Why Do I Keep Seeing Silverfish Around My Houston Home?
If you're noticing creepy, slimy, little fish-shaped bugs crawling around in your Houston home, you probably have a silverfish problem. These insects can be irritating to deal with; and they're pretty gross. Let's take a look at what silverfish are looking for inside your home, and why you keep seeing them.
Humidity
Silverfish don't typically do well indoors. Most homes don't have enough moisture to sustain a silverfish population. Unfortunately, there are lots of food options in your home that are ideal for silverfish. This can make them tolerate less-than-ideal levels of humidity. But they still need some humidity. If you reduce the humidity inside your home, you can reduce silverfish sightings. You can do this by adding dehumidifiers or fans in locations that are humid, such as your basement, cellar, crawl spaces, attic spaces, and laundry room.
Food
What do silverfish eat inside your home? The better question is what DON'T they eat. Those little pests eat cotton, silk, rayon, and other fabrics your clothes are made of. They eat glue and paste that your wallpaper and books are made with. They eat paper and cardboard. They chew on plaster and some paints. They get into pantries and kitchen cabinets to feed on cereal, coffee, flour and many other products. In your bathroom, they feed on hair, dandruff, and dead skin cells. Inside your walls, they feed on insects, both dead and alive. And, in a pinch, they feed on their own shed skins. We could go on, but you get the idea. Silverfish can find a lot to eat inside your home. There is no way to hide the food from them entirely. You can, however, limit the foods they can eat. Here are some tips:
Store clothing in dry areas, and inside sealed plastic totes.
Reduce moisture and dampness in your home. Silverfish prefer cardboard, paper, and wallpaper that is damp.
Keep stored-food products in sealed glass or plastic containers. This will also keep pantry pests from spreading through your food.
Keep your bathroom as clean as possible.
Reduce insect infestations with exterior pest control treatments.
Entry Points
If you keep seeing silverfish, it is likely that they have entry points they're using to get into your home. Silverfish will most often get in through areas where there is water damage and wood rot. This is because they are moisture pests. Do a detailed inspection of your exterior and look for:
Spots where the wood of your home touches the soil.
Damp areas caused by obstructed or damaged gutters.
Damp wood that is being damaged by rodents, carpenter ants, termites, or some other wood-destroying pest.
Keep in mind that silverfish can get in through other small entry points as well. A few to consider are:
Gaps in the rubber weatherstripping around doors.
Gaps under doors where door sweeps are damaged or missing.
Gaps around window and door frames.
Holes in wood.
Exterior Conditions
If you want to reduce silverfish inside your home, it is a good idea to address conditions around your home that promote silverfish populations.
Keep leaves and other debris away from your exterior.
Keep objects away from your exterior, especially piles of wood.
Water your landscaping in the morning so the sun has time to dry the moisture.
Address conditions allowing standing water.
Silverfish Control
There are some ways you can protect your home from silverfish and other pests, but the best solution for ongoing pest problems is an effective residential pest control program, like those offered here at Modern Pest Control. Connect with us to learn about our residential pest control programs. We service the Greater Houston area with the highest level of pest control available. Get your protection in place today.