A Fishy Problem Preventing Silverfish In Your Home

A Fish Out of Water

Silverfish, also sometimes called fishmoths, arent actually

fish at all. Instead, theyre part of the Family Lepismatidae,

and theyd love nothing more than to live in a dark, damp spot

in your home.

Characteristics of

Silverfish

Silverfish are typically white, brown, or a silvery blue in color.

They typically range from 12 to 19 mm in length.

All of them have three long bristles at the back of their bodies.

They move from egg to adult without a serious appearance

change.

You May Find Them. . .

You can actually find silverfish in a variety of different locations.

They prefer the damp, dark places in your home, like your

basement or even under the bathroom sink. They love paper and

damp clothing, too, though, which may expand their living space

a bit. If you have a garage or a shed, you might find them living

in boxes out there.

Hungry, Hungry, Hungry

Silverfish are on the lookout for any

carbohydrates or starches. Thats part of

the reason theyre so attracted to paper.

Anything cellulose is fair game for them.

They also like shampoo, the glue that

holds books together, or even other dead

insects. Theyve even been found in

unopened food packages in the past.

Are They In My House?

Unlike some pest infestations, this one

doesnt stay hidden for long. Many

people discover they have a problem

with silverfish when they actually see

one in their home. Youre likely to find

them in your sink or bathtub before you

find them anywhere else. You could also

find feeding damage from these little

creatures on paper materials or tiny feces

that look like specks of pepper.

Preventing Infestation

It can be a bit tough to prevent silverfish

from coming into your home, but there are a

few things you can do. Start by controlling

the humidity levels throughout your home.

In fact, the nymphs tend to develop quicker

when its more humid, so keeping your

home a bit drier is a good idea. Youll also

want to caulk any holes or other potential

entry sites. A cleaner home is less likely to

have silverfish, too, so keep it clean and

uncluttered.

Dealing with Infestation

If youre already fighting a heavy population

of silverfish, your best bet is to contact the

professionals. Every infestation is different

with these little guys, so a customized solution

is an absolute must.

Making the Right Choice

Ransford Environmental Solutions Inc has been the name to

know in pest control since 1896. Specializing in Integrated

Pest Management, theyre the only way to go. Call for a

free estimate.