Silverfish Pest Control Tips for Businesses & Commercial Buildings

Silverfish are nocturnal pests, emerging at night to find food and water. For the best silverfish pest control, you’ll need to understand the bug and the methods of control.

Unlike many pests, silverfish cause no direct bodily harm. They do, however, cause quite a bit of property damage. They feed on clothing, upholstery, paper, and similar items, leaving a trail of destruction behind them.

If you’re ready to stop silverfish in their tracks, read on to learn some helpful silverfish pest control tips.

Identifying Silverfish

Silverfish are segmented insects that measure from 1/2 to 3/4 inches long at maturity. They look similar to a pill bug but are more streamlined.

Unlike pill bugs, their bodies taper at the end. They have 3 tail-like appendages at the end of their abdomens.

Silverfish are skilled at hiding. Their slim, flat bodies slip into crevices easily. Because they come out at night, they’re easy to miss.

Silverfish: Impact on Business

Silverfish love polysaccharides. These polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates such as starch, dextrin, and cellulose.

What does this mean for your business? If you sell clothing, paper products, or anything like this, you could be affected.

A few common examples of items that are made up of polysaccharides are:

• Clothing, especially cotton, linen, and silk
• Paper, paper products, and book bindings
• Hair and dandruff
• Glue and other adhesives

Silverfish eat items such as sugar and flour, so they’re also destructive in bakery and restaurant settings. It’s imperative that you take measures to protect your business and inventory from silverfish.

What You Can Do

You can take steps to eliminate silverfish. By removing their sources of food and comfort, you’ll reduce their population.

Some steps you can take are:

• Keep all grain, sugar, and vegetable-based products in airtight containers
• Reduce water and humidity sources
• Maintain exterior areas with caulk, paint, and rain gutters
• Clean up areas that are dusty or have a lot of hair

In addition to damage caused, these bugs are also unsightly in a business setting. You don’t want your customers seeing them in windows, sinks, or retail areas.

When You Need Professional Backup

Your business is important. Whether it’s your inventory or your building, a silverfish infestation is extremely problematic.

Sometimes you’ll need more than just preventative measures when dealing with silverfish.

When silverfish persist, you should consider professional pest management services. Professionals use chemicals that control pest populations quickly.

Avon Pest Control offers pest control services that can eliminate silverfish before they become a huge problem.

Some silverfish infestations require the application of insecticides. This is effective and controls silverfish populations effectively.

Silverfish Pest Control Is Essential to Good Business

Whether you’ve got an extensive inventory to protect or you’re simply concerned with good presentation, pest control is a necessity.

We take a well-rounded approach to pest control. This means that everything is considered, from points of entry and harborage areas to the best control methods for your business.

For more information on silverfish, pests, and pest control, spend more time on our blog. If you’re ready to get control over pests in your business, contact us today.