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How To Identify And Get Rid Of Silverfish In Your Home

Silverfish on the floor
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The silverfish is one insect pest that looks like it's from another world. Unlike roaches, termites, or ants, this curious-looking insect has a flat, silvery-gray body and feeds on various belongings in your home.

Are silverfish dangerous? Although silverfish are not venomous or harmful pests, they still aren't something you want sharing your home. If you discover a few of these creepy crawlers on your property, a pest control service, like Miche Pest Control, can help you remove them and ensure they don't return.

How To Identify A Silverfish

The first step to tackling a pest problem in your home is identifying the culprit. If you are unsure if you have silverfish, see if the following rings true:

  • Silverfish look silvery-gray to brown in color and are covered in tiny fish-like scales.
  • Adults measure 3/4 inch long and have two long antennae and three long tails.
  • The body of the silverfish is soft, long, and wingless, with an elongated teardrop shape.
  • If you are able to spot one of these creatures on the move, you will likely notice that their lightning-fast wriggling movements resemble a swimming fish. 

Make time to clean your home, and when you do, inspect your bathroom, basement, and attic. Silverfish love to hang out in moist places where they won't be easily disturbed. It might help to run a dehumidifier, repair leaking pipes, and remove sources of moisture to deter this pest.

The Problems Silverfish Can Create In Your Home

Silverfish are a big problem once they infest your home because they cause many problems. Although they are scaly, wingless, and don't bite humans or pets, they are destructive. Here are ways that silverfish can be a nuisance in your home:

  • They can find their way into your kitchen pantry and feed on sugar, oats, flour, and poorly sealed foods. Using glass, plastic, or metal containers can help protect your dry goods from silverfish contamination. 
  • Clothes are another target for silverfish. These pests can chew holes and leave yellowish stains and dots of silverfish poop behind. As a result, storing clothing in plastic totes is a better alternative to cardboard boxes. 
  • Wallpapers and books are also something that silverfish are likely to destroy, eating away at the tasty cellulose.
  • When silverfish molt and shed their skin, they can also trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive people.

Don't wait until silverfish take over your home and ruin food, clothes, and unique personal items. Contact Miche Pest Control for an effective silverfish pest control and prevention solution.

How And Why Silverfish Find Their Way Into Your Home

What causes silverfish to enter your home? Silverfish find paper products attractive and look for plentiful sources of cellulose to eat. So, your home becomes the perfect location for warm, moist places to hide and access food.

Pests like the silverfish will enter your home through crevices and cracks that are not sealed. Windows, doors, siding, and your home's foundation are vulnerable, so keep them in good repair. Apply weather stripping, caulk gaps, and schedule regular prevention treatments for silverfish with Miche Pest Control.

If you hold onto old newspapers, stacks of books, or cardboard or have lots of clutter inside your home, it's a haven for silverfish. Try to use containers that are difficult for silverfish to chew through and have airtight lids.

Areas of your home that are humid and moist are a welcome mat for silverfish. Run a dehumidifier in basements, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and attics. Repair pipes and replace moldy, damp, rotting wood in your house.

How To Get Rid Of Silverfish And Keep Them Out

How do I get rid of silverfish? Only a professional pest control service like Miche Pest Control knows the best methods to remove silverfish from your home and prevent their return.

The best way to get rid of silverfish in your home for good is to contact Miche Pest Control. We guarantee our services and offer quarterly pest control treatments to keep pests gone for good. Don't delay calling Miche Pest Control today.