Of all the insect infestations you can be cursed with, silverfish might just be the most skin-crawling — right after cockroaches , of course. Silverfish are mostly a super-creepy nuisance pest, but they can destroy books, wallpaper, and clothes with their excrement, according to the experts at Penn State's Department of Entomology Cooperative Extension program.
Penn State recommends sealing dry goods like cereal, pasta, rice, quinoa, flour, sugar, and pet food in sturdy, airtight containers to prevent silverfish from reaching these tempting food sources. Take away their favorite conditions by using a dehumidifier in damp basements, sealing up leaky pipes, and making sure the bathroom is well ventilated.
You should also keep the weather out by sealing up exterior cracks with caulk and making sure gutters and downspouts are clear so water can run down and away, according to Penn State.
Silverfish also love hiding in — and feasting upon — old papers, magazines, and books, so if you tend to save every piece of paper that crosses your desk, you might need to do some clearing out.
Place whole cloves in the infected area. Salt — Silverfish are attracted to salt but eating it will cause them to become dehydrated and die. Salt will also absorb damp in the area. For a harsher substance, go for Boric acid. This is poisonous, toxic and can be harmful to children, pets and adult lungs if inhaled. It is commonly found in household cleaning products.
It can be made into a diluted solution with water and sprayed into infected areas. Silverfish hate the smell of citrus, cinnamon and lavender. If you are looking to repel them naturally, a great idea is to use essential oils to clean your home or as a home fragrance such as candles and diffusers to keep them away.
Fixing damp problems can help prevent silverfish returning long-term. That means sealing leaky pipes, increasing ventilation think extractor fans in bathrooms , installing dehumidifiers and regularly opening windows. Silverfish tend to feed on dust and debris, so regularly hoovering carpets, clearing away clutter like magazines and papers, and dusting can make all the difference to eradicating and preventing a silverfish infestation.
Ensure dried foods like pasta, pulses and cereal are also stored in airtight containers. Follow Country Living on Instagram. There are a variety of silverfish traps on the market. However, these traps target individual insects and cannot prevent entire silverfish populations. Capable of thriving in most climates, silverfish prefer to dwell in dark, damp areas such as basements, attics, kitchens and bathrooms.
They are especially attracted to paper and damp clothing. Commonly found in stored boxes in garages and sheds. Silverfish are known for their destructive feeding habits, oftentimes ruining papers, clothing and wallpaper. Silverfish feed on carbohydrates, particularly sugars and starches. Cellulose, shampoos, glue in books, linen, silk and dead insects may be food sources.
They have been found in unopened food packages. Silverfish undergo love dances prior to mating. Males lay spermatophores, which are taken into the ovipositor of female specimens. Females' egg numbers and habits vary, depending on species. One species lays a few eggs a day where as another species lays clusters of 2 to 20 eggs. Read more about the life cycle of a silverfish. Are Silverfish Harmful? Baby Silverfish. Silverfish and Clothing. Cinnamon to Control Silverfish. Silverfish Life Cycle. There are a few things you can do to deter them.
Silverfish love to live in moist, humid places. Try reducing the humidity in your home by using a dehumidifier, fixing leaky pipes, or closing the shower curtain so it can dry out. The lower the humidity, the better. You can also try placing packets of silica in the corners of cupboards to help remove moisture from the air. Store foods, such as cereal, pasta, sugar, and pet food in airtight containers. Clear away any clutter, such as old newspapers and magazines.
Silverfish like to play hide and seek and will eat up your papery clutter. Fill in any holes or cracks with caulk to seal up silverfish entry points. If there are any areas in your home where the wallpaper is peeling, either repair or remove it. The starchy wallpaper glue is like a Michelin-starred banquet for silverfish.
Try to keep the temperature of your home around 26 degrees Celsius or above. Read more: What attracts silverfish? It is easy to get these two disturbing insects mixed up as they look almost identical. The biggest difference between the two is the colouring. Regardless of which one you find in your home, the ways to get rid of both are the same.
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