While these small creatures that barely measure an inch in length may look like your average creepy crawling pest, silverfish are older than many other common bugs. These minuscule creatures have existed for over 400 million years, with some scientists awarding the species with the title "Oldest Insect Fossil." Their long history could be due to two facts that are more annoying than awe-inspiring to homeowners: they can live an average of 3 to 6 years, and they're very hard to kill.
The silver or metallic brown color of their scales, combined with what looks like swimming when they move, gives silverfish their name. They typically make their home in damp, high humidity areas and can be found active during the evening in search of food. Don't worry though, these insects don’t bite people or animals, and while they can track germs and other bacteria from outside, they don't transmit diseases and are not poisonous.
If living a long life and being hard to kill wasn't enough guarantee for their survival, they can also live up to a year without food. Their primary diet is carbohydrates, and they're attracted to starchy materials. This could include paper and photos, wallpaper paste and book bindings, starch in clothes, and foods rich in carbs like sugar, cereal, and other flours. This is why you'll often see them in your moving or storage boxes, surrounding the books or clothes. A sure sign that they have been eating your books are the yellow stains they create.
If you thought they were another wriggly, slow-moving pest, you'd be in for a surprise. Silverfish are sprinters, making them difficult to catch if they get away. Unfortunately, they have a high tolerance to many over-the-counter pesticides, which may be attributed to their millennia of evolution and immunity build-up. However, it's not a myth that silverfish are repelled by the scent of citrus, the most common scents you can use to help keep these critters at bay are orange and lemon. Just remember, chasing them away from one place means they can infest another.
It's important to note that while these tiny creatures may seem harmless, they can pose health risks. Their molted skins and feces can cause respiratory irritations. A protein found in their exoskeletons, tropomyosin, can hitch a ride with other common pests, resulting in a more severe allergic reaction. Regardless of whether someone in your household has a known allergy, getting rid of these pests before they nest and multiply is crucial. While some home improvement sites suggest that dehumidifiers and clean spaces can help reduce a silverfish infestation, they aren't foolproof preventative measures.
When it comes to understanding and properly taking care of the pests that find their way onto your property, you need to have a trusted team of industry experts on your side. Fortified Pest Control is the number one choice for Northeast Indiana pest control. With a growing team of trained and experienced professionals, we work with your schedule and budget to ensure the right plan is in place for prevention and elimination.
Contact our team to learn more about the impact of silverfish in your home and schedule an estimate with our local team.