{"id":2212,"date":"2016-07-23T09:09:33","date_gmt":"2016-07-23T09:09:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/?p=2212"},"modified":"2020-04-24T03:01:46","modified_gmt":"2020-04-24T03:01:46","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-silverfish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/how-to-get-rid-of-silverfish\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Rid of Silverfish in Your Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Get Rid of Silverfish in Your Home<\/span><\/h1>\n

Have ever seen a silver insect running across your bathtub and diving into the drain after turning the bathroom lights on? That is a silverfish. The real question is,\u00a0how do they get into the house?<\/p>\n

Silverfish are tiny, wingless creatures that are known to cause mayhem on books and various paper objects. They also wreak havoc on cereals and pastes. Even though silverfish are not parasites, as they do not feed on humans, their presence can pose a certain sense of horror for the homeowner who discovers them in their house. These insects\u00a0destroy property! In fact, when books are left too long in the dark, they may become victims of a bug\u00a0infestation.<\/p>\n

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They love moist places, and they will look for any cracks, damp and any leaking pipes in the house to make a home. They move very fast. This means they can get into the house through any opening without anyone\u00a0noticing it.<\/p>\n

So, what is a\u00a0silverfish<\/a>? These insects\u00a0are night-time creatures to start with. They live for two to eight years if left unchecked. They have a pair of compound eyes, and if you fail to get rid of them, they can breed and multiply within a short period of time. As their name suggests, they move in a fish-like motion, and when they become adults, they have a silver tint to their exoskeletons.<\/p>\n

Silverfish usually eat starchy foods. They love kitchen areas and cereal food stores. They are also known to contaminate food, but this has not been proven to transmit any diseases. Funny enough, they can live for a whole year without food. However, they are willing to eat anything and everything including even their exoskeletons. Silverfish are frequently found in many metropolitan areas since they only need 80% to 95% moderate humidity to survive. They are found in bathrooms, garages, closets, kitchens and attics.<\/p>\n

3 Best Ways to Get Rid of Silverfish in your Home<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you have silverfish infestation, you are probably pulling\u00a0your hair out trying to figure out how to get rid of them. Silverfish infestation is not like any other infestation because these insects\u00a0are hardy and very fast. You need a different strategy to eliminate them.\u00a0Below are 3\u00a0important tips on how to get rid of a silverfish infestation:<\/p>\n

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1.\u00a0These bugs are different<\/span><\/h3>\n

Silverfish are not like other insects. They do not have a mother or queen bug that produces the young ones. If you want to get rid of ants, you can give them poison, and they will all return to the nest where the others will die. When dealing with silverfish, this kind of strategy cannot and will not\u00a0work.<\/p>\n

Silverfish do not have a queen. This means they live wherever they wish or can. Remember, they love to live in moist and dark areas. If you notice a leaking pipe, no matter how small the leak is, act on it immediately because it is a prime candidate\u00a0for a silverfish to set up a home. You also need to check for cracks and crevices because this is where the silverfish will be coming from.<\/p>\n

2. Take their food source away<\/span><\/h3>\n

Just like any other creature, if you take away their food sources, they will either die or leave in search of food elsewhere.<\/p>\n

These bugs\u00a0love to eat carbohydrates. But remember they can survive for up to a year without food. However, it is still important to take their food source away. Carbohydrates are usually sugars and starches. For silverfish, they will eat paper, clothes, cardboard among other items. Therefore, documents should be locked up and kept in a cool place. Else, you will find your documents full of holes, and your clothes full of yellow stains. Please, do not risk your property getting ruined by these insects.<\/p>\n

3. Change the insect’s environment<\/span><\/h3>\n

Silverfish depend on moisture and food to survive. To get rid of them, you only need to get rid of both moisture and food. You can start by vacuuming your house. Silverfish will even feed on hair strands that have fallen off your head.<\/p>\n

Also, silverfish like damp areas. If you live in a wet area, and you have no leaks, then you need a dehumidifier. You can also run your air conditioning more often to prevent an infestation. This can make a big difference to your living condition at home.<\/p>\n

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If you suspect that silverfish live in your home, do the following:<\/span><\/p>\n