Silverfish Identification & Prevention
Worried about silverfish in Jacksonville? Use this guide by Wildlife and Pest Control Experts to get more information about why these insects infest properties. This can help you make informed decisions about how to identify, prevent, and treat silverfish infestations.
What are silverfish?
Silverfish are a type of arthropod found on every continent on Earth (except Antarctica). Named for their swift and fish-like movements, they remain a constant in moist environments both inside and outside our properties.
The best way to identify a silverfish is to look for:
- Their long, tapered bodies
- Their silvery coloration
- Their scale-like exoskeletons
- Their large cerci and antenna
Keep in mind there are dozens of different silverfish species located worldwide. For the purposes of this guide, we’re covering the most common species: Lepisma saccharina.
Are silverfish dangerous?
Silverfish are only dangerous to your belongings – not people, pets, or your loved ones. These creatures cannot bite, sting, or otherwise inject you with venom and instead choose to spend their days hiding in the dark, where they can consume organic matter or household goods.
The foods a silverfish can eat are both varied and unique. Some of their favorite targets include cardboard and book adhesive, although scrap paper, wood, and carpet are also known favorites.
Although silverfish may not eat very much as a single pest, they can do a great deal of damage in high numbers. Large infestations can destroy entire swaths of property over the course of a single season, including photographs, clothing, and even paint.
Why do I have a silverfish problem?
The biggest contributor to a silverfish infestation is moisture (which can be problematic both inside and outside the home). Silverfish require a relative humidity factor of at least 75% to survive, which puts homes with leaky pipes, clogged drains, and poor HVAC systems at higher risk for infestation.
Silverfish also enjoy outdoor environments with plenty of moisture, food, and shade. Wood and brush piles are often their first choice, as well as the undersides of rocks in the heat of the day. If your home has a great deal of thick vegetation near the sides and corners of the property, you may spot silverfish scouting the area for a new source of food and moisture.
Where will I find silverfish?
You can find silverfish living in areas with plenty of water and hiding places. It’s not uncommon to see them scurrying around kitchens and bathrooms, as well as cooler areas like basements and crawl spaces.
Outside the home, you can find silverfish scurrying around wood piles, thick vegetation, and areas with lots of moisture. Since these pests require a great deal of stagnant water to live, breed, and thrive, they’re more likely to settle in low-lying areas of your yard.
How do I get rid of silverfish?
Silverfish are some of the most difficult pests to manage here in Florida. With our high relative humidity and thick, lush, vegetative growth, management through conventional channels can be highly unlikely, if not impossible.
If you’re serious about getting a handle on the silverfish populations around your home, you may need to consider professional management with the team behind Wildlife and Pest Control Experts. We've provided pest control in Jacksonville and surrounding areas for years with practical, trustworthy pest control service, and we provide our customers with top-notch silverfish control they can trust with every application.
Ready to put a stop to the silverfish around your home or business? Contact the team at Wildlife and Pest Control Experts today to learn more about what we can do.
How can I prevent silverfish in the future?
The best way to prevent a silverfish infestation is to make your property less appealing to large groups. That means following these helpful prevention tips:
- Control moisture inside the home with ventilation, dehumidifiers, and desiccant bags.
- Repair leaks and address condensation.
- Trim excessive vegetation away from the sides of your home.
For the best results, contact Wildlife and Pest Control Experts for local home pest control services targeting silverfish and other occasional invaders.
