Have you seen shiny little pests with a lobster-like appearance darting around your dark basement? As scary and strange as these pests may look, they are likely silverfish, a common Collegeville pest.
Despite being a pest we see regularly, many people don’t know much about silverfish. Read on to learn more about these strange-looking pests, the damage they can do, ways to prevent them, and how professional pest control in Collegeville from Terra Pest Management Specialists can keep your home protected.
How To Identify A Silverfish
Once you get over the shock of seeing a silverfish darting around your house, they can be easy to identify. As their name suggests, silverfish have a silvery, metallic appearance and a fish-like shape. They have three long tail-like appendages on the end of their body.
Seeing a silverfish around your home can be rare. It is usually easier to spot signs of a silverfish infestation, which include:
- Irregular holes or notches on the edges of books or magazines
- Yellow stains on books, papers, or boxes
- Small, black, pepper-like droppings
- Molted silverfish skins
Seeing a live silverfish is another telltale sign of a silverfish infestation. Call us immediately if you notice any signs of silverfish or need help identifying the pests that you think may be silverfish.
Why You Don’t Want Silverfish Crawling Around Your Home
Silverfish may be creepy with their strange, alien-like appearance, but they aren’t as scary as they look. Silverfish don’t bite or sting and aren’t known to carry diseases. In rare cases, people may suffer allergic reactions to silverfish skin molts. This doesn’t mean you want them hanging around your home.
The biggest problem with silverfish in your home is the damage they can cause. Silverfish feed on wallpaper, books, magazines, clothing, upholstery, pictures, and glue. They can chew holes through important documents and leave stains on books and photographs.
Five Naturally Effective Silverfish Prevention Tips
Even if silverfish aren’t a dangerous pest, you don’t want them around. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to avoid silverfish. Here are five natural silverfish prevention tips for your home:
- Eliminate leaf and landscape debris in your yard to reduce areas where silverfish might hide outside.
- Reduce excess moisture around your home as silverfish seek out areas with high humidity.
- Don’t leave books, magazines, newspapers, or other paper products out where silverfish can access them.
- Store items in plastic bins in place of cardboard.
- Seal cracks and crevices that silverfish could use to enter your home.
Remember that silverfish are excellent climbers, so even cracks high off the ground need to be sealed, and storing paper products on high shelves won’t protect them from silverfish.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Silverfish In Your Home
If you are dealing with an active silverfish infestation, the best option is a home pest control plan from Terra Pest Management Specialists. We offer year-round protection for your home that covers silverfish and other common Collegeville pests.
Our plans always start with an inspection, where we identify signs of pests like silverfish. Based on the results, we’ll recommend a treatment plan for your home and provide an initial treatment to eliminate active infestations. We usually suggest quarterly follow-up visits to keep your home pest free, but we also offer monthly and single visits to fit your needs. And you can rest assured knowing that all our plans include emergency visits, so if pests return between scheduled visits, we will too.
Don’t let silverfish take over your home. Call us today for home pest control you can count on to keep your home and family protected.
Our certified pest experts will work with you to find the best solution for your needs. Simply fill out this form for a free, no-obligation estimate.