Are Silverfish Harmful? How to Get Rid of Occasional Invader Pests in Hyde Park, UT

Occasional invaders such as earwigs, centipedes, and silverfish are not persistent pests such as ants, cockroaches, and spiders that continually invade our homes, but they are common enough with their occasional invasions that when they do show up, they are recognizable. More often than not, they are nuisance pests that cause minimal damage to their feeding and nesting habits. Today, we at Rentokil would like to discuss the fundamentals of silverfish.

What Does a Silverfish Look Like?

Silverfish have teardrop-shaped bodies with three long bristles on the rear that are a bluish-silver color or can range from white to brown-gray. They average approximately ½ inch to ¾ inches in length. More often than not, people find these little pests dwelling in stored boxes in garages and sheds because they are partial to paper and damp fabrics. As they prefer dark and damp locations they are also frequently discovered in kitchens, bathrooms, and attics but silverfish are quite adaptable to most environments.

What Do Silverfish Eat?

Silverfish will include a variety of foods in their diet including carbohydrates, starches, sugars, shampoos, glue in books, linen, silk, dead insects, and also found growing fat eating unopened packaged goods. Because of their vast variety of favorites they are notorious for destroying clothing, vintage clothing, wallpaper, books, and other possessions.

Where Do Silverfish Come from?

More often than not, silverfish are unknowingly introduced into homes carried in by cardboard boxes and plastic containers recently stored in infested areas. Not only being brought inside by occupants, but silverfish will also make their way in through cracks in the foundation, gaps around the door frames, and torn screens. Silverfish are attracted to dirty dishes left in the sink.

Are Silverfish Harmful?

Silverfish are not a major health concern. However, even though they do not transmit or spread disease, they can potentially trigger allergies to some. Silverfish can, however, attract carpet beetles and other predators. You might notice the signs before their numbers get out of hand if you have silverfish infesting your home. The damage from feeding habits can be somewhat obvious and their tiny pepper-like feces seen around the damp corners suggests their presence. You might even see them crawling around the floor or along with the sink or bathtub. These pests run exceptionally fast and being nocturnal, their presence can be fairly secretive for a time. But like most infestations, the longer they go unnoticed the more severe the infestation will be as silverfish reproduce quickly.

Silverfish Occasional Invader Pest Control

Silverfish can survive in nearly any environment but are highly likely found in places with high humidity because of their preference for moisture. In humid environments, nymphs develop quicker. To hinder their development, use baseboards with caulking in basements, open up all the vents in crawl spaces, and reduce their food sources by keeping up on housekeeping, storing food in sealable containers, and keeping trash can lids closed. Though silverfish do not cause severe harm or extensive damage, the damage they can cause could be enough to frustrate any homeowner, especially if the infestation is large enough. If you have silverfish in your home, call in the experts of Rentokil and let our technicians take care of the rest.