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Pest Library - Silverfish - Silverfish Control - Houston Silverfish Extermination
Get Rid of Silverfish in Houston
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To get rid of Houston silverfish and stay ahead of them, here's what you need to know:
Silverfish are primitive, silver-gray, wingless, carrot-shaped insects about 1/2 inch long, There have been at least 13 species found in the United States.
Silverfish are one of the most common insects in homes where they live in voids and cracks and crevices from the attic to the basement.
In the warmer South, including the Houston area, silverfish can be found outdoors as well, in mulch and under tree bark, siding, rocks, leaf litter and behind soffits. Silverfish can and do migrate indoors from these outdoor resource sites as well as riding in on building materials, inside boxes and in other items brought indoors.
Silverfish favor nesting near food sources in warm, humid, moist areas including bathrooms, nearby closets, kitchens and in/around bookcases. Silverfish will forage widely to establish food sources and can be found in any room during scouting expeditions. Silverfish do not bite and present no known health hazard and are principally a nuisance pest.
Biology
Silverfish lay their eggs in cracks and crevices and beneath items. Under ideal conditions with temperature between 72-92 degrees F and relative humidity of 50-75%+, eggs hatch in about 40 days. New hatch-lings have the same appearance as the adults and molt several times before becoming adults usually in 3-4 months. Adults live several years.
Size
Small, long, slender, tapered-shaped insects usually 1/2 inch long but with some species up to one inch long.
Color
Silverfish are usually a shiney, silvery gray in color but some species are brown.
Habits
Silverfish, for the most part, are hiding out in the daytime. They can be seen in the day under duress looking for food or seen trapped in bathtubs or sinks where they have difficulty leaving due to the slippery surfaces. Silverfish feed on a variety of sources but seek out starch containing materials such as paper, book bindings, wallpaper glue, starched linens, some cereals and organic matter.
Silverfish Control
Silverfish can be a real control challenge especially if the activity has been well established. Some homes have moisture conditions including plumbing leaks (sometimes hidden) that breed mold which provides a ready food source for silverfish. Any moisture problems should be corrected as part of the solution.
Silverfish may become established behind wall insulation and under attic insulation which makes difficult the complete and practical treatment of all the silverfish harborage and breeding sites.
Professional Help:
An experienced professional Houston pest control service should be employed to thoroughly treat using a combination of materials to provide effective results.
Protex Pest Control has been successfully treating and preventing silverfish infestations for over 30 years. Give us a call today!
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More information on Houston silverfish:
Houston Silverfish...Not a Fish After All!