What are silverfish?
Silverfish have been appropriately named as their entire body is covered in silver scales. Silverfish measure between ½ to ¾ of an inch in length and their body is teardrop-shaped
Are silverfish dangerous?
Silverfish do not pose health risks, but they can become an extreme nuisance as they may contaminate food, stain clothing, and damage paper goods.
Why do I have a silverfish problem?
Silverfish are found all across the United States. Typically these insects are spotted in bathrooms, attics, crawl spaces or basements because of the high humidity these spaces offer. Their diet usually consists of anything that contains starch or polysaccharides
Silverfish
What to Expect After Treatment
Silverfish are a primitive insect that thrive in moist environments such as damp crawlspaces, around central air conditioning duct work or sweating pipes. They occur naturally outdoors and are most commonly sighted when the seasons change. Your silverfish treatment includes baits, dusts and sprays, each effecting silverfish differently. Because silverfish can survive many generations in a very small space, it may take additional treatments to eliminate your problem.
To Help Eliminate Them
Fix any leaks, whether water is coming in from the outside, plumbing, cracks in tile work or air conditioner problems, silverfish need moisture to survive. Use dehumidifiers in basements or even sealed crawlspaces to reduce moisture.
Trim bushes, trees and other vegetation so that it is at least 6 inches from the house. Never allow mulch to reach the level of your siding. Keep stored items away from your foundation. Keep cardboard, paper, and any other material that can get moldy up off concrete basement and garage floors; preferably away from walls.
As much as possible seal around any pipe and vent penetrations, both inside and outside your home. Consider replacing carpeting that has been wet, and may have gotten moldy.
Remember
Tell your technician exactly where you saw any silverfish that appear two weeks after your initial treatment.
SILVERFISH AND FIREBRATS
Silverfish and firebrats damage paper such as wallpaper and books and are a common nuisance pest in larders, kitchens and bathrooms. They prefer warm, dark, damp areas.
Identify the problem
Silverfish and firebrats are insects of a primitive type; flat, wingless, grey in colour with three tail like appendages at the end of the abdomen. Tey are often referred to as bristletails. Firebrats tend to be a mottled gray/brown color with patches of dark gray and lighter silver over the upper surface of the body. Silverfish tend to be uniformly gray or silver in color.
Silverfish and firebrats are nocturnal and very active at night. They run rapidly and their style of movement resembles that of a swimming fish, hence the name silverfish
To get rid of silverfish and firebrats follow these simple steps:
Spray > Treat areas with NO Bugs Indoor or NO Bugs Super to control silverfish for several months. Pay particular attention to places you have seen silverfish and warm dark areas such as under sink units, below baths, roof voids, behind skirting, behind fridges and freezers etc.
Fumigate > For treatment of roof voids or other difficult to spray areas, NO Bugs Super Bug Bomb or NO Bugs Super Fumigator fumigators will knock down the insects in these areas.
Dry > Drying out the areas with improved ventilation and/or use of a dehumidifier will also be of benefit.
They prefer warm damp conditions and can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, cylinder cupboards and libraries. There are similar insects known as firebrats and bristle tails that have the same shape but are a darker brown colour. Firebrats have similar habits to silverfish.
Silverfish Extermination
Silverfish are no doubt a creepy insect to have in and around your home. They like to eat paper items such as old books as well as infest cereals and food stores. They’re a big nuisance for most of us to say the least.
What are silverfish?
Silverfish are a small, silver to gunmetal colored insect with six legs. They’re called silverfish because of both their appearance as well as their movements. Silverfish are very fast runners but they don’t fly. Adults range from 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in length and have a teardrop shaped body that tapers from head to tail.
They’re thought to be one of the oldest insects on earth with many believing they were around almost a hundred million years before dinosaurs. Silverfish are most active at night and prefer to hide in cracks and small crevices during the day. Many people discover silverfish after picking up an old book or newspaper and finding a silverfish darting out. Upon further investigation, they will often notice many more silverfish where that one came from
Are silverfish harmful?
Fortunately, silverfish are not known to bite, sting, or spread any diseases. This is great news for many homeowners since they may be a nuisance but at least they’re not dangerous. However, silverfish do molt skins throughout their entire life which can raise histamine levels in your home and trigger those with allergies. Silverfish can also damage your belongings since they enjoy feeding on old paper items such as those found in photo albums, old newspapers, and old books. Silverfish have also been known to eat everything from wallpaper to clothing.
Signs of silverfish infestations
Since silverfish are nocturnal and very fast-moving, it’s not common to see them until the infestation is severe. However, you can keep an eye out for the signs of a silverfish infestation. These signs include feeding marks which may be holes in paper items or cereal boxes, frayed edges, or etchings on the surface of these items. You may also find yellowish stains, molted skins which resemble scales, or feces which resemble black pepper pellets.
How To Get Rid Of Silverfish
Let’s talk about how to get rid of silverfish. As with all home pests, the first step is to determine exactly what pest is bugging you. So, let’s make sure you are dealing with a silverfish infestation. Silverfish are small wingless, elongated insects that are silvery-metallic or slightly gray-brownish in color. They have long antennae and elongated bodies with silvery metallic scales. This pest is commonly found in the home, preferring to eat starches, papers and glues.
Silverfish are about ¾ to ½ inch long, with elongated bodies that tend to taper from head to tail. They have no wings but can run very fast, prefer to hide in the darkness during the day, and are attracted to areas of high humidity. Although not physically dangerous to humans, silverfish can cause a lot of damage to our homes and personal belongings.
Silverfish can live a year without food but they cannot live without moisture. These insects require high humidity to thrive, preferring levels of 75% to 95%. A silverfish infestation can contaminate foods and damage paper goods like wallpaper and books. Due to the fact that these creatures are nocturnal and work at night, they can do a lot of damage before a homeowner becomes aware of their presence.
When describing silverfish, many people say they look and move similar to a centipede but with a bit of a sideways wiggle. Actually, they are not centipedes at all and they can move much quicker. Silverfish have tapering elongated bodies with silvery metallic scales. They move with a bit of a wiggle, similar to a fish. Thus, the name silverfish is more than justified
Silverfish Can Do A Lot Of Damage
This is a pest that does not multiply as quickly as cockroaches, or some other pests, yet an unknown and untreated infestation of silverfish can do a lot of damage in a short time. These insects can quickly, and easily, destroy that family scrapbook you so carefully tucked in the back of the closet years ago before you realize they are even there!