The name sounds nice, but silverfish are not a catch you can get on your line. Silverfish are menacing insects that creep into your home, and they can be very difficult to get rid of when they find food and a comfortable place to live. If you have silverfish in your home, they will cause damage to your belongings, your food, and your walls. Call Big Blue Bug Solutions to tackle your silverfish invasion before they make your house their home.
About the silverfish
These intimidating-looking insects have a startling appearance and are often mistaken for earwigs and centipedes, but in reality, they are a much different pest.
What do they look like?
The silverfish is a creeping, silver insect with no wings. The silverfish measures at least half an inch to nearly an inch long. The silvery, bluish bug has two long antennae at the top of its head, legs that spider out from the side of its body, and two long cerci that flare out of the back of the abdomen. Not only does the bug get its name from its fishlike color, but from its fishy movements as well. When you see a silverfish, it will be moving like a shark or fish across your floor.
Do they bite?
No. Silverfish are scary-looking, and they appear as if they would bite, but they don’t. When they enter your home, they aren’t looking for a blood meal, but they do want to eat your clothes and snack on your food.
The silverfish diet consists of starchy, sugary items and foods, which are found in nearly every house in the US. Foods that attract the silverfish are:
- Sugar
- Coffee
- Bread and cereals
- Cookies
- Pancake mix
- Crumbs on the floor
Why are silverfish so bad?
So, if silverfish don’t bite, why are they so bad? A pest doesn’t have to bite or transmit diseases to be a problem. You need to get rid of silverfish because they will feed on more than just food in your home. In our line of work, we’ve seen silverfish eat cotton and polyester clothing, feast on carpets and towels, and make a meal out of wallpaper. They have also been known to feast on hair.
How do they get in?
When you spot a silverfish in your home, you will likely find it in bathtubs, shower drains, sinks, cupboards, and pantries. Once they get in, they will keep coming. Silverfish are tough, they are attracted to moisture in your home, and they can live for more than a year without food- A YEAR!
How to Avoid Silverfish
All is not lost if you have silverfish in your home. Big Blue Bug Solutions is equipped with the knowledge, the know-how, and the experience to knock them out and keep them out of your home for good. Common ways to avoid silverfish include:
- Closing and sealing all foods in the pantry and cupboards
- Fix leaky drains
- Get rid of moisture in your home with proper ventilation, fans, and dehumidifiers
- Seal cracks in and around your home
- Ensure the perimeter outside your home is dry and clear of wet, damp leaves and foliage
If you are facing an infestation of silverfish or any other Providence pest, give Big Blue Bug Solutions a call today and learn more about our residential pest control plans, you will be glad you did.