A Fishy Problem – Preventing Silverfish In Your Home

1
A Fishy Problem

• Preventing Silverfish In Your Home

2
A Fish Out of Water

• Silverfish, also sometimes called fishmoths,
  arent actually fish at all. Instead, theyre
  part of the Family Lepismatidae, and theyd love
  nothing more than to live in a dark, damp spot in
  your home.

3
Characteristics of Silverfish

• Silverfish are typically white, brown, or a
  silvery blue in color.
• They typically range from 12 to 19 mm in length.
• All of them have three long bristles at the back
  of their bodies.
• They move from egg to adult without a serious
  appearance change.

4
You May Find Them. . .

• You can actually find silverfish in a variety of
  different locations. They prefer the damp, dark
  places in your home, like your basement or even
  under the bathroom sink. They love paper and damp
  clothing, too, though, which may expand their
  living space a bit. If you have a garage or a
  shed, you might find them living in boxes out
  there.

5
Hungry, Hungry, Hungry

• Silverfish are on the lookout for any
  carbohydrates or starches. Thats part of the
  reason theyre so attracted to paper. Anything
  cellulose is fair game for them. They also like
  shampoo, the glue that holds books together, or
  even other dead insects. Theyve even been found
  in unopened food packages in the past.

6
Are They In My House?

• Unlike some pest infestations, this one doesnt
  stay hidden for long. Many people discover they
  have a problem with silverfish when they actually
  see one in their home. Youre likely to find them
  in your sink or bathtub before you find them
  anywhere else. You could also find feeding damage
  from these little creatures on paper materials or
  tiny feces that look like specks of pepper.

7
Preventing Infestation

• It can be a bit tough to prevent silverfish from
  coming into your home, but there are a few things
  you can do. Start by controlling the humidity
  levels throughout your home. In fact, the nymphs
  tend to develop quicker when its more humid, so
  keeping your home a bit drier is a good idea.
  Youll also want to caulk any holes or other
  potential entry sites. A cleaner home is less
  likely to have silverfish, too, so keep it clean
  and uncluttered.

8
Dealing with Infestation

• If youre already fighting a heavy population of
  silverfish, your best bet is to contact the
  professionals. Every infestation is different
  with these little guys, so a customized solution
  is an absolute must.

9
Making the Right Choice

• Ransford Environmental Solutions Inc has been the
  name to know in pest control since 1896.
  Specializing in Integrated Pest Management,
  theyre the only way to go. Call for a free
  estimate.