Some pests seem somewhat familiar and are rather visible. Pests such as flies, beetles, and spiders are species many Portland, Maine homeowners think about and want to keep away, but other pest creatures in the area can also invade properties.
One of these has a unique name and also a rather distinctive appearance. The silverfish is a strange insect that looks like a prehistoric fossil with its long antennae and feelers. They have long, thin bodies that taper off at the end, and as their name suggests, they are a silvery color most of the time but can also be tan.
Finding silverfish in your home can be upsetting because these insects look as if they could bite or sting, but the truth is that they are considered nuisance pests. They don’t bite people, and they aren’t known to spread illnesses or pathogens.
However, silverfish can cause property damage as they will eat through many items, including foods like starches, cardboard, and book bindings. And they are also somewhat invasive. Because of this, the best way to handle silverfish is to take steps to prevent them in the first place.
Five Effective Silverfish Prevention Tips
To keep silverfish out of your Portland home, you can start by addressing the factors that attract these bugs in the first place. Silverfish are drawn to areas that have excess humidity, and they also will seek out food sources. To get rid of these attractive elements, follow these tips:
- Reduce moisture in humid rooms by using dehumidifiers.
- Ensure good ventilation in attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Also, fix any leaky plumbing.
- Regularly clean out cupboards and pantries and store food in sealed containers.
- Keep your kitchen spaces cleaned on a regular basis and wipe up food and drink spills right after they happen.
- Remove clutter from inside your home as well as around your yard, as this will give silverfish more places to hide.
Taking these steps is a great start to minimizing factors that attract silverfish.
A Few More Ways To Keep Silverfish Out
While addressing the underlying factors that bring silverfish around is a great way to deter them, you can take a few more measures to make it more difficult for them to come inside. You can focus on sealing up entry points around your home so that silverfish have a harder time slipping inside. Plus, these steps can also deter many other pests in Portland, Maine.
Start by repairing or replacing broken screens in doors and windows. Then, seal up any holes or cracks in the walls and foundation using materials like caulk or foam insulation. Lastly, install door sweeps and weather stripping around the home.
If you see silverfish around your home, the sight can be unsettling, and dealing with silverfish getting into your food and belongings is frustrating. Luckily, there’s a straightforward way to completely eradicate these pests and keep them from coming back again.
All you have to do is contact the experts at Big Blue Bug Solutions. Our technicians will remove any current silverfish and then provide continual treatments to prevent them in the future. We make it simple with our residential pest control plans as we offer inspections to get you started.