Silverfish – What You Should Know

Silverfish are wingless insects that have a silvery bluish look and a hard exoskeleton. They have torpedo shaped bodies that make them look like fish, hence the name. They have two antennae on the heads and three tails or antennae on their rear side. When disturbed, they make short darting movements just like fish and they can be very yucky to most.

Breeding

The female lay eggs and then number of eggs laid largely depends on the species with most ranging between 2 to 20 eggs every single day. The insects lay their eggs throughout the seasons and it takes around three months for the larva to develop into adults. It means that you can have major infestations in only a few months if you do not take measures fast. They love moderate temperatures between 60 to 80 degree Fahrenheit, making kitchens, bathrooms, attics and laundry rooms their best habitats in your home.

Diet

The silverfish feeds on carbohydrates, fungi and mold. It puts books, shampoos, clothes, wallpaper, soaps and plants as well as dry foods in danger when you have them in your home. They also love the silk and yarn, glue and boxes among other starchy materials. It is therefore understandable why you will find most of them under or in your sinks, behind wallpaper, bathtubs, door and window frames, closet shelves and baseboards.

Risks

Apart from destroying your valuables like books, clothing and food you have in your pantry, the silverfish are not known to sting or bite and they are not harmful to humans or pets. You might not be at any health risk, but you definitely will incur damages around the house, hence there is still a need to control any infestation you might have. You can easily tell you have an infestation if you have several spotting of the silverfish skittering in damp areas of your home and you might also notice surfaces that are eaten away in patches that are irregular. Pepper like feces and cast skins are also signs that you could be facing an infestation.

Control

Hygiene is one of the best control measures you can make around your home. But since poor hygiene is not all that it takes for your home to have infestations, you might need to consider a treatment method to get rid of the bugs. You can use natural approaches or chemicals that are readily available in the market. The insecticides are effective, but you should use them with care because they can be dangerous to your health and that of your pets. Natural remedies such as baking soda and honey, cider oil and diatomaceous earth can be used to effectively get rid of silverfish. Borax or powdered sugar can be used as bait and you can also find or create simple silverfish traps to eliminate them from your home.

If you find the control a challenge, then you can always seek professional advice or pest control services that are now offered at very reasonable rates and fetch you the desired results in no time at all.

Silverfish might not be harmful to your health, but you definitely will not like living with hundreds of them considering that they breed fast. Find the right treatment today and keep your home free from the creepy bugs.
If you need professional Pest Control services, just call Toro Pest Management at 800-817-7645 for Free Estimates.