Some pests are recognizable at first glances, like ants or mosquitoes. Other pests, like silverfish, are a bit harder to identify. Although their name does an excellent job of describing what these bugs look like, most people do not know what to think the first time they encounter these pests. One question that homeowners regularly ask after they identify that the insects in their homes are silverfish is, are they dangerous? We are here today with your answer, along with some other facts you should know to help you keep these invasive pests out of your Annapolis home.
How To Identify Silverfish
A silverfish is an occasional pest that is a tiny, elongated insect with a metallic silver, ¾” long body, two long, straight antennae, and three bristle-like appendages that stretch from its rear. You are most likely to find silverfish around moist and secluded areas such as basements, attics, kitchens, and bathrooms. Inside these areas, these pests will gravitate to items made of fabric such as clothing, carpets, and drapery. You may also find silverfish around pantry areas consuming things like grains, fibrous foods, and vegetables.
Why Silverfish Invade Homes
Silverfish are fairly basic pests. The only two things they need to survive are moisture and a source of food. Silverfish consume items rich in protein and starches such as grains, vegetables, and fibrous items like clothing, drapes, and carpets. If your home has sources of moisture like leaky pipes, wet sinks, high humidity, and available food, silverfish will want to come inside and set up their residence.
Are Silverfish Dangerous?
Silverfish are many things; dangerous is not one of them. These tiny pests do not spread any form of disease and don’t cause any bodily harm to humans. The only threat they pose is the threat of giving you a spook or stressing you out with their other problematic behaviors.
Other Problems Silverfish Cause
The real problems silverfish cause around homes they infest come in the form of their destructive tendencies. Specifically, these pests damage personal belongings with their dieting habits. If left unchecked, silverfish will chew up carpets, nibble holes into clothing, and damage other fabrics like drapes and bed covers. As infestations grow more severe, so will the damage these pests cause. The only way to stop these pests is to get them out and make sure they don’t invade in the future.
How To Prevent Silverfish
There are a few different ways to prevent silverfish. One method is to implement DIY strategies around your home. Here are a few you should consider using.
- Fix leaky pipes and fixtures in and around your home.
- Address humidity by using a dehumidifier inside your home.
- Eliminate sources of water buildup.
- Check used clothing, furniture, and other fabric-based items for hiding silverfish before bringing them into your home.
- Use a caulking gun or liquid cement to seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
Ideally, these prevention steps will be enough to keep silverfish away, but if they make it past your defenses, it may be time to call in the professionals.
Why You Need Professional Pest Control To Deal With Silverfish
Silverfish are not an easy pest to remove living areas. If these metallic insects are crawling around inside your Annapolis home, do not hesitate to let the experts at Pest Czar know you have a problem. Our team of dedicated technicians understands the problems silverfish cause and are standing by with the advanced home pest control solutions and training needed to get these pests out of your living areas. Call us now to learn more about our services and schedule a treatment for your Annapolis home.