What Are Silverfish?
For many Wilmington homeowners, the question of 'what are silverfish?' is necessary to understand. This insect is small and teardrop-shaped; the end of its body has three long bristle hairs, and the coloration of its body ranges from white to a blue-silver color. This shape and coloration are what earns them the name of 'silverfish.' Many individuals find Silverfish frightening to encounter, especially when there are many of these insects together.
In your home, silverfish will gravitate to dark and damp areas. They love to live in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and attics. Most silverfish will also enjoy inhabiting storage boxes, especially ones made from cardboard and full of paper or damp clothing that they can feed on.
It is important to note that although silverfish can be frightening to look at, this insect is relatively harmless to humans. They don't post any significant health risks to pets or people as they prefer to chew on belongings and stored food items in your home instead. Major attractants for silverfish are food items such as cereals or anything full of carbohydrates and sugars, stacks of books, wallpaper, and fabrics. Over time, a silverfish infestation can lead to the significant destruction of your possessions.
Due to their size and nature, silverfish can be quite difficult to get rid of from your Wilmington home. The best way to get rid of silverfish is to learn how to keep silverfish away with prevention tactics and professional pest control.
How To Prevent Silverfish
One of the most effective home remedies for silverfish is learning how to prevent silverfish from entering your home in the first place. The steps below can assist you in protecting your house from these unsightly pests.
- Seal up all entry points into your house, as this will help protect your property against a silverfish invasion. Make sure window and door screens are unbroken, invest in weatherstripping and door sweeps, and ensure that exterior windows and doors stay closed as often as possible.
- Address moisture issues both inside and outside your home, as leaks are a major factor in attracting silverfish. Keep gutters clear to improve outdoor drainage and ensure proper ventilation in your home to prevent pools of moisture from forming.
- Clear out the clutter in your house by throwing away unused stored items and removing all stacks of cardboard. Donate old clothing and ensure that you have no damp or moldy items you're storing, as silverfish love to hide in these areas and feed on them. You may also want to store books, papers, and other unused clothes in plastic boxes to reduce pest invasions.
- Reduce outdoor yard clutter, piles of wood, and stones to eliminate silverfish hiding places around your property.
How To Keep Silverfish Away
When home remedies for silverfish and prevention tactics aren't enough, you should reach out to the professionals at Bug-N-A-Rug Exterminators. Our experts are highly-skilled in silverfish removal and can evaluate your exact extermination needs through careful, thorough home inspections.
If you have a silverfish infestation, your best bet is to contact Bug-N-A-Rug Exterminators today for total pest elimination.
