How to Get Rid of Silverfish Humanely
Although silverfish insects are usually harmless, it is important to control unwanted silverfish in the home before they become a problem. After giving you the information you need to understand a silverfish infestation, this article provides an easy, humane solution for dealing with these bugs.
The silverfish is an insect, not a fish, but it gets its name from the fishlike appearance it has when it crawls around. If you find one or more of these bugs in your home, they can be startling. Watching the silverfish "slither" across the bathroom floor isn't pleasant, but the bugs can't harm you and are probably not doing any damage to your house. Since they're harmless pests themselves, it makes sense to get rid of them in a way that won't harm them, either.
How to Recognize Silverfish
Silverfish are easy to recognize because they do not resemble any other common household insect. They are small in size, from 1/2 to 1 inch, and have a distinct shape like a fish or an elongated teardrop. As their name suggests, they are silver or gray colored and may brightly reflect the light. Silverfish have exoskeletons that are segmented into armor-like plates, the soft, hair-like spikes on their back ends, and two long antennae on the front. Their most easily recognizable feature is the way they move. Although they have legs, their bodies wriggle like a fish's body when they move, so from a distance they look like they are slithering across the wall or the floor.
Where do Silverfish Live?
Silverfish are nocturnal, so you are more likely to see them at night. They prefer damp areas, so they are much more common in humid climates. In dry climates, the most likely cause of unwanted silverfish is a damp area behind a wall or other fixture in a bathroom or basement. In areas where the humidity is regularly above 75%, silverfish can survive and reproduce more easily in a wider range of places, including in closets and kitchen pantries.
Are Silverfish Dangerous?
Although a few silverfish will not do any serious damage, a large infestation of the insects could become a problem. The reason is that silverfish eat starchy materials and often like to eat the glue on the back of wallpaper and tile. A lot of silverfish eating away at wallpaper will eventually cause visible damage. Additionally, silverfish can damage clothes and linens that have been treated with starches, and will eat starchy food and paper if given the chance. Luckily, you will probably notice the presence of silverfish before the problem gets serious.
Do You Have a Silverfish Problem?
When they're noticed early, it's relatively easy to rid your bathroom or home of silverfish. Despite their fluid movements, silverfish are not very stealthy. Unlike termites and other pests, you are likely to observe silverfish out in the open, in the bathroom or elsewhere. If you see more than one silverfish, there are probably a few others lurking about. However, since silverfish don't reproduce very frequently compared to other insects, they are easy to control using humane procedures.
Why Choose Humane Pest Control?
Many people automatically resort to harsh chemical bug sprays when they discover unknown insects in their houses. These sprays effectively kill insects, often on contact, but have a number of drawbacks. First of all, many insects are harmless to humans and killing them is therefore unnecessary. Infestations of non-threatening insects can almost always be remedied using natural methods that do not kill the bugs. Such methods are preferable not only because they are more humane but because they are less likely to cause problems for humans. Powerful chemicals used to instantly kill bugs are not healthy for humans, either. Breathing these sprays can be dangerous, and they have the potential to damage clothes, skin, and household surfaces. For those who have a child in the house, insecticides can be very dangerous because they can seriously injure or even kill a child who ingests them accidentally. For these and other reasons, humane pest solutions are a better choice when they are available.
How to Get Rid of Silverfish
For silverfish, the human solution is easy. Because silverfish eat starchy materials, they can easily be baited with wheat flour, cornstarch, sugar, or coffee grounds. In order to trap them, follow these steps:
How to Recognize Silverfish
Silverfish are easy to recognize because they do not resemble any other common household insect. They are small in size, from 1/2 to 1 inch, and have a distinct shape like a fish or an elongated teardrop. As their name suggests, they are silver or gray colored and may brightly reflect the light. Silverfish have exoskeletons that are segmented into armor-like plates, the soft, hair-like spikes on their back ends, and two long antennae on the front. Their most easily recognizable feature is the way they move. Although they have legs, their bodies wriggle like a fish's body when they move, so from a distance they look like they are slithering across the wall or the floor.
Where do Silverfish Live?
Silverfish are nocturnal, so you are more likely to see them at night. They prefer damp areas, so they are much more common in humid climates. In dry climates, the most likely cause of unwanted silverfish is a damp area behind a wall or other fixture in a bathroom or basement. In areas where the humidity is regularly above 75%, silverfish can survive and reproduce more easily in a wider range of places, including in closets and kitchen pantries.
Are Silverfish Dangerous?
Although a few silverfish will not do any serious damage, a large infestation of the insects could become a problem. The reason is that silverfish eat starchy materials and often like to eat the glue on the back of wallpaper and tile. A lot of silverfish eating away at wallpaper will eventually cause visible damage. Additionally, silverfish can damage clothes and linens that have been treated with starches, and will eat starchy food and paper if given the chance. Luckily, you will probably notice the presence of silverfish before the problem gets serious.
Do You Have a Silverfish Problem?
When they're noticed early, it's relatively easy to rid your bathroom or home of silverfish. Despite their fluid movements, silverfish are not very stealthy. Unlike termites and other pests, you are likely to observe silverfish out in the open, in the bathroom or elsewhere. If you see more than one silverfish, there are probably a few others lurking about. However, since silverfish don't reproduce very frequently compared to other insects, they are easy to control using humane procedures.
Why Choose Humane Pest Control?
Many people automatically resort to harsh chemical bug sprays when they discover unknown insects in their houses. These sprays effectively kill insects, often on contact, but have a number of drawbacks. First of all, many insects are harmless to humans and killing them is therefore unnecessary. Infestations of non-threatening insects can almost always be remedied using natural methods that do not kill the bugs. Such methods are preferable not only because they are more humane but because they are less likely to cause problems for humans. Powerful chemicals used to instantly kill bugs are not healthy for humans, either. Breathing these sprays can be dangerous, and they have the potential to damage clothes, skin, and household surfaces. For those who have a child in the house, insecticides can be very dangerous because they can seriously injure or even kill a child who ingests them accidentally. For these and other reasons, humane pest solutions are a better choice when they are available.
How to Get Rid of Silverfish
For silverfish, the human solution is easy. Because silverfish eat starchy materials, they can easily be baited with wheat flour, cornstarch, sugar, or coffee grounds. In order to trap them, follow these steps:
- Fill a glass mason jar or other high-sided glass container with some flour or other starchy food material.
- Cover the jar with a rough substance such as sandpaper or masking tape.
- Leave the jar on a floor or counter near where you have observed silverfish.
- Wait at least a day or two.
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