There are many pests that make their way into homes that you are fairly familiar with such as: ants, mice, and spiders to name just a few. Then there are others pests that invade homes that you probably aren’t so familiar with that may cause you to scratch your head wondering what the heck they are. An example of one such pest is the silverfish.
At Parkway Pest Services we are often asked the question “What are silverfish?” Well, we are going to answer this question and more and hopefully help take the mystery away from these shiny pests.
Silverfish are wingless pests that get their name from the unique fish-like way that they move. Adults have a long, flattened body that is tear-drop shaped, gradually tapering from head to tail. They can grow up to 1 inch in length and are a shimmery grayish blue or silver. Silverfish have long antennae coming off their head. They also have three bristles, two shorter ones on the side and a longer one in the middle, coming off their rear.
Now, let’s talk about why silverfish may be in your home. Silverfish require moisture to survive. If the weather outside is not providing enough moisture or has become too cold, they move inside seeking a warm, dark, moist hiding spot. Inside of a house, silverfish can usually be found living and nesting in basements, laundry rooms, underneath sinks, in kitchens, and in bathrooms. Silverfish may also enter your home while they are foraging for food. Silverfish will consume anything that contains starch or polysaccharides; inside of a home this can mean feeding on things like glue, book bindings, human hair, dandruff, sugar, and paper. Yum!
Silverfish generally manage to make their way into homes through cracks and crevices found underneath doors, through spaces found around windows, and/or gaps found around utility lines and pipes. They will then find a safe, dark, moist area to hide in during the day, coming out at night to feed on any suitable items that they can find around your home.
Finding and treating all of the silverfish living in your home is key to complete elimination without having the worry of re-infestation. At Parkway Pest Services our professionals have the experience and persistence needed to do just that. When you are protected with one of our year-round pest control plans our professionals will safely find and eliminate a current silverfish infestation and then provide year-round visits to eliminate and control silverfish and many other common household pests from invading your home.
If silverfish have made their way into your home, contact the professionals at Parkway Pest Services today for more information on how we can help!