When most people think of pest control, they probably visualize men in protective suits using various treatment products and traps in and around a home. But did you know that a substantial part of pest control involves reducing or removing particular environmental conditions in a home?
The fact these, these “conducive conditions” are elements such as temperature, moisture level, and others that allow particular pests to thrive in your home. For some pests, the existence of these conditions determine not only their ability to inhabit a space, but also the severity of their infestation. A good example of this is the silverfish. While else reclusive pests are typically a minor concern for homeowners, they can become a frustrating problem in the right environment.
What are silverfish?
Most people have seen a silverfish, even if they do not place the name to the silvery, tear drop shaped pests. Silverfish typically grow to around 19mm in length, and can be identified by the three long bristles located at the rear of their bodies.
Silverfish begin life as eggs laid by a female of the species. They undergo no significant appearance changes other than size when growing from egg to adult.
What attracts silverfish to your home?
Generally speaking, silverfish are accidental invaders. These pests can exploit a variety of avenues through which to enter your home. Oftentimes they will make initial entry through cracks or gaps in the exterior of the structure, through crawlspaces or vents, or beneath unsealed windows and doors. Regardless of how they gain entry, silverfish inside a home will quickly disperse in search of adequate sources of food and moisture.
Silverfish thrive in environments with low light levels and high moisture content. In fact, the more humid a space is, the more quickly silverfish are able to reproduce and develop. This often leads them to infest areas of the home that frequently collect moisture. Some common areas they seek out include:
- Kitchens (Beneath large appliances)
- Bathrooms
- Around drains or sinks
- Nearby water damage
- Basements and crawlspaces
- Garages or sheds (Often hiding in boxes and debris piles)
While these areas are not the only places you will find silverfish, most significant infestation will be traced back to an area that fulfills the environmental conditions that silverfish prefer.
How do you keep your home free of silverfish?
The key to preventing a silverfish infestation lies in the conducive conditions that we mentioned earlier. Silverfish are attracted to these conditions, and if you home has areas with high humidity and readily available food this will act as a beacon to these pests. As such, homeowners should actively work to reduce or prevent these types of conditions. Controlling moisture levels in the home, especially in areas that the silverfish enter through such as ventilation and crawlspaces, will help to avoid unduly attracting pests.
Beyond this, it is important to have periodic inspections of your home by a licensed pest control professional. A skilled technician can identify even the smallest signs of pest activity, and this can allow you to locate and deal with a pest infestation before it is allowed to get out of hand. Silverfish, like many other pests, have exponentially growing infestations, and thus early detection is a critical part of an easy resolution to your pest problems.
If you are dealing with pests in Chattanooga or Cleveland, Volunteer Rid-A-Pest We are your ONE CALL solution to everything pest control! We offer FREE advice, but if you want your problem solved ASAP, we offer a wide range of safe, targeted treatment options designed to quickly and effectively remove pest populations from your home! All of our services are available at a reasonable price and are backed by our industry leading quality guarantee!
So don’t let silverfish or any other pest roam free in your home, call Volunteer Rid A Pest today at 423-698-7205 OR 423-472-7736!
