How To Combat Silverfish Infestations In Chandler

When it comes to pest infestations in Chandler, silverfish are a common culprit. While silverfish don’t bite or pose too much of a health risk to you or your family, they can be quite the nags. Silverfish like to hang out in moist areas of your home, chewing through paper and clothing, and can even find their way into your oat and flour bins, contaminating them.

These slippery, quick insects are difficult to combat on your own. In this blog, we explore common silverfish identifiers, learn how they might have found their way into your home, and which Chandler pest control company to consult when you have a silverfish problem.

What Is This Little Silver Bug?

A silverfish is an insect that resembles (you guessed it!) a silver fish. These little silver bugs are shaped like a fish, about a ½ an inch in size, and have a silvery-metallic appearance. They can, however, also appear light brown. Silverfish are often in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms and basements. These creatures also have six legs, antennae, and eyes that are widely separated.

The Damage Silverfish Can Do In Your Home

Silverfish don’t pose huge property risks to your home, but they can definitely destroy valuable items and cost you a lot of time and money. These insects gravitate to paper products, such as books, envelopes, wallpaper, clothing, and upholstery. The damage common to silverfish infestations includes the destruction of important documents, books, clothing, and draperies. 

Silverfish also love oats and flour. People with a silverfish infestation commonly report finding them in their flour bags. In this manner, silverfish can contaminate your food if you aren’t careful. If you think you have a silverfish problem, it’s really important to inspect your flour and oats before cooking with them.

In addition, if you store any family photos or other important paper documents in the attic or basement, be sure to check these areas regularly for silverfish. It’s best to store these valuables in tightly-lidded plastic bins to avoid any silverfish damage.

How And Why Silverfish Find Their Way Into Your Home

Silverfish find their way into your home for a number of reasons. Some reasons they might invade your home include the following:

• They’re looking for food to survive.

• They crave moisture, and you have unventilated areas of your house.

• They need warmth to survive.

These fish-like insects find their way into your home through cracks and holes in the exterior walls of your property and through leaky water pipes. They can also attach themselves to plants or shrubs leaning against your home and climb up onto your house. 

Consult The Professionals For Total Silverfish Control

There are definitely some preventative measures you can take to keep silverfish from entering your home or causing severe damage; however, there aren’t too many home remedies for getting rid of silverfish. First, be sure to store books, important documents, photos, etc., in tightly lidded storage bins. If these are currently in cardboard boxes, switch them out for plastic bins with lids, as silverfish cannot chew through these.

Next, you’ll want to make sure all areas of your home have proper ventilation, especially the bathroom, attic, and basement. You may want to acquire a dehumidifier for these rooms. Also, check for leaky water pipes, and store any firewood a good distance from your house. Finally, keep grains such as flour and oats in airtight containers.

These preventative measures help, but they’re not always enough to quell an infestation. Getting rid of silverfish on your own is hard; if you’re having trouble with silverfish in your home, consult a professional like Green Home Pest Control. At Green Home Pest Control, we pride ourselves on being able to bring your home back to its peaceful state, free from silverfish invaders.