Silverfish hiding in your home?

Silverfish are one of the more common pest issues we hear about. Silverfish can average ½-3/4” in length excluding the tail or threadlike antenna. As the name implies, they are a silvery or gray color with an elongated body that tapers at the end.

These pests are more than annoying. They can eat away at cherished books, photographs or get into the seasonal clothing you had packed away in cardboard boxes. In the kitchen they can eat flour, sugar and bread among other dry good pantry staples. All these items should be stored in well-sealed air tight containers. Check items in the attic that you may have forgotten about or in the garage where we sometimes tend to “set it and forget it”. Once silverfish, or other pests for that matter, find a good undisturbed food source, they will happily remain unless conditions change. Now would be a good time to remove those cardboard boxes you’ve been keeping in the garage and change them out to plastic bins with airtight lids.

High humidity levels in the home will also keep silverfish flourishing. Did you know silverfish can survive for weeks without food or water as long as they can remain in an environment of 70-90% humidity?

How did they come into your home? Sometimes silverfish are brought in through unintentional transmission. These pests are sometimes brought in with cardboard boxes or other stored items not being held in airtight containers. They can also find their way in by climbing up walls and finding entry points around window or door frames, or even plumbing accesses or air vents.

To avoid an infestation of silverfish in your home, remember to:

• Store paper and dry goods/food products in airtight containers
• Use a dehumidifier in the home if needed
• Check and seal open entryways of the home where small pests can find their way in
• Repair leaky pipes/faucets
• Have a licensed pest professional inspect and treat for active infestations

Silverfish are nocturnal and hide in cracks and crevices until they are ready to venture out and may go unnoticed for quite some time until the damage is discovered. If you are having an issue with silverfish or other pests, call or contact Bio-Tech Pest Control at 281-296-6022.