Why Do I Have Silverfish In My Houston, TX Home?
All bugs look strange. Some are more strange than others. One pest that regularly gets homeowners to scratch their heads is silverfish. These invasive insects are a new sight for the majority of the people that see them. Fortunately, despite their strange appearance, they are easy to identify, thanks to their descriptive name. If you have seen what you think might be silverfish inside your Houston home, here are some things you should know about these pests, including the main reasons they invade area properties.
What Are Silverfish?
Silverfish are small invasive pests with a unique appearance. Identify one of these insects by their silver scales, three bristle-like tails, two long antennae, and fish-shaped bodies. An adult silverfish is roughly 12 mm long, not including its antenna and tails. Another way to identify silverfish is by their quick movements. Let’s say, if they were pitted against other area pests in a race, these small insects would have a distinct advantage.
How and Why Silverfish Invade Homes
Due to its small size, quick speed, and ability to climb walls, a silverfish do not have to work hard to find its way into a home. All this pest needs is an entry point and a reason to invade. Most often, silverfish crawl inside through gaps and cracks in the exterior of homes, such as through foundational damage, beneath doors, around window frames, through damaged screens, and past weathered weatherstripping.
Silverfish invade homes to avoid negative conditions outdoors and to feed their tiny bellies. If you didn’t know, silverfish live on a diet of starchy items. This includes human food like grains and vegetables and less edible items like clothing, carpets, drapes, and other fabric-based items.
The Problems Silverfish Cause
The good news is that silverfish are not dangerous. They do not spread any forms of harmful bacteria, don’t bite, and are non-venomous. The bad news is that these pests are fairly destructive with their eating habits. If you didn’t know, silverfish would consume starches and protein. Some things these pests love to nibble on are grains, vegetables, sugars, and fabric. It is not uncommon for silverfish to damage carpets, drapes, clothing, and other fabric-based items around homes.
Prevention Tips For Silverfish
Silverfish are small, so they do not need a large hole, gap, or crack to squeeze their way into a home. Keeping this in mind, here are some helpful prevention tips to try around your property.
Use a caulking gun or liquid cement to seal off cracks, gaps, and holes in your home’s exterior foundation.
Take care of your weatherstripping, door sweeps, and window/door screens, and make sure the ones you have are in good shape.
Close unscreened doors and windows when they are not in use.
Store dry food inside air-tight containers.
Thoroughly dust, sweep and vacuum your home at least once a week.
Use a dehumidifier around humid areas inside your home.
Make sure rooms are properly ventilated and that you change out filters as needed.
Wipe up moisture inside sinks, bathtubs, and off of surfaces.
How Professional Pest Control Deals With Silverfish
If you do not have time to prevent silverfish on your own or are looking for a way to get rid of an infestation out of your living areas, you need professional home pest control. For the absolute best services Houston has to offer, look to the experts at Modern Pest Control. We have the tools and resources needed to identify, eliminate, and control troublesome silverfish. Contact us today to schedule your Houston home for a detailed service visit.