas with high humidity, so it is important to keep your home or office dry and clean.

Because paper mites need moisture in order to survive and can thrive in areas with high humidity levels, you need to keep moisture out of your home.

If you want to prevent or eliminate a paper mite infestation, there are several things you can do: keep your home clean and dry, use proper storage methods for paper products, and consult a pest control specialist if the problem persists.

What are the bugs eating toilet paper in your home?

bugs eating toilet paper

There are different types of bugs that can eat toilet paper. Some of the most common ones are silverfish, cockroaches, and beetles. To get rid of the bug, you’ll need to identify it and eliminate it.

This may require some detective work, as you’ll need to look for clues like droppings, damage to the toilet paper, or even the bugs themselves.

You can also set up traps to catch the bug and monitor its behavior in order to prevent future problems. Here are some types of bugs that could be eating your toilet paper.

Silverfish bugs

silverfish

Silverfish love to eat paper goods and will eat them until they’re gone. Silverfish may be the cause of your toilet paper’s frayed or ripped edges or little clumps of paper.

Silverfish are harmless but can be a nuisance, so it’s important to get rid of them if they are present in your home.

Silverfish bugs, or Lepisma saccharina, are a common household pest. They’re about 1″ in length and have two lengthy antennae that are brown or yellowish with segmented bodies with visible patterns.

There are also three bristles that stick out on the rear flank. Silverfish will eat the outer edge of paper first before moving onto the core of it.

In addition, silverfish bugs are common in humid environments and can infest your stockpile of paper goods, whether it’s books or toilet paper.

To prevent new rows from being eaten, store toilet paper in a different way to prevent silverfish bugs from eating it. You can also use a layer of diatomaceous earth to keep pests away.

Drain flies

Drain flies are small, black, or gray bugs that live around drains. They get their name because they are often seen flying near drains and garbage disposals. They feed on organic matter, such as food scraps and paper products, so they can be a nuisance in the home.

Drain flies are pests that feed on the bacteria and mold that grow in the sludge down in your drains. This can create a never-ending cycle of more flies.

Drain flies are generally harmless, but they’re still pretty gross to have around. Not only can these pests eat or damage toilet paper, but they can also contaminate food and spread disease. So if you see any drain flies in your home, be sure to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Booklice

booklice

Booklice are tiny, soft-bodied insects that feed on mold and damp materials such as books, newspapers, magazines, wallpaper, and of course, toilet paper.

They are very small insects that feed on the starch in the paper. While they are not harmful to humans or pets, they can be a nuisance.

Because they are so little and often challenging to perceive with the human eye, they frequently go overlooked. They can do serious harm to any organic substance they eat. Thus their presence should not be taken lightly.

If the bugs are not kept in check, they can quickly multiply and destroy pictures, books, old keepsakes, and other paper products.

Gnats

Gnats are tiny, black insects that are common in the house. They are attracted to moisture and can quickly build up large populations. They can be a nuisance and can damage food or other items in the home.

If you find gnats in your bathroom, the most likely cause is a houseplant. Remove the plant and clean any soil or water from the pot. If you can’t remove the plant, use food-grade diatomaceous earth to dehydrate the gnats.

Spider mites

Spider mites are tiny, hard-to-see pests that feed on plant material. In fact, spider mites can cause significant damage to plants and crops and can be difficult to get rid of.

Spider mites are tiny pest bugs that can be found on a variety of surfaces, including paper products and towels. They feed on the tissue of plants or animals and can cause significant damage.

There are many different types of bugs that can eat through toilet paper, but spider mites are one of the most common.

They can be eliminated by removing any plant or organic matter from the bathroom and spraying with an insecticide. If they’re entrenched in plants, however, treatment may be necessary.

Tiny ants

Small ants, less than a quarter-inch long, are commonly found in the bathroom. They will form trails that go through your baseboards to your cabinets and eat through any toilet paper or paper products they find.

While they don’t pose a major health threat, they can be an annoyance. Though they are tiny, ants can still cause a lot of damage to your home.

They’re commonly mistaken for the common household ant, but they seek food sources that are similar. What’s more, ants don’t eat paper goods by default–they’ll only pick up food if it’s nearby.

How to get rid of tiny ants?

Though they may be tiny, ants can be a big nuisance. If you’re having problems with ants in your bathroom, here are five ways to get rid of them:

– Use a layer of Borax or diatomaceous earth around the baseboards of your bathroom.

– Place sticky traps in areas with high ant activity.

– Get rid of the bathroom trash regularly.

– Never throw food bits into the bathroom trash.

– Clean up spills and keep your bathroom tidy.

Weevils

weevils

Weevils are small, brown beetles-like insects that infest grains, rice, pasta, beans, flour, and other dry goods. Weevils can cause damage to stored food products and can be difficult to get rid of.

However, with a combination of natural repellents and insect exclusion measures, they can be controlled fairly easily.

In addition to toilet paper, weevils can also infest other stored goods. If you have weevils and store your food in the same room, then you will need to use a combination of repellents and weevil killers to get them out of your TP rolls.

There are two ways that weevils can infest your home: from the outside and from grocery stores. To avoid weevil infestation, keep dry foods under watch over time and monitor them for signs of infestation.

Cockroaches

Roaches are some of the most common insects in the world, and they love to eat paper. This means that they can live in your toilet paper roll, and you may not even know it!

Roaches can be a major nuisance and can contaminate your food, so it is crucial to get rid of cockroaches and infestations as soon as possible. It is difficult to get rid of cockroaches completely, so you will need to take some preventative steps.

For example, store any new items in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids, and make sure there are no leaks around the shower or sink. Wipe up any spills immediately after they occur.

Houseplant pests

bugs eating toilet paper

Houseplant pests are a common problem for indoor gardeners. These pests can infest plants through the leaves, soil, and stems. They can also enter the home through cracks and crevices in the walls or when new pets are brought inside.

Once they’ve found a comfortable place to live, they can be difficult to get rid of. Bugs can complete their life cycle very quickly, so it’s important to address any signs of an infestation as soon as possible.

In general, there are three types of houseplant pests- insects, mites, and fungus. Insects are the most common and can be identified by their physical form. They may be small or large, have wings or be crawling, and can vary in color.

Mites are very tiny and often go undetected until there is a severe infestation. They can cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop off. The fungus appears as black spots on leaves and stems and can grow very quickly.

To prevent an infestation, it is important to first identify the pest. Once the pest is identified, a plan of action can be put into place to eradicate them. This may involve using pesticides or removing the plant from the house and treating it outside.

It is also important to keep in mind that pests can be difficult to remove completely and often return if not treated properly. Houseplants are an important hiding place for pests and can be difficult to keep free of them.

How can you get rid of bugs eating toilet paper?

There are a few ways to get rid of bugs eating toilet paper. Here are some of these ways:

Glue boards and sticky traps

One is to use glue boards or sticky traps. These traps work by using a sticky surface that pests will stick to. This will help you determine where the pests are hiding and how big the infestation is.

Reduce the humidity in your house.

Mites are tiny bugs that can be controlled by removing the humidity, cleaning spills, and keeping areas clean. They thrive in moist environments, so eliminating their food source will help to get rid of them.

Borax or DE

In addition, you can use Borax or food-grade diatomaceous earth to get rid of the bugs eating toilet paper. These products can be sprinkled around the baseboards of the areas where the paper is eaten.

The toilet paper-eating bugs will crawl over it and come into contact with you, allowing you to kill them.

Pest control professionals

If the bugs are not eliminated with common methods, such as spraying with an insecticide, professional help may be necessary. This includes contacting a pest control company to identify and eliminate the source of the problem.

Why does toilet paper attract paper-eating bugs?

Bugs are attracted to toilet paper because of its texture. The soft, absorbent paper is similar to the material that they eat in their natural environment, so they are drawn to it.

High moisture content in your bathroom air

The high moisture content in the air makes toilet paper a breeding ground for bugs that like to eat paper. These bugs are not harmful, but they can be a nuisance.

Toilet paper acts as a dry surface for the bugs.

Bugs are generally not attracted to toilet paper as it is a dry surface. However, they can’t walk on a wet surface, so they crawl up to the toilet paper to feed. This is why it is important to keep the bathroom clean and free of any moisture.

Toilet paper serves as nutrition.

Toilet paper is made of cellulose and starch, which are two food items for bugs. Bugs that eat paper will consume the cellulose and starch on toilet paper, as well as other types of paper products in your home.

If they can’t find anything to eat, then they’ll eat toilet paper.

Moisture is a key factor in the survival of most bugs, and it’s often found in environments like homes with bookshelves. Bugs will eat just about anything to survive, including toilet paper, so it’s important to keep your home dry and clean.

Paper-eating bugs use paper to hide from humans.

While it is unknown why some bugs specifically enjoy eating toilet paper, it is speculated that they are able to use the softness of the paper as protection from being seen or killed by humans.

By hiding under piles of books, for example, these bugs can go undetected and feast on their favorite food source.

Toilet paper itself could harbor mold.

It is interesting to note that one of the reasons why toilet paper often becomes infested with bugs is because of its proximity to moisture. Toilet paper often harbors mold and moisture, which attract bugs, leading to an infestation of newer books in the vicinity.

Conclusion

Bugs eating toilet paper are a true annoyance. Even though most of these bugs don’t prove to be dangerous to humans, they are still considered pests, and you should do anything you can to prevent and avoid them altogether.

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.