Unless you own a fish aquarium, most of us don't think we have fish in our house. The silverfish is not a fish that lives in water, but you can still have them inside your house. These elusive insects invade and damage Houston homes often without being seen by the homeowners.
If you see damage to houseplants, pictures, wallpaper, and fabrics, you need the Houston pest control team from All-Safe Pest & Termite because you may have a silverfish infestation. Our local, family-owned company of professionals will quickly work to stop the silverfish infestation in your Houston home.
What Are Silverfish?
Although it is not a fish, the silverfish insect is fast-moving and wiggles like a fish, and because of the fine scales on its metallic, silvery body, it looks like a fish. Adult silverfish are wingless, six-legged insects with a 3/4 inch elongated body and two extended antennae.
Because they have six legs and long antennae, house bugs that look like silverfish include centipedes, cockroaches, and termites. However, in addition to its quick, fish-like movements, the distinguishing feature that sets the silverfish apart is its three tail-like projections.
Houston homeowners rarely see silverfish because they hunt at night and stay hidden during the day. If you shine a light in an area where silverfish are hiding, you will see them quickly wiggling away as if swimming in water.
Why You Don't Want Silverfish In Your House
Silverfish do not cause structural damage to a house like carpenter ants or subterranean termites; instead, they harm the materials in the home. The silverfish diet consists of carbohydrates and starchy materials such as paper, bookbindings, wallpaper, and envelopes. Foods they enjoy include oats, flour, and sugar. Silverfish also feast on cotton, linens, and rayon fabrics. Silverfish are not protein adverse and will eat dead silverfish and beef products.
Why And How Silverfish Find Their Way Into Your Home
Like other pests, silverfish bugs in the house are in moist areas like the crawlspace or the basement; they are also near leaky pipes, moldy wood, and bathroom sinks. Silverfish also prefer warm areas like skylights, canister light fixtures, and soffits because they have temperatures between 70℉ to 80℉. Shake roofs are attractive to silverfish because of the high moisture, starch, and cellulose content.
Silverfish prefer living outdoors, feeding on organic materials and hiding under rocks and logs. However, when the temperature drops or long, extended dry weather periods occur, silverfish will seek out moisture and warmth found in Houston houses. With their six legs, they can climb walls and enter the home through cracks around the door and window frames, in the foundation, or around pipes and wiring entering the house.
Why You Should Call The Pros About Silverfish In Your Home
Warm, moist environments attractive to silverfish are also conducive to cockroaches, subterranean termites, and carpenter ants. Although silverfish cause damage to interior possessions, these other insidious pests cause significant structural damage over time.
If you suspect silverfish are causing damage to fabrics, books, and food products, contact All-Safe Pest & Termite immediately. Though we hope the problem is limited to silverfish, it is possible that as we get rid of silverfish, our pest control team may discover termites or cockroaches in the areas we find silverfish.
In addition to securing the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite, implement these preventative steps:
- Dehumidify the crawlspace or basement
- Seal cracks and gaps around pipes and wiring entering the home
- Fix moldy wood
- Repair leaky pipes
- Eliminate musty cardboard, magazines, and books
Contact our award-winning customer service team at All-Safe Pest & Termite, and we will solve your silverfish problem.