What Are Silverfish?
If you’ve spotted holes in your favorite books, yellow stains on your clothing, or small pellets on a newspaper, you may have a silverfish problem. These primitive pests, named for their shimmery silver bodies and fishlike movements, feast on paper, clothing, and upholstery. Nocturnal, nimble, and quick-moving, silverfish can be difficult to eradicate on your own.
That’s where professional pest control companies come in. The best pest control companies can eliminate silverfish infestations and help to stop them from returning.
How To Identify Silverfish
Silverfish are ancient insects. According to the University of Florida entomology school, silverfish are some of the simplest and least evolved species. Unlike many insects, they can live for up to four years and even go an entire year without food.
How To Prevent Silverfish
How To Get Rid of Silverfish
Most of the time, preventive measures are successful at keeping silverfish numbers low. If you decide to use insecticide, choose a product that’s safe for indoor use and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Note that pyrethrins, the active ingredient in most aerosol pesticides including bug bombs, won’t work against silverfish. Boric acid dust is more effective, and Japanese cedar oil has also been found to repel silverfish.
The best way to get rid of a large silverfish infestation is by hiring a professional pest control company. Traps only kill the individual silverfish that come across them, and it’s difficult to apply insecticides well enough to treat a full infestation. To effectively eliminate silverfish, you must get rid of all of the pests and their eggs and keep them from returning. Experienced pest control specialists can create an effective treatment plan.
FAQ About Silverfish
Is it bad to have silverfish?
Silverfish won’t cause people any harm but can damage books, upholstery, clothing, wallpaper, and insulation.
Why do you get silverfish?
Silverfish may come into your home in search of moisture and food. Highly humid areas in your house like your basement, laundry room, or bathroom are attractive to silverfish.
How do you get rid of silverfish?
You can try using boric acid dust or silverfish traps. However, these methods are insufficient for large infestations. In that case, consider calling a pest control company.
Are silverfish a sign of a dirty house?
Silverfish aren’t necessarily the sign of a dirty house, though they’re more likely to inhabit homes that have food and crumbs out and excessive paper clutter.
Our Rating Methodology
We back up our pest control recommendations with a detailed rating methodology that we use to objectively score each provider. We review pest control plans, navigate the provider website, speak with customer service representatives by phone and online chat (if available), request quotes, and analyze customer reviews for each provider. We then score the provider against our review standards for plans and services, reputation and customer responses, customer service offerings, workmanship guarantees, financing, and availability to arrive at a final score on a 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.