Do I Have Silverfish?

There is a long list of pests that thrive in moist or damp areas—having a consistent source of moisture can provide hydration, a source of prey, or a place to hide. With a long Wisconsin winter approaching, one of the kinds of pests that we have to keep watch for in our homes is silverfish. These wingless insects love to invade our bathrooms, attics, and basements, and can easily go undetected until their numbers reach unpleasant levels.

Are you worried that you have silverfish in your home? Read on to learn more about them and what you can do to prevent them with the experts at Batzner Pest Control!

What Do Silverfish Look Like?

Silverfish are small insects, usually measuring between 1/2”-3/4“ in length, with flat bodies and short, skinny legs. They get their name from a combination of their shiny, silver tint and their fish-like movement. You might find them writhing around in the cupboards under your bathroom sink, in your damp crawl spaces or basement, or in the dark corners of your attic. Another sign of their presence is the marks they leave behind. Silverfish leave scrapes and sometimes fungus behind on items that they’ve eaten.

How to Prevent Silverfish

Speaking of their diet, one of the best ways to prevent a silverfish infestation is to limit access to what they might eat. Unfortunately, silverfish have been known to eat all kinds of things, including:

• Carb-heavy foods, like pasta, flour, and oats
• Books, paper, and boxes
• Insulation
• Glue, and much more

As you can see, it can be hard to know if you’ve taken enough measures to eliminate sources of silverfish food. That said, it is also important to eliminate sources of excess moisture. You can do so by ensuring that your crawl spaces are properly ventilated, your pipes are intact and not creating any pooling leakage, and that all spills are cleaned up as soon as they happen.

Fall Insect Pest Control in Wisconsin

Silverfish are just one of the many pests you might encounter as the temperatures drop and the rain starts to fall. If you are worried about a future infestation or already in the middle of one, you can count on Batzner Pest Control to help. Our pest control technicians are trained to find hidden vulnerabilities that pests are exploiting and teach you how to go forward with your own home pest prevention methods. For a free quote, contact us today!