Common Problems Silverfish Pose

There are many household pests that pose dangers to our health and our belongings. Take the yellow jacket for instance. These vicious insects will swarm and attack, often biting to get a better grip to dig their stinger in, and will sting over and over because they do not lose their stinger when they sting. Or what about termites? These home-destroying insects invade silently, eating away at the structure of buildings day and night for years, and cost United States homeowners billions of dollars each year. And even insects that have typically only been bothersome in the U.S. are becoming a health threat, insects such as the common mosquito. Not only do they ruin outings and produce maddeningly itchy red bumps on the skin, they have the potential of transmitting harmful, or potentially deadly, illnesses such as malaria and Zika virus. Even though silverfish don't fall into the category of being dangerous like these other pests, they can still be a very real problem when they invade homes, sometimes in large numbers.

Silverfish are nocturnal creatures that typically grow to be between 1/2 and 1 inch in length. Like other species of Apterygota, silverfish are wingless. They have long antennae and move in a motion that sometimes resembles the movement of a fish. This characteristic and their silvery scales make them aptly named silverfish. They are also referred to as fish moths, carpet sharks, and urban silverfish.

What Types Of Things Are At Risk When Silverfish Invade Homes?

Old Photos: Silverfish can damage or destroy old photos, literally defacing them. If you have photos stored away, and silverfish have invaded your home, you are in danger of losing more than just some photos, you could lose the treasured memories that are attached to those photographs.

Wallpaper: Silverfish love to eat the glue that holds wallpaper in place. In time, this will cause wallpaper to bulge or peel away from the wall. So not only are silverfish damaging to wallpaper, they are dangerous to your wallet if you do not appreciate this kind of an eyesore and need to re-wallpaper, or paint.

Books: Silverfish don't care if the book they are chewing on is a throwaway book or a keepsake that has been passed down from generation to generation. They love to feed on the starchy glue that holds book bindings together. If you would rather not have your books destroyed by these insects, it is not a good idea to let them continue living in your home.

Fabrics: Silverfish will also feed on certain fabrics. They will nibble on everything from blankets and pillowcases to favorite tops and antique wedding dresses. They will eat fabrics such as cotton, linen, and silk, but are also known to chew on some synthetic fibers, and also leather. They are even more likely to be drawn to starches found in clothing items, or items of clothing that have been soiled with food or drink spills. To keep your fabric items safe, it is important to get rid of silverfish.

Pantry Items: While silverfish are not likely to contaminate food itself, they are sometimes damaging to paper and cardboard packaging, which can cause the foods to become stale or unusable. They are drawn to foods high in carbohydrates as well as items such as sugar and coffee. And while accidentally eating a silverfish that has gotten into your Froot Loops won't send you to the hospital, it is probably something you would rather avoid.

Peace Of Mind: While silverfish do not pose problems to humans the way yellow jackets do, they do sometimes crawl on people in order to eat dandruff. If this happens, even once, it can make sleeping rather difficult. If you do not want to lose your peace of mind while trying to get a night's rest, it is best to have these creatures eradicated from your home.