Silverfish Identification & Prevention

Aptly named, silverfish are a silver-colored arthropod known for their fish-like movements. Found on almost every continent and in cities throughout New Jersey, there are approximately 18 different species of silverfish in the United States alone.

It doesn’t take much to identify a silverfish near your home or business. Apart from their silvery ‘scales’ and rapid movements, you can tell them apart from other pests by:

• Their long, tapered bodies
• Their long antenna
• Their metallic coloring and fast, wriggling movements

If you’re struggling to identify silverfish on your own, you can contact the professionals at Bayonne Exterminating for help.

The good news is that silverfish don’t bite, sting, pinch, or otherwise attack people or pets. These creatures don’t feed on other animals and are largely pacifist when it comes to confrontation.

The bad news is that silverfish can be extraordinarily destructive when left to their own devices. These pests quickly eat through book bindings, adhesives, and carpet, and make short work of paper goods like photographs. Some silverfish can eat paint and plaster when hungry enough, or turn to the closet for a snack of cotton, silk, or satin.

Unless you get your silverfish infestation under control fast, you may wind up with significant damage to your personal property.

If you have any moisture problems around your home or business, you’re likely to have a silverfish infestation. These pests require relative humidity of at least 75%, which means standing water, leaking pipes, and poorly maintained drains create a perfect interior habitat. 

Outside the home, silverfish look for damp, dark areas to feed on cellulose and lay their eggs. If you have improperly stacked firewood or unturned compost piles near your home, you may be attracting hordes of silverfish (and all their predators as well).

You can find silverfish in any location with plenty of water, shade, and food.

Outside the home, you can usually find silverfish hiding underneath rocks or firewood piles. Inside, you can find silverfish crawling around bathrooms, kitchens, and undersink areas. Attics and basements are common places for silverfish to mate and lay eggs, especially if you have a history of moisture problems in those spaces.

It can be difficult if not impossible to get rid of silverfish on your own. Not only can these insects lay hundreds of eggs per year, but they don’t always respond well to conventional products and DIY efforts.

If you’re looking to control silverfish populations quickly, safely, and hassle-free, Bayonne Exterminating can help. We have years of experience controlling pest populations and hundreds of positive outcomes. We’ve never faced a silverfish infestation we couldn’t handle – and that’s the truth!

Call us today to get a quote for silverfish control in Bayonne.

Need some ideas for preventing silverfish near Bayonne? You can rely on the following tips to keep your property safe:

• Mitigate moisture issues as much as possible. This means running a dehumidifier in problem spaces or hanging desiccant bags to capture humidity.
• Repair clogged drains and leaky pipes to ensure the proper flow of water. You may need to contact a professional repair company to investigate plumbing issues.
• Maintain your outdoor space as much as possible. This means trimming trees, mowing the lawn, and removing vegetation from the sides of the home.
• Stack all firewood piles at least 25 feet from your building. If you notice any logs rotting or falling out of the stack, remove, burn, or restack them immediately.

For the most effective prevention, pursue professional residential or commercial pest control services to set up scheduled maintenance for your property.