Pest infestations can cause a lot of damage to your health and belongings when not detected in the early stages. While many people are aware of mosquitoes, cockroaches and fleas, not many are aware of silverfish infestations. At the end of this article, you will get an idea of how to sipot silverfish infestations, and how to keep them at bay.
Silverfish pests – An overview
Contrary to popular belief, silverfish are not fishes, but they are household pests. If you thought cockroaches were the most frustrating insects you can spot in your homes, you haven’t spotted silverfish infestations, yet. These are silver-colored insects that can damage wallpapers, paints, books, glue, carpets, furniture and almost any household item.
What attracts them?
Silverfish insects get attracted to open food lying worldwide, especially sugary compounds found in almost all household items. You may be surprised to know that glue, paints, carpets, fabrics and furniture contain sugary substances called polysaccharides in them. Silverfish get on to these items to eat these sugary substances. When these infestations are not detected in the early stages, these insects can damage your furniture and other household items.
They are adapted to live in dark and moist surroundings. So, they are smart enough to enter your homes and inhabit those places that you aren’t even aware of. Once they get settled down in your homes, they can create a lot of trouble. They can live up to 8 years, and they reproduce quickly. They lay their eggs in these dark and hidden spots in your home, and before you know these infestations can grow to create many problems for you.
Some ways to keep silverfish infestations at bay
Yes, getting an experienced pest control agency to get rid of silverfish infestations is the best tip you can follow. However, here are certain tips you can follow to keep these at bay, as a preventive measure:
- You should always store dry foods such as rice, cereals, grains, sugar and flour in airtight containers only. Never leave these foods out in the open, as silverfish can come crawling into the containers to eat these foods, and thereby lead to a swarm of insects crowding the place too quickly.
- If you spot cracks or crevices in the walls or leakages in the taps, you need to seal them right away. Silverfish love to stay in dark and moist places; therefore, you need to reduce the humidity inside and outside your homes. Using a dehumidifier inside the rooms, and keeping the bathrooms ventilated are other ideas to keep silverfish infestations at bay.
- If you have piles of newspapers and old books lying in the attic, storeroom, shelves, or anywhere else, you need to clean them at the earliest. Silverfish love to feast on these papers and stay there for a long time, while they also reproduce in large numbers within a quick time.
- Silverfish are nocturnal insects; therefore, you can apply some DE powder (diatomaceous earth) to the places that are prone to infestations from these insects. The algae in this powder cause damage to the silverfish’s outer coating, leading to the death of the insects.
- You can also use other types of silverfish poison, sticky traps and boric-acid-based poison to kill silverfish and control infestations.