Is It Dangerous To Have Silverfish In My Scottsdale, AZ Home?

Just about every homeowner has seen one of these silvery, scaly insects that looks almost like a fish – a silverfish. Indeed, their minnow-like appearance is where they get their name. These small insects love to infest homes, and they’re not particularly shy about it.

They like to hide out in cracks and crevices during the day, but it isn’t uncommon to find them chilling in your empty bathtub, scurrying across your floor, or even scaling your wall, especially once the sun goes down. Let’s talk a little more about why these insects come into your home, and how to get expert pest control service in Scottsdale to get rid of them.  

Why Do I Keep Seeing Silverfish?

Silverfish are small (typically not more than .7 inches long), light and shiny gray in appearance, and have three long tails on their abdomen. They also have six legs, as do all insects and extremely long and flexible antennae.

These insects are not tolerant of extreme heat or cold, preferring areas at or near room temperature (between 70 and 85 degrees). That means many times; these bugs just come into your house to escape the heat or cold. Silverfish also will use your house as a food and water source. They’re not picky eaters, and they’ll go for anything that has carbohydrates in it. That doesn’t just include cereals and bread, but literally, anything that might have fiber, cellulose, or starch in it, including any kind of paper, most organic fabrics, certain soaps and shampoos, and even some types of glue!

These feeding habits mean silverfish can be destructive to your property, sometimes sneaking into food stores or clothing and ruining them without you even knowing it. Silverfish can slither into some tiny spaces due to their flexibility, flat shape, and tiny size. So they’re occasionally even discovered in unopened food packaging.  

Aside from contaminating food stores and damaging property, silverfish aren’t all that dangerous. Unlike centipedes, they don’t have venom, and unlike cockroaches, they don’t spread disease. However, they can be annoying and destructive little buggers. What’s worse is that once they decide your house is a good source of food and water, they can be tough to get rid of. 

Beating The Bugs

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep these pests out of your home such as:

• Fix Moisture Issues: Silverfish love moisture, so ensure places like basements and crawlspaces have adequate ventilation and are free from leaks and other issues that could cause moisture buildup. 

• Seal Off Entry Points: Silverfish can get into a lot of places, so it’s important to inspect your home for even the tiniest crack or hole and plug it up. 

• Make Food Inaccessible: Keep pantry foods in airtight containers. Cover trash tightly. And clean dishes as soon as you’re done with them. 

Unfortunately, silverfish are highly motivated to get into Phoenix area homes to escape the heat and find water that can be scarce outside. That means keeping them out can be a problem. If you’ve already got an established silverfish population, the best way to get rid of them is to call the pros. 

Here at Green Home Pest Control, we offer effective, reliable, and – best of all – safe and environmentally friendly treatments for silverfish and other pest insects. We’ve got over 10,000 satisfied customers in the Phoenix area, and our certified technicians will inspect your home and work with you to create a customized treatment plan that will fill your specific needs. So give us a call at Green Home Pest Control at (602) 671-0101 or visit our get started page to request your free estimate.