Silverfish Pest Control Services

Signs of Silverfish

Silverfish can be found just about anywhere but they prefer warm, humid areas for breeding and feeding. Areas like kitchens and bathrooms are common places to find signs of silverfish so be sure to look for:

• Active silverfish
• Silverfish molted skins
•  Holes in fabric and wallpaper
• Yellow stains on fabric
• Black specks that resemble pepper

How Do I Prevent Silverfish?

Finding silverfish doesn’t pose a significant threat to a household but it can still be unsettling to see them scurry away when the lights are turned on. There are steps that homeowners can take to help prevent a silverfish infestation from flourishing.

1. Dry them out – Silverfish need moisture to thrive so ensuring that all pipes are not leaking and using dehumidifiers in areas that get humid are a good start at minimizing silverfish presence.
2. Exclusion – Seal any access points, cracks, and crevices that silverfish can use to gain access into your home.
3. Containment – Silverfish need to sustain themselves off of things like paper, fabrics, and glue so making sure that books and clothes are sealed up in plastic containers will help reduce the amount of food available.
4. Separate larger food sources – Attractants that are too large to contain in plastic tubs can be placed on shelves that are out of reach. For additional protection, double sided tape can be use on the footing of the shelves to trap silverfish.
5. Take out the trash – Any attractants that are completely unnecessary, like old magazines and newspapers, should be thrown out.
6. Vacuum regularly – Vacuuming will help eliminate trace amounts of food that are found on the floor that silverfish feed on.
7. Keep outside clean – Silverfish problems start outside so keeping your yard and surrounding areas free of debris and detritus will help minimize the silverfish presence outside.

How Serious is a Silverfish Problem?

Silverfish compared to other pests pose little threat to humans. That said, silverfish can agitate allergies and cause some minor damages to items like books, wallpaper, clothing, linens, bedding, and upholstery. The other problem they create is they are on the bottom of the food chain so they can attract other bugs that feed on them which could lead to an infestation of another pest altogether. 

Silverfish Diet

The typical silverfish diet is pretty much sustained by carbohydrates and proteins. This includes sugars, starches, fabrics, glue, grains, and dead insects. They need to consume a good amount to stay active and even more to prepare for breeding. If food sources are not contained properly, you may end up with silverfish nests inside or near food sources close to moisture. This makes pantries in the kitchen particularly vulnerable since they are in the same room as the kitchen sink and appliances. 

Silverfish come in 4 primary species that are commonly found in California:

Common silverfish: This is the species that most people encounter and are found all over the world.

Grey silverfish: These are found in the Midwest and the south and are a dull grey color, opposed to the silver color that come with other species.

Firebrats: These silverfish are found in hotter climates and reproduce at alarming rates.

Four lined silverfish: These silverfish are much darker with some light scaling which give it the appearance that there are 4 lines on the back.

If you have noticed active silverfish or signs of silverfish in your home, it may be time to call All in One Pest Control to have a licensed silverfish control expert inspect your property. Our team will uncover problematic areas and access points that could be providing silverfish access to your property. We will create a customized plan designed to effectively treat and terminate your silverfish problem. Call today to schedule an inspection!