What do silverfish look like?
Despite what their name may lead you to believe, silverfish are actually a type of wingless moth. They received their “fishy” name because their brownish-gray body is covered in shimmering silver scales and because they move quickly from place to place in a wriggling fish-like manner. Adults grow to ¾ of an inch in length, they have a tear-drop or “carrot” shaped body, a distinctive long pair of antennae, and a super long bristle-like appendage that comes off the back of their body.
Are silverfish dangerous?
Silverfish are not dangerous to people or pets, but they are dangerous to property and will contaminate food sources. During the day silverfish tend to hide out of side in the dark cracks, crevices, and corners of the home they are invading; emerging at night to forage for food. Inside, silverfish feed on things like paper, glue, wallpaper, fabrics, other dead insects, and pantry items including flour, oats, and cereals.
Why are silverfish in my home?
Silverfish are moisture seeking pests, and can be found hiding during the day in damp, dark areas like underneath mulch, landscaping ties, fallen trees, and similar areas. If the weather outside becomes too hot and dry they may make their way inside of homes through cracks in basement and exterior walls. Once inside they can typically be found living in high humidity areas like basements, underneath of sinks, in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and crawl spaces. Silverfish can also be accidentally introduced into homes when boxes or packages that have silverfish hiding in them are brought inside.
How do you get rid of silverfish?
Silverfish have the potential to enter into homes in large numbers, and because of their nocturnal nature it can make finding and eliminating all of them from your home a very difficult task. At Spencer Pest Services we can get rid of silverfish from your property through our year-round residential pest control packages. Our pest control professionals have the experience, dedication, and training needed to control earwigs in your home and prevent future problems with them. Contact us today for more information about our silverfish control services.
Silverfish prevention tips
Along with putting into place a year-round pest control program from Spencer Pest Services, there are several things you can do in and around your home to help prevent problems with silverfish.
- Seal any gaps, holes, or cracks found in the foundation and exterior walls of your home.
- Caulk gaps found around windows and doors, and make sure that weather stripping is intact around both.
- Make sure that window and door screens are completely intact.
- Make sure that door sweeps are properly installed on all exterior doors.
- Seal openings that are found around pipes, wires, and other utilities that are entering into your house.
- Place a stone or rock barrier between any mulch and your home’s foundation.
- Reduce humidity levels in your home by installing dehumidifiers in the high humidity areas of your home, making sure that all bathrooms have fans installed in them, and properly venting crawl spaces.