People don’t always realize all the ways that certain pests can cause problems around your yard and home. With bizarre-looking pests like silverfish, many people begin to wonder just what is at stake. Alien or not, these strange insects are common invaders and everyone should learn how to keep them off their property.
Silverfish: What You Need To Know
Typically outdoor pests, silverfish invade human homes for the same reasons that all bugs do: for food, water, or shelter. That’s why it’s important to know what to look for:
- Size: Silverfish aren’t very large, typically smaller than a nickel, even.
- Shape: When viewed from above, silverfish are noted by their teardrop shapes. From the side, they appear quite flat.
- Color: As their name suggests, most silverfish are shiny and metallic in appearance, though some are simply gray or tan.
The Big Question: Are They Dangerous?
Unlike their somewhat terrifying demeanor suggests, silverfish aren’t really dangerous pests. While they’ve got long antennae and barb-like feet, they aren’t capable of harming people or our pets. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t introduce other kinds of problems to your home. Here are some of the issues that a silverfish infestation leads to:
- Damage: Silverfish eat keratin, which is found in animal-based fibers like wool and leather. That means they can damage common household items like clothes and furniture.
- Proliferation: Silverfish, like all pests, breed quickly and in large numbers. The more silverfish there are around, the more likely they are to get indoors and cause other problems.
- Other Pests: As one pest population grows, it attracts another. Having silverfish around can bring spiders and other predators into your home.
How To Prevent Silverfish
To avoid a silverfish problem around your property, you need to act on pest prevention long before it becomes noticeable. That’s why it’s important to keep up on the following steps to reduce your risk of an infestation:
- Landscaping: Smart yard planning and maintenance are as important as keeping your home clean when it comes to preventing pests. Keep soil beds away from exterior walls and clear out any debris before pests can use it as a nest.
- Moisture Control: While they aren’t really aquatic, silverfish get their name not just from their color but from their habit of sticking to moist areas. They will be attracted to wet soils, woods, and even standing puddles around a yard, meaning controlling these factors is a good pest prevention step.
- Crack Sealing: Silverfish, and many other pests, can squeeze through small cracks in your exterior walls to gain entry indoors. Check your home regularly and repair these areas if necessary.
- Treatments: The most comprehensive form of pest control comes from professional treatments that are applied to your yard and exterior. Contact Big Blue Bug Solutions to learn more about how we can protect you from pest invasions.
True Pest Control From Big Blue Bug Solutions
Since you’re unlikely to spot yard pests until their populations have grown, the best way to make sure pests like silverfish never invade is by contacting the experts. At Big Blue Bug Solutions, we can inspect your home and exterior for signs of silverfish or the things that might attract them. If pests or problems are found, our effective treatments and services can get rid of them quickly. Not only that, our proven pest control can make sure that future infestations never get started. That kind of comprehensive approach is the only way to account for all the different ways that pest problems begin in the first place. For protection against silverfish and many other pests that cause problems for Worcester homeowners, contact Big Blue Bug Solutions today.