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Sometimes things in life can get annoying. It might be a co-worker, friend or family member who gets on your nerves. It could be your kid, your parents or even your spouse. Or perhaps it’s something inanimate, like a car that won’t start properly, or a favourite piece of technology that glitches out when you need it most.
But there’s one thing in life that is really annoying, and that is having pests in your home. Nothing can make you quite so uncomfortable and disturbed as noticing signs of an infestation where you live.
In this article, we’re going to share four signs of a silverfish infestation and what you can do about it. It’s a good idea to attempt some silverfish control methods, which we’ll share in more detail below.
If You Spot Them
If you spot a silverfish, then it’s a good chance you have an issue on your hands.
These pests are quite small, up to a few centimetres long, with flexible scales on their bodies. They can range in colour from a blue/silver shade to brown or grey, and they are teardrop-shaped.
When they move, they tend to wiggle back and forth – it sort of looks like they are swimming, hence the name.
These vermin tend to be nocturnal, so you will likely see them at night.
Droppings
Silverfish have uniquely shaped droppings or poop, which can help to identify an infestation. The droppings look like tiny black peppercorn shapes and will be found in kitchens, garages, storage spaces and roof space.
They are quite small, so you need to get up close to identify them.
Shed Skins
These disgusting insects shed their shells during their lifecycle, so if you spot shed shells around your home there is a high chance you have a silverish problem.
Damage Around the House
This is probably the easiest and quickest way to identify a silverfish infestation. These pests love to eat starches, sugars, paper, adhesives, wallpaper and even your linen.
If you notice holes in any of these items, you likely need to address the problem.
What Can You Do?
There are several strategies to address a silverfish infestation.
Call in the Pest Control
The best method to deal with any infestation of vermin is to call a professional pest inspector/exterminator.
These are trained professionals who can deal with any insect or rodent infestation.
They will use safe poisons and baits to treat problem areas, leaving your home pest-free.
Boric Acid
You can get some boric acid from the hardware store and sprinkle it in the areas where you have noticed the bugs or the droppings.
Diatomaceous Earth
You can use this handy substance similar to the boric acid, just sprinkle some in the areas you notice the bugs.
Cedar Shavings
You can use cedarwood shavings to deter the blighters, and a bonus to this method is that your home will smell wonderful, like a sauna.
Cinnamon Sticks
Silverfish cannot stand the smell of cinnamon, so you can pop some sticks around the areas where you’ve noticed signs of infestation. Cinnamon also smells nice, so this is a plus.
A Creepy Crawly Conclusion
In this article, we’ve shared four signs that you may have a silverfish infestation in your home. By now you know how to spot the signs of silverfish, and you’ve also learned several methods to control them. Remember, a professional pest controller is always the first port of call, but we’ve also shared some other solutions just in case.