Silverfish are scientifically known to be around 400 million years old. Making them quite possibly one of the oldest species of insects to walk the face of the earth. Their name is courtesy of their appearance, with a light grey complexion and fish-like appearance these small wingless insects are a big inconvenience to deal with.
How To Identify Silverfish?
The first thing you should focus on isproper identification. This helps in evaluating the problem and the degree of infestation that is taking place in your house.
Silverfish Appearance
Silver, blue or grey in colour
Tapered, tail-like appearance
Wingless with two slender antennas
10-12mm in length
How Do Silverfish Get In Your House?
Silverfish are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active during the nighttime. Due to their proclivity to the dark, they are extremely sensitive to light. Hence they prefer damp and high humidity conditions to thrive.
Areas where they are most often spotted
Bathroom sinks
Attic
Kitchen
Basements
Old books
What Do Silverfish Eat?
The biggest problem associated with silverfish is mainly related to their consumption habits. For survival, these creatures consume a diet rich in polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose, sugar etc. All these nutrients can be found in everyday household items such as:
Books
Wallpaper
Paintings
Carpets
Coffee
Sugar
Pasta
Clothes
Food debris
A common sign of their occurrence would be discovering holes in your books and clothing without any possible reason.
Are Silverfish Harmful?
Silverfish are not carnivorous in nature, that means that they do not need to feed on humans or other animals for their survival. They do not bite and are not venomous in nature. They are not known to carry and transmit any diseases to humans.
But, they are known to moult their adult life, moulting refers to the process where an insect sheds its exoskeleton. Silverfish are known to moult approximately 17-66 times in their lifespan. Continuing to do so even when they reach adulthood. The remains of the exoskeleton can cause an allergic reaction to some individuals so it is advisable to prevent an infestation and get rid of them if you identify a problem.
How To Get Rid Of Silverfish?
If you spot a one in your house or workplace you need to act immediately to ensure that no damage is done to the property. To get rid of silverfish these are the following are the steps you should follow:
Use dehumidifiers.
Giving your house proper ventilation, using dehumidifiers or by opening windows.
Deny them of any sort of sustenance by reducing the level of dust in the house and vacuuming damp and left out areas of the house.
Food should be stored in properly sealed containers to prevent them from reaching their food sources.
Professional Silverfish Treatment for Homes and Businesses
An infestation is not something that discriminates, apart from households even businesses which can be affected by a silverfish infestation as a result of it. If you have a problem, you should contact a pest control service as soon as possible. Pest control specialists use a variety of methods to control these insect infestations including
Target spray treatment,
Non-toxic desiccant,
Humidity control.
Do you have a silverfish problem in your property? Contact us today for expert advice and further assistance.
Why Choose Rentokil Silverfish Treatment
Rentokil is experienced in silverfish management for the past 90 years. With professional experts trained to handle all kinds of infestation and its advanced technology used to get rid of silverfish.
How Do Silverfish Get In Your House?
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