Silverfish
Damage to your wallpaper, clothes, or books, especially if they are stored in the garage, attic, or basement, could indicate a silverfish problem, which is a result of their feeding. Or, perhaps you've simply noticed an eye-catching shiny insect descending from your light fixture and wondered what it was, chances are it was a silverfish.
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What Are Silverfish?
Silverfish are 1/2 to 3/4-inch polished silver-colored wingless insects whose name also derives from their fish silhouetted bodies and wavy movement to match. They also have 3 pronounced bristle-like tails that also causes them to sometimes be referred to as bristle-tails. Their flat, scaly bodies house a pair of compound eyes, which also sets them apart from other species, and they also have six legs and long, needle-thin antennas.
Silverfish are generally found outdoors; however, they also sometimes make their way indoors, where they may go virtually unnoticed because they do not like light, and they also like to remain hidden from humans. They also run very fast, and mostly on floors because their ascend up walls isn't as fast, which means they may be noticed. |
However, when they are spotted, it's usually when they venture down ceiling soffits, light fixtures, or skylights. Otherwise, they mainly hide in moist, humid areas in your home, such as attics, basements, bathrooms, bathtubs, kitchens, and book bindings.
Their diet consists of mostly proteins, such as dehydrated portions of beef, but they will also feed on wandering spiders and centipedes, as well as dead insects. They also like to feed on carbohydrates, including many housing materials around your home, such as paste, paper, and plaster.
The female silverfish can lay up to 60 eggs daily, which she usually deposits into small crevices. These .08 mm long, whitish, elongated eggs will then usually hatch within a few weeks to a few months. Once the nymphs emerge, they will develop into adults within three months to three years.
Their diet consists of mostly proteins, such as dehydrated portions of beef, but they will also feed on wandering spiders and centipedes, as well as dead insects. They also like to feed on carbohydrates, including many housing materials around your home, such as paste, paper, and plaster.
The female silverfish can lay up to 60 eggs daily, which she usually deposits into small crevices. These .08 mm long, whitish, elongated eggs will then usually hatch within a few weeks to a few months. Once the nymphs emerge, they will develop into adults within three months to three years.
What Risks do Silverfish Pose?
Since silverfish like carbohydrates, the biggest risk they pose to your home is damage to your carpeting, wallpaper, drapes, plaster, photos, and other starchy materials in and around your home. They can also get into your food and contaminate it; however, they do not transfer disease.
How to Treat Silverfish
One way to help prevent a silverfish infestation is to avoid storing old books, magazines, and the like in moist, humid areas, such as the basement and the attic. You should also store any starchy foods in airtight containers to prevent silverfish from getting in.
Repairing any leaky pipes and drains, as well as any moldy or damp wood around your home will also help deter silverfish, as will also adding a dehumidifier in your home to help cut down on moisture. In the meantime, outdoors, be sure to remove any debris or other materials against your home because it can provide a place for silverfish to climb up the exterior walls and into your home through gaps around the windows and doors. They can also enter your home via utility pipes and vents.
A professional exterminator can also inspect the outside of your home for potential entryways into your home and then treat the exterior to help safeguard against silverfish. They will also inspect the inside of your home for any signs of silverfish, such as feeding marks, which may include notches or abnormal holes in your walls, as well as silvery scales, yellow stains, or tiny, pepper-like feces on your materials.
Repairing any leaky pipes and drains, as well as any moldy or damp wood around your home will also help deter silverfish, as will also adding a dehumidifier in your home to help cut down on moisture. In the meantime, outdoors, be sure to remove any debris or other materials against your home because it can provide a place for silverfish to climb up the exterior walls and into your home through gaps around the windows and doors. They can also enter your home via utility pipes and vents.
A professional exterminator can also inspect the outside of your home for potential entryways into your home and then treat the exterior to help safeguard against silverfish. They will also inspect the inside of your home for any signs of silverfish, such as feeding marks, which may include notches or abnormal holes in your walls, as well as silvery scales, yellow stains, or tiny, pepper-like feces on your materials.
