What the Heck Is a Silverfish?

For starters, it isn’t a type of fish (we just wanted to clear the water on that one). In fact, silverfish are thought to be one of the oldest insects in the world, with many believing that they were around 100 million years before dinosaurs roamed the earth. These ancient insects are typically shiny silver or gray in color and can be anywhere from about one-half inch to an inch long. Silverfish shed their skins throughout their adult lives (unlike most other insects), are wingless, and are most active during the night.

Common Signs of a Silverfish Infestation:

• Seeing live silverfish, typically during the nighttime hours

• Silverfish droppings (resembling small, black peppercorns)

• Silverfish skin shells

• Yellow stains or dust in items such as books, papers, and cardboard boxes

• Holes chewed through materials such as papers, book bindings, wallpaper, and linen

How to Prevent Silverfish

Finding silverfish in the home is very common, but unfortunately, getting rid of them can be a difficult task. Due to their flat bodies and high speeds, they are very good at hiding and getting away when they need to. Plus, the fact that they are nocturnal creatures does not help make it any easier to get rid of them. A few things you can do to help make your home less attractive to silverfish include:

• Limit their food sources by keeping food items like cereals, pasta, and beans in airtight containers (including pet foods)
• Vacuum regularly to help remove fallen food crumbs and hair particles
• Use dehumidifiers in damp areas to help remove any moisture that silverfish are attracted to
• Keep gutters clean and ensure that water is draining away from your home to prevent excess moisture
• Properly seal any open areas within your home, including between walls, ceilings, and cracks under windows and trim
• Contact a trusted pest control team like the pros at High Country Pest Control in Castle Rock and the surrounding areas

Get Rid of Silverfish Once and For All

When you work with High Country Pest Control, we can help get rid of your pest problems for good. Whether it's silverfish or another type of pest, our pest control professionals have the training and experience to take your home back from pests and not have to worry about whether or not you will come across a creepy crawler next time you go to pick up your favorite book or linen shirt from your closet. Give our pest control team a call today for a free estimate.