While there are some pests in Frisco, Texas that most homeowners are familiar with, others aren’t as well-known. Species like ants and spiders are often on homeowner’s minds, but there are other pests that make their way inside area homes.
One of these is a very strange-looking insect, the silverfish. They look almost like prehistoric creatures with their long, tapered bodies and ribbed appearance. They are usually a grey-silver color, but they can also be brown. They have long antennae as well as a pair of feelers from the end of their bodies.
However, despite this odd look, silverfish aren’t actually dangerous. They aren’t able to transmit any disease to people or pets, and they also aren’t associated with increased allergens or asthma attacks. And, despite having weird appendages, they don’t bite.
But, just because they aren’t dangerous doesn’t mean you want to have them in your home. Silverfish can be unpleasant to encounter, so we’ve put together a guide to help you prevent them from getting inside.
How Do Silverfish Get Inside?
Silverfish aren’t a very difficult pest to figure out. They are attracted to areas that are moisture-rich because they need humidity to thrive. And, like most other home-invading pests, they need access to food sources. Silverfish eat a wide range of items found inside our homes including flour, starches, cardboard, book bindings, and meat. Because of this, they can do some amount of damage to items, especially books and old papers, but it’s usually not extensive.
While moisture attracts them to a home, silverfish also need ways to get inside in the first place. They are quite small, so they can slip through many holes and cracks in the walls or foundations of buildings. They can also get in under doors or through windows that aren’t sealed very well.
Six Silverfish Prevention Steps
Now that you understand the underlying factors that draw silverfish to a property, you can take some specific steps to keep them out. Here are six of the most effective silverfish prevention measures to implement around your home:
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets to remove moisture issues.
- Consider using dehumidifiers in rooms that are particularly humid.
- Ensure your home has good ventilation with a focus on attics, crawl spaces, and basements.
- Make it more difficult for silverfish to get inside by repairing broken screens and placing weather stripping and door sweeps.
- Seal up holes in the walls and foundation using a mix of caulk and foam
- Get help from the pest control professionals at All-Safe Pest & Termite.
Overall, following these steps can also help prevent many other small insects.
The Simplest Way To Deal With Silverfish
If you already have silverfish and want to remove them, or just want to keep them away for good, contact the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite. We even provide free estimates to make it easy for you to get started, and our trained and licensed professionals have the tools and experience to handle all kinds of pest problems.
We will work with you to create a customized residential pest control plan that addresses silverfish and any other pests you frequently find around your property. Just give us a call right away to learn more or request an appointment.