Silverfish and its destruction for properties

Silverfish are small wingless creatures and between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch in body size with two elongated antennae and three long tails. Two of these three tails point to the right and left of the body, and the third one sticks straight back.

These insects are commonly found in most homes all over the world. They have shimmering, silver-colored or brown colored scales and while moving, their tail end moves to and fro resembling a fish's fin–hence the name Silverfish. These creatures can comfortably slip into very small crevices due to their small size and flat body structure.

They are usually seen in bathrooms under kitchen sinks and in laundry rooms where they thrive on the moist and dingy environment. They may also dwell in cupboards and drawers, beneath the bathtub, in corner crevices and in seams of wallpaper.

In fact, silverfish may be considered innocuous as they do not directly harm human beings. But these insects, when found in profusion, can cause havoc inasmuch as they can damage some household items such as wallpaper, books, clothes, and even food articles. Silverfish are known to chew paper and clothing and also eat food items containing sugar and flour.

They are also fond of starch in clothes made of rayon or cotton, and enjoy moist wheat flour delectable. They can also damage flooring tiles and stain clothing. The simple fact is human skin is not starchy enough to lure these insects.

Silverfishes are also most active during night time and they have a tendency to crawl on you when you are asleep. It is for this reason they are characterized as nocturnal creatures. But the redeeming feature is they do not sting or bite or cause skin problems. The average lifespan of the silverfish is reckoned to be less than six years, but they can sometimes live as long as even 9 years.

The most effective way to get rid of silverfish is by using Boric acid or spraying pesticides. But the more permanent method to eliminate them totally would be to cut their food source.

Try to keep your home atmosphere as dry as possible as silverfish resent any dry environment. Controlling moisture will also prevent the creation of mold and mildew, upon which these bugs love to feed. Wherever and whenever possible, use dehumidifiers or even heaters with fans to keep your rooms dry. Keep grains, cereals, flour, sugar, cookies and all such food items in tightly sealed containers disallowing silverfish from accessing them.

Do away with all unnecessary cardboard boxes and paper products and make it a point to keep newspapers and printed materials in sealed containers. Thorough cleaning of the house at regular intervals and keeping all household articles tidily will largely help in keeping the silverfish population at bay. A thorough vacuuming of all silverfish-prone areas of the house can prove very effective as well.

In addition, block all cracks in your wallpaper, cupboards, door and window frames, and particularly holes made for water and electrical piping with some sort of expandable sealants made of silicone. Insecticide dusts kits can also be used for pouring the dusts into the cracks and crevices that you would not otherwise be able to reach.

Controlling silverfish infestation can be usually done by you at home. Apart from taking all preventive measures, you can also use silverfish traps sold in the market if the problem is acute. But the worst types of infestations will require the services of a pest control company that will have experienced professionals to deal with the menace.