A silverfish is a tiny wingless insect. Its common name derives from the animal’s silvery light blue and grey color, together with the fish-like look of its motions, the silverfish’s diet contains carbohydrates like sugar or starches. They occupy moist places; in urban areas, they may be found in attics, bathrooms, bathrooms, sinks, kitchens, and showers.
They’re considered household pests, as a result of their ingestion and destruction of property. Though they are responsible for the contamination of food and other kinds of damage, they don’t transmit disease.
Why You Need Professional Silverfish Pest Control
Silverfish are known for their destructive feeding habits, oftentimes ruining newspapers, clothing and background. Silverfish feed on carbohydrates, especially sugars and starches. Cellulose, shampoos, paste in books, linen, silk and dead insects might be food sources. They’ve been discovered in unopened food packages.
Identifying Silverfish
Silverfish could be found nearly anywhere in the home, but are most commonly found in moist, warm places (such as around sinks and other plumbing fixtures). They’re coated with glistening silver scales that provide the body a metallic sheen.
They are often found in bathtubs or sinks since they fall in seeking moisture and then can’t climb out. Silverfish are most active at night and run very quickly with a wiggling motion that looks like the swimming action of a fish.
Family Lepismatidae
You will encounter silverfish when you’re moving in or out of a house.
- Silverfish are slim in size
- 2 long antennae on the head and 3 long cerci in the rear
- About 1/2 inches long
- Silverfish are quick moving insects
- Generally associated with cardboard or paper
- Prefer damp, musty Locations
- Reproduce in or near moist, damp places such as a basement or in proximity to a toilet or shower
- Females lay up to 3 eggs Daily
- Populations grow rapidly and include many immature nymphs
- Silverfish are often found when books and other materials are packaged up for transferring
- Eats paste from the binding of books and inside the corrugation of cardboard
- Dusts in wall voids and probably breeding sites
How Dangerous Are Silverfish Issues?
May Cause Allergies
Silverfish often present a moderate risk to property and people. They don’t transmit disease, but the pests may cause allergies in some individuals.
Can Cause Damage to Personal Things
While inside, silverfish also eat grains and chew large holes into clothes, upholstery, or newspaper. In huge quantities, they can cause a whole lot of damage. Ruined items often include saved files, books, and antique clothing.
May Bring Other Pests
Their existence occasionally attracts carpet beetles and causes unease because of their strange appearance.
How to Prevent And Control Silverfish At Home
Nocturnal & Secretive
Silverfish are nocturnal and move very fast. They are secretive, and the severity of an infestation can go unnoticed for extended intervals, allowing for exponential growth. Silverfish reproduce quickly.
Prefer Moisture
Silverfish can survive in just about any environment, but they prefer areas with high humidity. Nymphs grow faster in areas that are humid. Therefore, among the best ways to prevent an infestation is to control humidity.
- Open vents in crawl spaces
- In basements, use baseboards with caulking
- Silverfish consume a variety of foods, and rigorous housekeeping practices may help prevent an infestation by restricting potential feeding sites
- Traps
But if your house already hosts a silverfish population, selecting a professional who will create a customized strategy is advised. Traps and insecticides sold in shops will only kill person insects and can’t address an whole infestation. Some folks attempt to use cinnamon to repel silverfish from particular regions , but it doesn’t kill the insects or their eggs.
Addressing a silverfish infestation requires treatment of the two adult silverfish and their harborage. Most do-it-yourself remedies prove ineffective over time, with short periods of relief followed by another infestation.
There are an assortment of silverfish traps on the market. But these traps target human insects and cannot prevent whole silverfish populations.
Ways to Exterminate Silverfish?
Homeowners in New York frequently transport silverfish indoors unknowingly. When brought inside the house, cardboard boxes and plastic containers recently saved in infested areas can make it possible for the pests to spread.
Moist and wet spaces, like basements and crawl spaces, attract silverfish. The pests will enter houses through foundation cracks, torn screens, or openings around doors. Leaving dirty dishes out in the open will also lure silverfish inside.
Silverfish infestations need professional treatment. Your community pest control expert will have the ability to evaluate the situation within your house and determine the best techniques of extermination for your particular issue.
At the first indication of a silverfish infestation, contact your local pest control professional. Scheduling a house inspection may help you to get rid of silverfish.
Super Exterminators is trained to help handle silverfish. Since every home is different, our pest control technician will design a special program for your situation.