Silverfish Extermination

Silverfish are primitive (older than cockroaches), wingless insects that are ½-inch long when fully grown.  They are covered with silvery scales and are flattened and somewhat “carrot” shaped.  Three long, slender “antennae-like” appendages project from the end of the abdomen, giving them the name ”bristle tails.”

Silverfish are tropical insects that easily adapt to the structural environment. They live in warm (71-90°), moist locations in the structures, hidden during the day and rest in tight cracks and crevices. They travel great distances looking for food, but once a food source is located, they remain nearby until the supply is exhausted.  They can be found throughout a structure from the basement to individual floors to attics to shingles on the roof. Outdoors, they can be found in mulch, under siding and roof shingles, particularly cedar shakes.

You can often detect a Silverfish by the damage it does. It has cellulose-digesting enzymes and is attracted to paper and starches. Irregular holes in paper and fabric are a sign of a Silverfish infestation. Sometimes you will see stains from their feces or secondary damage caused by a fungus, often found in parallel with these pests. Because they are nocturnal and move fast to hide when exposed to light, they are hard to see. You can use sticky traps where you think you have a problem to see if you catch any.

Treating these pests is not easy as special insecticides are required as well as special methods of application. You will need an expert to find and treat a nesting site, especially those inside the walls and behind baseboards.

Seaside Pest Control is your local expert at knocking out Silverfish and Firebrats and we keep them down for the count.