Silverfish are small, flightless insects that can be found in Fort Worth homes. They are moisture-seeking insects that get into homes through small cracks and gaps. They aren’t harmful to humans but can cause damage to personal belongings if left unchecked for an extended period of time. Knowing how to get rid of and prevent silverfish is key to keeping your home safe from these disturbing pests.
What Are Silverfish?
Most people aren’t very familiar with silverfish nor do they know what they look like. Silverfish are tiny wingless pests. They are usually metallic grey in color and are around ½ to 1 inch long. They have two long antennae, and they move in a fish-like manner, wiggling their bodies back and forth. They are fast enough to avoid predators such as spiders, but they can’t climb surfaces very quickly. They tend to avoid the light, so spotting them may be difficult. Silverfish infest houses and chew through objects such as books, paper, and even clothes. They aren’t known to bite humans and aren’t poisonous but they can startle unsuspecting people and they are disturbing to encounter.
How Do They Get In?
Like most other insect invaders, silverfish get into homes through small cracks and crevices. They are typically drawn to damp places such as underneath sinks, in laundry rooms and bathrooms, or in kitchens. They also prefer the dark, so they can gravitate toward basements, attics, and garages. The presence of silverfish can alert you to other bugs with the same moisture seeking behavior, such as ants, termites, and cockroaches. In this sense, silverfish can actually help you by giving you a hint that there may be other (more dangerous) bugs in your Fort Worth home.
How Do Silverfish Spread?
Because Silverfish are so small and prefer dark places, they are often overlooked. They breed quickly, which is the main reason many home methods of prevention are ineffective. Silverfish can lay their eggs in unseen places where you aren’t likely to notice them, allowing them to hatch and come to maturity. Once hatched, they can live for several years on average, so they won’t just die off on their own. You will need the help of pest control experts in Fort Worth to rid your home of a silverfish infestation.
Preventing Silverfish
The most important thing to know about silverfish is how to prevent them. A great first step to prevent silverfish is to make sure that there are no tiny cracks or gaps in the structure of your home. They can get in through minuscule holes, so caulking, patching, and installing vent caps and screens will help keep them out. You can also make sure your house isn’t damp or moist by fixing any leaky pipes, keeping drains clear, and avoiding leaving wet laundry lying around. Utilizing dehumidifiers can create a less attractive environment for silverfish as well.
Professional Help
Despite utilizing some home prevention strategies, none are 100% effective at keeping silverfish out. If you find that silverfish have taken root in your Fort Worth home, the best thing you can do is contact the professionals at Romney Pest Control. Reach out to us today and get started on having a pest-free home with our pest control service.
