3 Questions to Ask About a Silverfish Infestation
Silverfish are one of the oldest insect species in existence today.
Many homeowners struggle with silverfish infestations because these insects can be difficult to spot. A silverfish is a small, wingless insect that moves very quickly across any surface. Most silverfish only emerge at night, which explains why homeowners may not see these bugs until an infestation is underway.
In the event that your home does become infested with silverfish, immediate action is necessary to rid your living space of these unwanted pests. Learn more about silverfish infestations so that you will be prepared to get the help you need.
- What Attracts Silverfish?
Knowing the conditions that attract silverfish can be instrumental in helping to eliminate an infestation. Silverfish tend to be drawn to areas that are damp and moist. Silverfish also like darkness, so they can often be in attics, basements, and bathrooms.
The primary diet for silverfish consists of dust and paper clutter. This means that a dirty or cluttered home is more likely to play host to a silverfish infestation.
Before any professional pest elimination measures can truly be successful, your home will need decluttering and thorough cleaning to help eliminate the primary sources of food for any silverfish inside your residence.
- What Are the Signs of a Silverfish Infestation?
If you have made visual contact with a silverfish in your home, chances are that you already have an infestation. Physical sightings of the bugs themselves are usually indicative of a thriving population within your home.
Another sign of a silverfish infestation in your home is shed skins. Silverfish will shed their external skin during the nymph stage. These skins look like smaller versions of adult silverfish. Spotting a few shed skins is almost impossible. If the shed skins are visible, this is a good indication that enough insects are inside your home to create a collection of shed skins.
Another way to determine if you have a silverfish infestation in your home is to examine all of the paper materials in your living space. Silverfish will often dine on loose paper, books, and even wallpaper. If you spot holes in these paper goods, a large number of silverfish have likely used these paper goods for meals.
You could also spot yellow stains and black droppings on paper products when large numbers of silverfish are in your home.
- How Do You Eliminate Silverfish From a Home?
Pest control experts rely on two different approaches when eliminating a silverfish infestation: poison and traps.
Like most other insects, silverfish are vulnerable to a wide range of poisons. Pest control experts can use several methods when distributing these poisons throughout your home. Some of the most popular methods of poison distribution include foggers, bombs, and targeted sprays.
You must work closely with your pest control expert to determine which approach will work best if you have pets or young children in the home.
If you do not like the thought of introducing a poison into your living space, your pest control expert can help you set up a series of traps that catch silverfish.
Ongoing pest control services will be critical in preventing silverfish from returning to your home after the initial infestation has cleared. Your pest control expert will need to retreat your home on a monthly or quarterly basis, depending on the severity of the initial infestation.
Do not let silverfish start to take over your home. Contact Highland Pest Control for help creating an integrated pest management plan that will rid your home of silverfish for good. We look forward to helping you have a pest-free house.