How Do I Get Rid Of Silverfish In My Spring Home?
Many kinds of pests infest homes in Spring, Texas. Some, like rodents, spiders, mosquitoes, termites, and ants, are more common. These pests regularly take advantage of residential properties and the resources they provide. However, there are other pests known as occasional invaders.
Occasional invaders usually infest due to weather and other external factors that make their natural habitats undesirable. Or they can even get inside by accident, whether on their own accord or by being carried in on packages, potted plants, or other items.
One type of occasional invader is the silverfish. Like other occasional invaders, silverfish don't usually reproduce indoors and may not even survive long, depending on the availability of food sources.
Even though pests like silverfish may not seem as concerning as other critters, they are still unwelcome in any home and can cause some problems. But you can keep silverfish and other pests under control with the assistance of pest control experts.
For pest control in Spring, look to our experienced experts at Modern Pest Control. We have been working in the industry since 1952, and over the years, we have developed a close relationship with the community, providing reliable and safe pest control services.
Keep reading to learn about an occasional invader in our area, silverfish, and how we can help keep them and other pests out of your home.
What Do Silverfish Look Like?
If you've never seen silverfish before, there is a good chance you'll be surprised at their unsettling appearance, as many people are. Silverfish get their name from several traits like the metallic silvery-brown scales covering their bodies. Another trait is their body shape, which tapers like a fish. And the last trait is their almost fish-like body movements, with their back end moving side to side as they walk.
But there is much more to these tiny insects called silverfish than their coloring and body shape. In their appearance, you will see flattened, elongated bodies about 1/2 to 3/4 an inch long, with two long thread-like antennae, six legs, and three-long bristle-like appendages referred to as tails. Silverfish nymphs look like adults but are smaller.
Silverfish don't have wings but are quick runners and can jump a little. They are also nocturnal critters, hiding during the day and coming out to search for food at night. As decomposers, their food consists of plant fibers, vegetables, carbohydrates, and sugars. Silverfish have a long lifespan and can live from two to eight years. Plus, they can sometimes live up to a year without food.
Silverfish prefer damp and dark places, so outside, they live underneath rocks, leaf litter, bark, logs, and other similar locations. For the most part, silverfish prefer to stay away from people, which is why inside, silverfish will look for similar places with conditions such as moisture that they like. These places can include bathrooms, basements, crawlspaces, and attics. They may also be in sheds, garages, and other storage areas. However, silverfish can survive in temperatures as low as freezing, but during winter months, they become less active unless they find somewhere warm to overwinter.
The right conditions need to be present for silverfish to reproduce. These conditions are warm temperatures and high humidity levels. A female silverfish can lay over 100 eggs during its lifetime. Again, in the right conditions, eggs will hatch in about three weeks and then grow into an adult in about four to six weeks. When they first hatch, silverfish have soft, white bodies that will grow scales in the several weeks it takes to mature.
Although silverfish aren't the most prolific pests, any amount of them is unwelcome in residential homes. As mentioned, silverfish are occasional invaders. Several other occasional invaders are often confused with silverfish. These pests are earwigs, centipedes, and the most notable, firebrats. Both silverfish and firebrats are sometimes referred to as "bristletails" because of their tail-like appendages. They are also common home invaders, and firebrats look similar to silverfish but don't have the same metallic appearance.
If you are unsure if you are experiencing silverfish or not, you can confirm this with an inspection from pest control experts, who can also help you get rid of pests, no matter what it is!
How Dangerous Are Silverfish?
When discussing dangerous pests, we usually talk about how they spread diseases and parasites, cause contamination, bite, sting, or create an unhealthy environment. But silverfish aren't known to do any of this.
As far as health concerns go, silverfish can affect people's allergies. Silverfish create allergens as they shed their skin, which can worsen with other indoor allergens. Still, this is only a small issue compared to the many other home-invading pests.
Because of the lack of health concerns silverfish are responsible for, they are known as nuisance pests. To give you a better idea of these types of pests, others that are a nuisance are centipedes, millipedes, and earwigs, to name a few. None of these pests is a welcome sight in any home, but unfortunately, they are common invaders.
Although silverfish aren't dangerous, this doesn't mean they aren't a problem. Silverfish can be destructive when they infest. They feed on materials that include but aren't limited to paper products, glues, silk, linen, and cotton. Essentially, they will chew on anything made of sugars, carbohydrates, and starches. The list of things silverfish can damage inside your home is endless, as they will even go after some synthetic materials.
Some items that can be affected by silverfish are books, wallpaper, tapestries, clothes, rugs, toothpaste, and cereals. As silverfish eat, they can cause damage to your home and may even contaminate food if they can get to it.
There are ways to help prevent silverfish damage in your home—store important documents in plastic sleeves or boxes. Similarly, if not often used, store books and other paper-based items away from clothing and in plastic containers. Keep all dry goods in plastic or glass containers with sealed lids; air-tight containers are the best option to prevent pests. Then make sure to store clothing in a place with proper ventilation that remains dry. Remove old wallpaper and anything else that uses glue or adhesive.
Regularly decluttering and organizing your home is a great way to make sure there are no food sources that could be attracting these annoying pests. While these prevention methods help avoid silverfish damage, you can learn how to keep this pest out of your home using the tips mentioned below!
How Can I Prevent Silverfish In My Home?
You don't have to wait until pests have made their way into your home; instead, you can take steps to deter them from coming inside in the first place. Putting effort into preventing any pest is well worth it if you can keep these unwanted critters out of your home and from causing problems. Use these expert-recommended silverfish prevention tips to keep these pests out of your home:
Remove entry points: Keep silverfish and other insects out of your home by removing gaps and cracks where they can squeeze inside. Often, pests like silverfish get in through the weaknesses in the foundation, so check this area for damage. Also, ensure no spaces around windows and doors or damaged screens. And check for pests if you bring anything into your homes, such as a potted plant or package.
Remove food sources: While silverfish will consume many things we don't consider "food," they can also be attracted to crumbs and other food debris in your home. So be sure to keep your kitchen and eating areas clear of food debris, store food in air-tight containers, and use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. You should also practice proper storage for seasonal clothes, books, papers, and other belongings.
Remove excess moisture: Silverfish need a moist environment to survive, so it's essential to reduce the moisture in your home to keep them away. Inside, you can do this by addressing any poor ventilation issues, using dehumidifiers, and repairing any leaking pipes and faucets. Outside, you should remove excess organic debris such as leaves and keep your lawn and foliage from overgrowing.
Remove harborage and hiding places: You can make your home less attractive to silverfish and other critters by removing places where they can hide from predators and people. Inside, you should regularly declutter and organize your belongings and continue to practice the storage tips listed above. Outside, you should remove anything that is not necessary for your yard, including organic and inorganic debris. And don't overlook the garage and outbuildings like sheds, as these are common places where silverfish can find harborage.
These tips will help reduce the likelihood of silverfish inside your home, but they won't be helpful if you already have an active infestation. So if you are worried about this pest in your home, you should contact pest control professionals for assistance. Not only can professionals help you get rid of silverfish, but they can also make prevention much more manageable.
Talk with pest control experts for more tips on preventing a silverfish infestation in your Spring home and ask how they can help to implement preventative measures.
What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Silverfish?
Professional pest control services are the best way to get rid of silverfish from your Spring home. While this is true for all pest infestations, occasional invaders like silverfish can be even more tricky. Here are several reasons why professional services are necessary for these types of pests:
Identification is key to proper treatment, and as you read above, there are several other occasional invaders other than silverfish. Experts can easily make these identifications and guide you to the proper treatment and prevention measures.
They will identify how and locate the entry points of these pests, as this can be a big challenge if you are unfamiliar with the nature of pests. Experts have experience with these critters and understand common hot spots and entry points.
There are often several factors that make a property conducive to these pests. Experts know what these factors are, how to identify them, and the steps to remove them.
In many cases, other pests may be present, not just silverfish. With expert assistance, you can address all your pest problems simultaneously.
Trying to get rid of pests on your own may provide quick results, but they will likely be short-term, allowing pests to re-infest in no time. With the right pest control professionals, you can return your home to a pest-free environment and maintain it long-term.
Spring residents can work with us at Modern Pest Control for silverfish removal and other pest problems with our Home Pest Control services.
You can utilize one of our three home pest control plans:
Modern Plus Service: Starting at $34 a month, you will receive quarterly visits and year-round protection from common home-invading pests, including silverfish.
Signature Service: Starting at $62 a month, you will receive all the benefits of the Modern Plus Service and termite control using the Sentricon System.
Signature Plus Service: Starting at $92 a month, you get all the benefits of the Signature service and seasonal mosquito control using the latest technology and products.
If you are unsure what plan is best for your needs, we can help! One of our trained technicians will perform a detailed inspection to identify the different pest pressures around your property to help you make the best decision. With our services, you will not only have access to professional silverfish removal, but we will protect your home against future infestations of this pest and others that regularly invade Spring homes.
Don't wait; call us at Modern pest Control today to schedule a free inspection and eliminate your silverfish problem. Our dedicated pest management professionals are standing by to provide personalized solutions for your pest concerns!