Silverfish! What Are They And How To Get Rid Of Them?
You were busy cleaning your attic when you saw a box of all the mementoes you kept through the years. You opened it with excitement only to discover that some nasty silver insects decided to make their home there. But what are these tiny but creepy insects, anyway?
What are Silverfish?
Silverfish may be pesky small insects but they are more than enough to make many people jump with fright at first sight. It is believed that silverfish are one of the oldest insects that ever lived on the planet. Experts claim that they were already living on Earth 100 million years before the dinosaurs came into existence. It means that these bugs have thrived and survived for approximately 400 million years!
The ancient insects are often shiny silver or grey, thus the name. These insects can be anywhere from ½ to 1 inch in length. Unlike other types of insects, silverfish tend to shed their skins during their adult lives.
For millions of years, these insects have been creeping around the world. They even evolved to develop wings. These insects are also most active during night time so don’t be surprised if you see them in the bathroom when brushing your teeth or every time you reach out for the book you love to read before bedtime.
How to Get Rid of Silverfish?
Unfortunately, you cannot simply get rid of silver fish with traditional poisons. Instead, eliminating these pests is a continuous process. Outdoor and indoor treatments are also handled and done differently. If you want to keep your home free from silver fish, you need to eliminate them both from your yard and home.
You will also find that lifestyle changes and working with a reliable provider of pest control in Dublin is the best and easiest ways to get rid of this nasty problem.
But while waiting for professional pest control, there are a few things you can do to address the issue:
1. Use Cedar Shavings
You can try to repel silver fish using cedar shavings. Spread the shavings in corners and around doorways where you spotted some silverfish. Just remember that since cedar shavings can be a bit messy, it is recommended to only use this solution in areas of your home where you are fine with having cedar shavings, such as in your basement or attic.
2. Apply Some Essential Oils
Silverfish don’t like the smell of essential oils like orange, lemon, and lavender. To use essential oils, apply them to cotton swabs and then swab these on floors and walls, specifically in parts of your house where you often see silverfish.
The essential oils can keep these insects at bay as long as you don’t have a serious infestation yet. But don’t expect that it will be enough to keep the insects away if they have already decided to live in your home for good.
3. Change Your Home’s Environment
Another easy and natural way to get rid of silver fish is to change the environment in your home. Some of the things you can do include the following:
- Buy and use an air purifier
- Check for shed skin on the floor regularly
- Clean ducts
- Dust thoroughly and frequently on a regular basis
- Reduce or eliminate clutter
- Lower humidity
- Store books, out-of-season clothes, and paper in plastic tubs
For most people, changing their home’s environment can just happen over time and a mind shift is often necessary. If you are someone who instinctively keeps lots of clutter and paper around your home, you might find it hard to let go of your old stuff. You might even find it difficult to sort through long years of accumulated belongings.
Sometimes, it helps to seek professional help. Hiring a pest control company can make it easier for you to keep your home free from silverfish if cleaning and sorting things is not your cup of tea.
4. Prepare Some Jar Traps
Use masking tape to wrap the outer part of several glass jars with the sticky portion pointing out. Place bread inside and put the jars in areas of the house where silver fish are often seen.
Silverfish will have to climb the jars using the masking tape but won’t be able to climb back out after they reach the bread. Don’t forget to check the jars for silverfish every morning and get rid of them in any way you find most comfortable and convenient.
5. Spread Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a kind of natural product available in big box stores and home improvement centres. It consists of fossilized remains known as diatoms. Diatoms are small aquatic organisms that existed millions of years ago. Despite being non-toxic to humans, diatomaceous earth is toxic to insects like silverfish.
The product is often used as an insecticide as it gets rid of the waxy coating on the exterior of the insect’s body. Once this waxy coating is eliminated, the insects won’t be able to retain water and die of dehydration eventually. This is why diatomaceous earth is a favourite go-to product among many homeowners.
All you need to do is sprinkle this around cracks in the walls, doorways, and in places where you have seen silverfish.
6. Seek Professional Pest Control Dublin
The most effective way to get rid of silver fish is none other than professional pest control Dublin. The pest control experts can try different strategies to eliminate your silverfish issues.
Pyrethrin is the pesticide most commonly used for killing silverfish. It is available in liquid form and can only kill adult silverfish most of the time but not the eggs. Pest control professionals can also use products such as diatomaceous earth.
Your pest control company can also identify entry points and other potential areas where silver fish may spend time. Through the identification of these spots in your home, pest control experts can strategically spray the pyrethrin.
Most importantly, professional pest control Dublin can also give you suggestions on how to prevent future silverfish infestations.
Check these other facts about Silverfish.
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