What Mooresville Property Owners Ought To Know About Silverfish

How familiar are you with silverfish? Do you know that they are teardrop-shaped, and that they can bend their bodies in a very fish-like manner as they move across surfaces? These two characteristics, along with their silver coloration, are why they're called silverfish. While slightly interesting, knowing this won't help you get control of silverfish in your Mooresville property or help you protect your stuff. Let's take a look at seven things every property owner in Mooresville should know about the insects known as silverfish.

1. Silverfish Get In Because They Can

When silverfish crawl around near your home, they accidentally get inside. You can prevent this by eliminating entry points.

• Seal cracks in your foundation walls. A foundation repair kit can help with this job.
• Seal openings around pipes or wire conduits. Use a caulking gun and a high-quality caulk.
• Seal gaps around window and door frames. A caulking gun is the right tool for this job.
• Address holes created by wood-damaging pests. If you aren't able to repair damaged wood, you can use caulk to fill the holes in.
• Repair screens and weatherstripping.
• Install door sweeps that are missing or damaged.
• Repair damaged mortar around bricks.
• Install weep hole protectors.

2. Silverfish Are First Drawn To Your Exterior

Damp conditions, detritus, and moist habitats can make your exterior perfect for silverfish. When you address these conditions, you reduce the population of silverfish around your home and reduce entry.

• Blow leaves out of your landscaping.
• Trim your landscaping to allow for better airflow.
• Clean your gutters and make repairs.
• Remove objects that sit on the ground near your home.
• Fix any plumbing issues.

3. Silverfish Prefer A Dusty Home

Silverfish eat dead skin cells. These can be found in the dust of your home. If you roll your sleeves up and get rid of that dust, you can make your home far less desirable to silverfish.

• Vacuum every rug, especially in closets.
• Clean all your floors, especially in your pantry and kitchen.
• Dust every surface.

4. Silverfish Need Water To Survive

When a silverfish explores your home, it needs water to drink and high humidity for its skin. If it can't find these, it will die or find its way back outside. Moisture control is one of the most important control methods for silverfish. Plus, it is all-natural.

• Use your fan when taking a shower or bath and wipe surfaces after you're done.
• Repair leaky faucets and showerheads.
• Repair leaking garbage disposals and/or pipes in your boiler room.
• Install dehumidifiers or ventilation ducts in humid spaces.

5. Silverfish Can Become Pantry Pests

If silverfish find a food source in your pantry, they can lay their eggs in it. You can prevent this by putting your pantry foods in sealed plastic or glass containers. This will also help you get control of other pantry pests such as Indian meal moths, beetles, and weevils.

6. Silverfish Damage Stored Items

If you have clothing, books, magazines, photos, or other items that silverfish eat stored in your attic or a storage room, these should be put into sealed plastic totes to protect them. Cardboard boxes will not keep silverfish out. In fact, cardboard boxes can be a food source for silverfish. You'll have a big impact on silverfish by doing this difficult task.

7. Silverfish Can Be Controlled Before They Get Inside

When you invest in a residential pest control plan, you get routine treatments to the exterior of your home. The products used are effective at eliminating simple organisms, like silverfish. This reduces the population of silverfish around your home and makes it far less likely that an infestation will occur inside your home.

If you live in Mooresville, we can assist you with selecting the right pest control plan for your specific needs and budget. The licensed professionals here at Lake Norman Home Services of Mooresville are highly trained and experienced in selecting the right EPA-approved products to get control of a wide range of pests, including silverfish. 

With over fifty years of serving Mooresville with industry-leading pest control service, you can count on our team to give your property the best protection available and highest level of professionalism. Contact us today. We look forward to guiding you in this important protection for your property.