Many people will say that cockroaches are the oldest living pest on earth because they were around when dinosaurs were. You might be surprised to know that there is a pest even older than the cockroach this pest was one of the first animals to colonize land. It’s the silverfish. Silverfish are relatively harmless but ugly and they like to hang out in cold, dark places that are damp like your basement or under the sinks in your home. Silverfish can live up to five years. They can survive for weeks without water and for an entire year without food. This means they can be in your home for a very long time! A Five Star Termite & Pest Control explores why silverfish are a problem below.
What is the Characteristics of Silverfish?
There are many varieties of silverfish and they get their name from their scaly skin that is silvery or gray in color. Another reason they get their name is because they move in a jingling motion the resembles the movement of fish. They have a carrot-shaped body with lots of antennae sticking out from it. They can move very quickly and will come out at night. You will rarely see them during the day. Even though they are creepy little things it’s reassuring to know that they are not dangerous as they don’t sting or bite, they can’t spread disease and can’t cause a lot of damage. The biggest reason you’ll find them around is because they like to eat starchy stuff like dry goods, paper, glue, wallpaper and boxes. They also like to nibble on dead skin cells.
How to Keep Silverfish Away?
If you’ve decided you’d rather not deal with silverfish there are some chemical-free ways to keep them away.
• You can spray cervices with cedar oil or lavender oil mixed with water or place some cedar chips around. Apparently then will steer clear as they don’t like the smell.
• You can try using sticky traps.
• There are Silverfish paks (poison) that you can use if you don’t have kids or pets running around.
• Place a starchy item inside a jar lined with tape. Once they crawl in they won’t be able to get out.
Spotting one every now and then is no cause for alarm but if they start showing up in large numbers they can really make you skin crawl. There are steps you can take to deter them.
• Seal any openings they will use to get inside
• Get rid of old cardboard boxes and piles of newspapers
• Use sealed bags to store off-season clothing
• Sweep and vacuum regularly to pick up crumbs of food and possible eggs
• Use tightly sealed containers to store dry foods
For added protection you can eliminate moisture issues in your home by using a dehumidifier, replacing bathroom fans with more efficient ones and clearing damp debris and leaves from the perimeter of your home.
Silverfish Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
In cases where there is a severe infestation you need to contact professional pest control. They can spray hiding places to ensure total elimination and can also come up with a strategy to deal with them and prevent outbreaks in the future. Give A Five Star Termite & Pest Control a call today to deal with any kind of pest!
