Protect Your Home from Invaders
Silverfish can live for years and cause a lot of damage to most items in the household. Infestations need to be dealt with before they go out of control, and the best option is to hire a silverfish control company. Pest control professionals can find the source of the silverfish infestation, remove them, and prevent them from reappearing in the long run.
Why Are Silverfish Considered Pests?
Silverfish are not necessarily a danger to human health, but they are fairly much a nuisance in every Brisbane household. They love to chew through any item containing cellulose, including books, walls, paintings, dry food, and even leather clothing.
Therefore, not only are they unsightly, but they can also do some damage to your house. This is why silverfish control is necessary.
What Are Silverfish and What Do They Look Like?
Contrary to what their name might suggest, silverfish are not fish. They are an insect that goes under the name of Lepisma saccharina. They got their name because they have a silver colour and they move in a way that goes back and forth and side to side, similar to fish.
Silverfish prefer areas with higher humidity levels, which is why you may commonly find them in the bathroom, basement, or kitchen. They use those moist, dark areas to lay their eggs. In the right environment, they can live up to eight years.
How Do You Know You Have a Silverfish Problem?
If you have high humidity levels in your house, then you might expect silverfish to find it a cozy place as well. The more silverfish or signs of them you see throughout the day, the clearer it becomes that you are dealing with an infestation. At that point, you might want to consider going for silverfish control and we can help you out in that regard.
Common Signs of Silverfish Infestation
The first sign of a silverfish infestation will be a direct sighting of the pest. If you see one silverfish, there are others as well. They also leave droppings that look like peppercorns, mostly in areas where you store books. That being said, one of the biggest signs of the pest problem is the damage they deal to your items. Silverfish will feast on your wallpaper and books, which is a tell-tale sign that you need silverfish control.
Pest Control Tips for Silverfish in Brisbane
Even after undergoing pest control, silverfish may come back into your house if you aren’t careful enough. Here are some pest control tips to ensure that they stay away.
- Dehumidify Your Home
Silverfish love humid places, so the main way to keep them away from your home is to keep the humidity at appropriate levels. A good dehumidifier will help in that regard. Set it at least under 50% humidity; the lower, the better.
- Keep Dry Food in Sealed Containers
Dry food left outside may attract humidity from the air, which will be a great environment for the silverfish. A good pest control option is to keep all of your dry food in sealed containers. This will cut all their access.
- Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth has the power of drawing moisture out of the things it touches, including insects. Since silverfish is a pest that loves moisture, it is a good pest control option. Sprinkle this earth in areas where you expect silverfish to hang. As they encounter it, the silverfish will lose their moisture and ultimately die.
- Use Sticky Traps
Sticky as they maybe, silverfish may be attracted to the moisture and scent of the trap. It is a good silverfish control option to catch and kill the silverfish, as they’ll get stuck to it and die there.
- Use Silverfish Poison
You can buy silverfish poison that you may sprinkle in small bits around the house. Bear in mind that this may be toxic to some extent to humans as well. If you have kids or pets that might touch or eat the poison, you might want to refrain from using it.
- Cedar Oil
Silverfish are repelled by the smell of cedar oil because the pheromones in cedar smell very strongly. You can make a spray bottle out of it and sprinkle it around the home, or you may add it to your diffuser. Regular use will keep the pest away from your home, acting as long-term silverfish control.
- Clean Out the Clutter
Silverfish like chewing at magazines or books in humid areas – so, if they find clutter, they will jump right on it. This is why you may want to ensure you keep the clutter away so that silverfish are less tempted to hang around. If you have no dry places to store your books or clutter, you might want to put them in a sealed container.
- Use Plastic Bins Instead of Cardboard
Silverfish like crewing and tearing into plastic boxes that you might normally use in storage. This is why you may want to store the items in plastic bins so that your belongings remain safe.
- Dust Your Home
Silverfish like starchy particles, which can be anything from flour to particles scratched from a cardboard box. These contain cellulose, the substance that this pest likes. This is why you may want to dust your home regularly, to remove particles that may attract them.
- Hire a Professional
Silverfish infestations can often be difficult to get rid of, which is why silverfish control is necessary. Pest experts can help you get rid of your silverfish problem.
