This is a question frequently asked of professional pest control experts. Before looking at the possible causes of such an infestation, let’s take a moment to understand the creature itself.
What Exactly Is a Silverfish?
The name has been known to lead to confusion; it even sounds like an attractive addition to any aquarium! In fact, there is an Antarctic Silverfish, found far away in the Southern Ocean! But, of course, our version certainly isn’t a fish; and it surely isn’t a welcome visitor to any home.
It is a wingless insect, usually less than one inch in length. The name seems to have evolved because of its light grey coloring. Newly hatched, the young tend to be white, and as they grow older, this dulls to a grey, metallic appearance. Its wingless body tapers, and together with its typical movements, this can make it appear, at first glance, to be fishlike. It likes to feed on sugar, starch, and other carbohydrates – of which more later.
How Come They Are a Home Pest?
Firstly, silverfish love a humid atmosphere, being sensitive to moisture. They prefer high humidity, up to and above 75%. This is why they are so often found in kitchens or bathrooms, laundry areas, garages, and in certain cupboards or cabinets.
They are often found in these areas, perhaps searching for food, but will prefer to spend most of their time where it’s dark, humid, and with a temperature of around seventy to ninety degrees. Thus, many home environments seem most welcoming to them.
In terms of diet, silverfish do enjoy any protein they can gain from dead insects or dried beef. As mentioned, most of their diet consists of carbs; they love access to foodstuffs such as oats or flour. Unlike humans, however, they will also cheerfully munch on paper, cardboard, book bindings, and glue. They are also known to consume insulation!
How Do I Avoid Such Infestations?
The answer is to deprive them of their natural environment. Using ventilation fans, in kitchens, showers, and bathrooms, helps. Dehumidifiers are one other way to bring down high levels of water condensation.
Inspect your property for welcoming signs, such as leaking pipes or blocked gutters and downspouts. At the same time, seal any cracks, crevices, and holes in your walls or floors (a favorite place for their egg-laying activities), especially where pipes are passing through. Effective storage of food sources does help to avoid encouraging silverfish to set up house in your home. Regular vacuuming also helps.
Action to Take if You Suffer an Infestation
Like other infestations, it pays to make use of highly professional pest control experts. Across the Birmingham metropolitan and Central Alabama areas, that certainly means the team at EnviroSpray. They combine their professional expertise with vital local area knowledge to deliver a cost-effective service. They are noted for providing dependable solutions when dealing with silverfish and many other truly unwelcome visitors.
As well as dealing with a specific current problem, it can also be a wise move to arrange quarterly inspections of your home to make use unwelcome guests are quickly spotted and swiftly dealt with.