Silverfish might look like mysterious creatures from another planet, but they are actually not all that mysterious. You don't have to wonder too much about why they're in your Massachusetts home. There are a few simple reasons why they get inside. Let's take a moment to look at them.
1. Moisture
Whether it is dampness around your perimeter, or high humidity inside your home, moisture can attract silverfish and help to create a suitable environment for them. Silverfish need moisture to survive. Without it, they dry up. They also prefer damp habitats because dampness helps with decay, and silverfish feed on decaying plant matter and the fungi that cause plants to decay. If you reduce moisture around and inside your home, you can reduce silverfish. Here are some suggestions.
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Check your gutters and make sure there are no breaks or clogs.
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Check your plumbing and make sure there are no leaks in your spigots, pipes, hoses, or sprinklers.
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Remove weeds, rake leaves, and remove decaying plant matter near your home.
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Reduce humid areas inside your home by adding ventilation, fans, and dehumidifiers.
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Be sure to use your fan when taking a shower or bath.
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Refrain from leaving water in your tub between uses. If you have a jetted tub, it can be tempting to leave water in your tub. If you do, be sure to vent as much moisture as you can by leaving your vent fan running.
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Fix leaking faucets, showerheads, garbage disposals, and interior pipes.
2. Food
You would be amazed at all the things silverfish can eat, especially inside your home. These insects can get into your pantry foods, they can eat glue, dandruff, paper, cardboard, dead skin, shed insect skins, dead bugs, mildew, algae, mold, natural fibers in clothing, and more. You're not going to be able to remove all the food from your home that silverfish can eat, but you can protect some food sources from being damaged by doing the following:
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Store pantry products in sealed glass or plastic containers.
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Store paper, photos, clothing, and other vulnerable items in sealed plastic totes.
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Store boxed items in dry storage spaces to make them less desirable food sources.
3. Warmth
When it gets cold outside, silverfish can come inside. You might see silverfish in your Massachusetts home simply because winter is on the way. You can prevent this by sealing potential entry points around your home. Pay particular attention to entry points that are low to the ground, such as:
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Missing doors sweeps.
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Gaps in weatherstripping near the bottom of exterior doors.
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Cracks in your foundation walls.
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Holes in basement windows.
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Damaged screens or broken window panes in basement windows.
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Gaps around foundation penetrations, such as pipes, wires or wire conduits.
Should You Be Worried About Silverfish?
When you find these creepy-looking insects in your home, their alien appearance can give you cause for concern. Fortunately, they're not known to bite or transmit diseases. They can, however, present a threat to the belongings in your home, as we mentioned above. They can eat holes in your book covers and the pages inside books. They can damage your clothing. They can eat away at portions of your wallpaper. They can remove important words from financial documents. They're also able to be pantry pests. Under the right conditions, these insects can be quite destructive to your property. If you use the tips in this article, you can reduce the risk to your belongings. But silverfish prevention isn't the best way to address silverfish pressures.
The Best Way To Keep Massachusetts Silverfish Out
If you live in Massachusetts, let the service team here at Big Blue Bug Solutions help you keep silverfish out of your home and protect your belongings from damage. We can apply a systematic strategy to locate, eliminate and exclude silverfish from your home, and also give you options for ongoing pest control for your home. Silverfish aren't the only destructive pests that can get in; some are far more destructive. No Massachusetts home should be without an effective pest control plan. Let us guide you in selecting the right plan for your specific needs and budget. Reach out to us today and request a pest control inspection to get started. We're here to help.
