Silverfish Treatment
How Do I Identify A Silverfish Infestation?
Appearance - Ranging from white to brown-gray (or sometimes bluish) in color, and usually measuring around an inch in length, these insects' bodies squirm when they move. This movement, along with their fish-like scales, most likely contributed to their name “silverfish.”.
Behavior - You will find Silverfish hiding in dark areas of your house around paper or clothing sources such as a bathroom or laundry room. Although silverfish do not bite, they have incredibly destructive feeding habits, and commonly destroy clothing, wallpaper, and papers - especially in damp, dark areas.
Why Could I Have Silverfish?
Although Silverfish in are resilient and can survive almost anywhere, they prefer high humidity, which is why they congregate to kitchens and bathrooms.
During the warmer months of the year, you may find silverfish to become more abundant in your home. Not having a dehumidifier for basements of other rooms prone to humidity will draw silverfish in, along with easy access to any paper or linen they can feed upon within your home.
Finding them in drains is common. Controlling the humidity levels in your home is the best way to prevent a Silverfish infestation. Since they also like a variety of food sources, like sugars, proteins, and starches, it's wise to avoid leaving food out.
Why Should I Treat My Silverfish Problem Immediately?
Because they are nocturnal and often go unnoticed for a while, silverfish control in is tough. silverfish infestations can also quickly spiral out of hand because of their tendency to reproduce quickly. Having too many silverfish in your home puts your walls, linen and other pieces of property at risk, which can become costly.
Once an adult, female silverfish can produce between up to twenty eggs every day for the duration of her life, which can last up to five years. Eggs are frequently laid in protected areas, such as crevices, cracks and under carpeting or rugs.
Once silverfish in find a space with ideal living conditions, their population will increase rapidly, so it is vital that you address the problem as soon as possible.
Silverfish extermination should be handled by a professional pest control technician. It is best if local Localprofessional silverfish exterminators are called to address the infestation since they are the most familiar with the silverfish that reside in our area.
How to Get Rid of Silverfish
Silverfish are an annoying pest that is found throughout the United States. They are also called fishmoth, urban silverfish, and carpet sharks. All of these names describe the same insect. Silverfish are small and flat. They have grey and blue coloring and are from ½-inch to an inch in length.
Silverfish are not dangerous to humans, no matter how strange they look. However, they can be extremely damaging to your belongings. If you notice silverfish in your home, you will need to have them removed immediately.
How Do I Spot a Silverfish Problem?
Spotting a silverfish problem is a good start. You can obviously tell you have a problem if you see silverfish in your home. But these pests can be hard to find. They also move extremely quickly. If you so see an insect that you suspect is a silverfish, look at its movement. It will wiggle back and forth like a fish in the water.
Other signs of a silverfish infestation include the following.
- Seeing their shed skins.
Silverfish shed their skins as they age. You may see these shed skins around your home. They are very delicate, but if you see them, you will know that you have silverfish living in your house. - Finding yellow dust.
Finding silverfish skins can be a challenge. Instead, you may spot fine, yellow dust. This dust is also leftover from the molting process. It will be on books, papers, and other places silverfish like to hang out. - Discovering their damage.
The best sign that you have a silverfish problem is spotting their damage. Silverfish will eat any carbohydrate. That includes starches, paper, adhesives, wallpaper, sugars, and linens. You will find holes chewed in these things from the silverfish.
How Do I Get Rid of Silverfish?
Silverfish, especially in large numbers, can be extremely damaging. You should follow the tips outlined below to get them out of your home.
- Trap them by using a jar with carbohydrates in it and put tape around the edge.
The tape will trap them in the jar, which will make it easy for you to remove them. - Use sticky traps.
Sticky traps will have the same outcome as our first tip. They will trap the silverfish on them, which makes removing them from your home easy. - Try silverfish poison.
This option should only be used in homes without pets or children. Silverfish poison can be effective, but it is also dangerous. - Use dried bay leaves.
If you don't mind putting dry bay leaves around your home, they can help repel silverfish. The insects do not like the oil in the bay. - Contact a good silverfish removal company.
Silverfish can be hard to remove from your home. They gravitate to warm, moist environments. That makes them hard to find. It is best to leave silverfish removal to the experts. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find the top exterminators in your area. Visit our website to learn more about the process.
How to Prevent Silverfish
Silverfish are a very unique pest. They are an insect. However, they move like fish swimming in water. Don't be fooled by their strange gait, however. Silverfish can cause a lot of damage to fabrics and plants.
The best way to keep silverfish from ruining your clothes or upholstery is to prevent them from entering your home. In this article, we will tell you how to do just that.
Why Do I Have Silverfish?
Silverfish do not necessarily want to be in your home. In fact, they would much rather stay in nature. However, sometimes factors converge to create a silverfish outbreak. Here are a few reasons why your home may be attractive to silverfish.
- It has a lot of moisture.
Silverfish prefer moist spaces. If your home has water issues, such as leaky pipes or wet spots in the basement, you are more likely to have silverfish. - It has food.
Silverfish eat starches. This includes starchy foods like grains and vegetables, but also fibers and fabrics. They will not say no to pet food either. So, homes that provide easy access to any item made of starches will be more prone to silverfish infestations. - It has easy entry points.
Seeing silverfish in your home is a great indication that you have cracks to be sealed. They will often enter your house through a torn screen, cracks in the foundation, or gaps around doors and windows. If it is easy to get into your house, silverfish will be happy to make their way inside.
How Do I Prevent Silverfish?
Silverfish are not dangerous to humans or pets. They can cause enough damage to food stores and fabrics to be a nuisance, though. They can also be hard to remove once they are established in your home. Your best course of action is to follow the prevention tips outlined below.
- Clean up any loose food.
Old, left-out food is a major silverfish attractant. It is also a good way to have other pest problems. To keep silverfish out of your home, you should clean up any loose food particles. This includes crumbs, old pet food, and dirty dishes. - Seal any cracks and fix screens.
Sealing and repairing any holes or cracks in your home will prevent silverfish from entering. It is especially important to focus on fixing cracked screens when trying to prevent silverfish. - Ventilate well.
The better ventilated your home, the less likely you are to have silverfish. Try a dehumidifier or a fan. You should also fix any leaks or wet spots. - Dust regularly.
A clean home is a great tool in silverfish prevention. Dusting often removes any particles with starch from the surfaces of your home. Therefore, you will be depriving the silverfish of their food. - Contact a good exterminator.
To ensure no silverfish will get into your home, you need to hire a good exterminator. They can help you find failure points and provide a list of improvements that will prevent silverfish. At GoLocal Pest Control, we can help you find the best silverfish prevention in your area.
What Do Silverfish Look Like?
Silverfish are another pest that is found all over the world. There are species in Africa, Australia, Europe, Asia, some parts of the Pacific, and the Americas. That is a huge territory for these pesky insects.
Silverfish are not dangerous to humans. But they can be a major nuisance since they eat carbohydrates. That means they are happy to eat your wallpaper, books, and food. You don't want these pests in your home.
Their name is a little misleading. Silverfish look nothing like fish. They move like them, hence the colloquial name. But, if you've never seen this insect, you may have no idea what they look like. To better protect your home from silverfish, you need to know their appearance.
How Many Species of Silverfish Are There?
There are actually more species of silverfish than you might expect. Worldwide there are 120 known species. In North America alone there are eighteen silverfish species. These eighteen species can be categorized into five types: Common silverfish, Gray silverfish, Firebrat, Jumping Bristletail, and Four-lined Silverfish.
One thing to keep in mind is that not all silverfish are part of the same order. There is only one Leisma saccharina, or common silverfish, in the country. Other orders silverfish may fall into include Archaeognatha, Ctenolepisma, and Thermobia.
What Do Silverfish Look Like?
All silverfish have the same basic shape. You should be able to identify a silverfish based on a general description. You do not necessarily need to know what type of silverfish you are dealing with. However, the different types do have some significant differences.
Below we'll look at each type of silverfish in more detail.
- Common Silverfish:
The Leisma saccharina is an extremely common type of silverfish. It is typically ½-inch to 1-inch long. It has a tapered abdomen. Adults are a silver-metallic color. They have long antennae. Common silverfish can live for up to three years. - Gray Silverfish:
Gray silverfish are usually between 0.39-0.78 inches long. They can be either gray, dull silver, or black. Their bodies are covered in gray spots. They have a carrot-shaped body. The three tail-like appendages are the same size as the body. - Firebrat:
Adult Firebrats are usually about 0.39 inches in length. They are white with dark spots. Their body is completely oblong. It has the long antennae and tail-like appendages of the Common Silverfish. - Jumping Bristletail:
The biggest difference between Jumping Bristletails and other silverfish is that these insects jump. They have a shrimp-shaped back, but they also have the distinctive three tail-like appendages off their abdomen. They use their abdomen to jump. - Four-lined Silverfish:
These silverfish are usually between 0.47-0.59 inches in length. They have a gray/brown body and three yellow-brown lines on their abdomen.
As you can see, it is the size and color differences that really distinguish these species from one another. You want none of them in your home, though. Let the experts at GoLocal Pest Control help you find the top silverfish removal company in your area.
How to Find an Exterminator to Help with Silverfish
Silverfish do a good job of destroying all the paper products in your home. If they get inside, they will eat your books, wallpaper, and even starchy foods. You really don't want to deal with a silverfish infestation. Unfortunately, these pesky pests can enter a home in large numbers before we realize it.
If you notice a silverfish problem, you should contact a good exterminator immediately. Doing so will keep the items in your home from being destroyed. But, to fully solve your silverfish issue, you need to use the advice in this article to find the best exterminator.
What Should I Look for in a Silverfish Exterminator?
Silverfish are a common pest throughout the United States. Many exterminators will likely specialize in silverfish removal. However, not all exterminators will do the same level of work. Instead, you need to sift through your choices to find the best one.
The top way to find a great exterminator is to interview them before hiring. When you go in to talk with the exterminator, have the following questions ready. They will help you determine if the pest control company aligns well with you.
- When was your last silverfish job?
- Can you describe your silverfish treatment?
- When are silverfish problems the most common?
- Will the silverfish reenter my home after treatment?
- How long will I have to wait until the treatment takes effect?
- Do you offer a guarantee or warranty?
What Should I Expect from Silverfish Exterminators?
You don't just want the silverfish exterminator to treat the symptoms of your silverfish problem. Instead, they should help you solve the problem once and for all This means doing more than just killing the pests.
All good pest control companies will begin their services with an inspection. This process aids the technician in finding the source of your silverfish problem and gauging its severity. The inspection will also help the technician decide on a treatment plan.
You have to accept the treatment plan, or estimate before treatment begins. The silverfish treatment will likely include the use of insecticides to kill the silverfish. The nest should also be destroyed. Additionally, the technician should help you seal any entrance points. They may also indicate lifestyle changes that will keep the risk of another silverfish infestation low. To keep the silverfish out, the technician may also recommend a follow-up visit.
How Do I Find an Exterminator to Help with Silverfish?
Silverfish are a universal problem in this country. However, it is still better to hire a local pest control company. Your local companies are more likely to treat your situation as unique. They will not offer the cookie-cutter plans of large, national corporations.
If you are looking for the top exterminator near you, you need the help of GoLocal Pest Control. We offer many pre-screened, quality, and qualified exterminators. It doesn't matter where you live, we can help you find the best match. Contact us today or visit this page to learn more.