Silverfish are prominent in most Florida neighborhoods, seeking an environment with high humidity and
moisture. While these creatures aren’t dangerous to humans, they can become a nuisance if they infest
your home.
Silverfish range from 1/3 to ½ inch in length with an oval, elongated body with six legs and are shiny gray
or silver. While these pests don’t have wings, they are known to rapidly move with fish-like movements.
These creatures are looking for an environment with lots of moisture, often found in our basements,
crawl spaces, attics, bathrooms, and under refrigerators.
These pests can survive up to a year without food but need humid temperatures and moisture to
survive. Silverfish tend to feed on a variety of sources such as glue, book bindings, photos, sugar, hair,
dandruff, and dirt. If food or liquid spills onto items such as books, tapestries, and textiles, silverish can
cause damage and destroy it.
Other than spotting silverfish itself, there are various signs that these pests have infested your home.
Pay attention to their feeding marks, these can look like holes, notches along an edge surface, or surface
etchings. Homeowners can also find their scales or feces, tiny pepper-like pellets, on infested materials.
If you want to get ahead of your silverfish prevention, consider utilizing these tips,
- Repair leaky pipes and drains
- Get rid of moldy or wet wood
- Avoiding placing books or magazines in basements, attics, or garages
- Utilize tight containers for your flour and sugar
- Utilize a dehumidifier in your basement or consider enclosing your crawl space
- Contact your local pest control provider to inspect and provide you with the best treatment option for silverfish
