Help! There Are So Many Centipedes In And Around My Katy Home
May 30, 2023
Centipedes in Katy can invade your home and cause problems. Here’s the best way to keep these pests away from your property.
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Have you ever seen a silverfish before? No, it’s not a fish from the ocean, but a creepy-crawly insect that gets its name from its appearance. The following notable features can identify this pest:
- Metallic scales
- Elongated and tear-dropped-shaped body
- ¾ of an inch long
- Fish-like movement
- Six legs
- Long antennae
- Three long bristle-like “tails.”
From their appearance, people might assume they are dangerous, but the truth is they do not bite or spread diseases. While they don’t pose health risks to people and pets, they can still cause problems if they infest a home. When silverfish get inside, they will hide in dark and damp areas such as basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, attics, and crawlspaces. Because of this, infestations of this pest can go unnoticed for some time, which allows them to cause and contaminate food.
Silverfish will eat many things such as wallpapers, rugs, envelopes, glue, clothing, and books. They will also consume human foods that contain sugars or carbohydrates, such as cereals. If this pest gets into your stored foods, it can contaminate what you consume and make you sick.
Another issue with silverfish is their need for high moisture, which means you could have a moisture issue if you see this pest-and high humidity can lead to other pest problems such as cockroaches and termites. So while they won’t harm you physically, silverfish aren’t welcome on any Fort Worth, Texas property.
What Attracts Silverfish
Like other pests, silverfish want to get inside your home for food and moisture. Silverfish can squeeze through small cracks in the foundation of a home. They can also get in through gaps around windows and doors. If there is high moisture on your property, there is a good chance you will have some pests. However, you can prevent this from happening by reducing the attractive factors.
Silverfish Prevention
Taking what you know about why silverfish are attracted to your home, you can use this knowledge to help prevent them. The following are tips to reduce moisture, food sources, and entry points.
- Ensure your home has proper ventilation and use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture.
- Address other moisture issues such as leaks, backed-up gutters, and replace water-damaged wood.
- Install weather stripping around doors and windows to keep water from getting in.
- Remove organic debris from your yards, such as excess foliage and leaf piles, as they retain moisture.
- Use a barrier of crushed rock between your home’s foundation and any mulch, soil, or grass.
- Regularly clean your kitchen and other eating areas to remove crumbs and food debris.
- Store food in air-tight containers.
- Declutter your home and throw any paper products, clothing, products that use glue, rugs, curtains, and any other unused items.
- Use plastic storage bins with locking lids instead of cardboard boxes.
- Seal potential entry points and install door sweeps.
These tips will help keep silverfish from making a home on your property, but they won’t get rid of an active infestation. If this is the case on your Fort Worth property, you should turn to professionals to take care of this problem rather than do it yourself.
Professional Silverfish Control
For more advice or assistance, contact the professionals at All-Safe Pest & Termite today. With our home pest control programs, we offer solutions for all your pest problems. Whether you chose the Safe Select Pest Control Program or the Protection Plus Pest & Termite Control Program, you can expect excellent customer service and superior protection.
Give us a call today at All-Safe Pest & Termite to learn more about how we can help with silverfish and other pests in Fort Worth.
