Silverfish, which are sometimes called “fish moths,” are tiny, nocturnal insects found all over the world, including in Texas. They are a very prominent pest species that prefers to live in dark, humid, damp areas, like in your garage, basement, crawl spaces, attic, and sheds (they especially love mildewy, moldy places!). These pests, whose timeline goes back to prehistoric times, are known for their slithery, wiggly walk. The good news is that they don’t bite or sting, nor do they transmit any diseases. On the downside, silverfish crave sugars, starches, and carbohydrates, which might include your favorite stored books, family photos, printed materials, furniture, clothing, fabrics, and wallpaper. They even eat the glue that keeps wallpaper up!
One of the hardest parts about managing these pests is finding all their little hideouts and egg caches. If you see one silverfish anywhere in your home, you can bet there are several, several more nearby. As with other pest problems, the faster you act, the better you’ll be able to get rid of silverfish at home.
How Do You Get Rid of Silverfish?
There are a few quick tricks you can pull to start managing silverfish in your home or basement. You can start by making sure you’ve repaired all indoor and outdoor leaks in your home (moisture is attracting the silverfish). You might also try to dehumidify your basement or other areas where you might be finding silverfish. Also, try some of the following:
- Rolled up, damp newspaper. Create a welcome place for silverfish to congregate and hide. After a few days, burn or dispose thoroughly of the newspaper with the silverfish inside.
- Organic insecticide/silverfishpoison. Only use in out-of-the-way areas where pets and children can’t get to it.
- Sticky traps. These do well to trap plenty of silverfish.
- Cedar oil or cedar chips. If there’s one smell silverfish hate, it’s the pheromones in cedar wood. Try some cedar oil in a diffuser or spray bottle with a mixture water and cedar oil. Cedar chips in corners and cracks of your basement work well, too.
- Bay leaves. Silverfish and other insects can’t stand bay leaves, either, so spread some into the corners of areas where silverfish can be repelled by the scent.
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Silverfish are more of a nuisance than anything, but remember, they can severely damage your valued property. If you do have silverfish at home, it’s a manageable problem, but they multiply quickly and can become a problem quickly. Have you thought about calling in the professionals? You can save yourself plenty of time, money, and stress when you call our New Caney, TX pest control experts. Call us today! We can get rid of your silverfish problem in no time.
