15 Dec What Are Silverfish?
Silverfish These Mysterious Insects
Silverfish are a type of pest that can be a real annoyance in your home. They live in moist environments, and they feed on paper products such as books and cardboard boxes. Silverfish are not insects, but rather arachnids like ticks or spiders. Though they don’t pose serious health risks to humans, their presence can cause structural damage to buildings if left unchecked over time. You can learn more about them here:
What are silverfish?
You may have heard of “silverfish” before, but did you know that they aren’t really fish? They’re actually a type of insect, but they’re also not insects!
Silverfish are small (less than an inch long), wingless and nocturnal. They can live in damp places like bathrooms or basements, which makes them common pests for homeowners.
Where do silverfish hide
Silverfish are nocturnal creatures that like to hide in dark, dry places. They tend to be found in your kitchen cupboards and drawers, behind baseboards and under cabinets, as well as along the edges of walls. The corners of rooms are also a common place for them to hide as they’re attracted to light and will run toward it if disturbed (hence why you may find them near windowsills during the day).
How do I know if I have silverfish
The first step to figuring out whether you have silverfish is to determine if the damage you’re seeing was caused by them.
- Look for tiny exoskeletons. Silverfish shed their exoskeletons and they look like little flakes of skin, usually in areas where there are high concentrations of food or moisture. If you find a pile of these little flakes or notice your books or paper goods covered with them (they’ll also be stuck in glue traps), it’s likely that silverfish were responsible for the damage.
You can also use glue traps to check for signs of silverfish activity; if there’s an infestation, these will be full of insects (and sometimes even their shed exoskeletons).
What do you need to get rid of silverfish
- The first step to getting rid of silverfish is obtaining the proper tools for the job. You can’t just use a flyswatter and call it a day, because that would be very ineffective. To get rid of silverfish, you want to make sure you have everything on hand:
- Silverfish spray. This type of product is usually made with boric acid and water, or sometimes even flour or sugar! Sprays are easy to apply but they only work on contact with the insect’s exoskeleton (or outer shell). The best thing about this method is that it doesn’t leave behind any harmful chemicals or residues in your home environment—which makes it ideal for those who want something natural in their lives!
- Silverfish traps. These traps tend to look like small cardboard boxes with holes cut out around them—the idea being that when you place these around your house there will be an opening where the insects can enter but not exit! Once inside these little homes though an unsuspecting victim gets trapped without ever knowing what hit them until it’s too late…kind of like how our parents used us as bait when we were kids
Silverfish glue boards are another great option if you’re looking into getting rid of pests because they don’t require any kind of maintenance after application; just place them somewhere near where there might be some activity happening then wait patiently until everyone comes back alive again
How to get rid of silverfish
Use a vacuum to clean up the dust in your house. This will help get rid of the food that silverfish eat and provide them with less places to hide.
- Wash dishes and clean your sink when you finish cooking or eating. Silverfish are attracted to bits of food stuck on dishes, so this will also reduce their numbers by removing it from your home as quickly as possible.
- Keep food in airtight containers or cover it if possible. This prevents crumbs from getting on countertops, which attract silverfish; once they’re there, they’ll stay there unless something removes them (such as sweeping). You can also use traps or baits specifically designed for catching silverfish, which are available at most hardware stores and online through Amazon Prime Pantry 2-Day Shipping Pantry & Grocery Delivery Services
Silverfish are a common pest in homes and businesses, but they can be difficult to get rid of. These insects can survive for long periods of time without food, which makes it hard to eliminate them from an infested area. Silverfish live in damp places such as basements and crawl spaces, under sinks and stoves, along walls behind baseboards and in attics. They may also be found in bookcases or closets where there are stacks of old newspapers or magazines.
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