Solving Silverfish pest problems throughout Brisbane
Silverfish got their name for the silvery color of their body and fish-like movements. However, silverfish have nothing to do with fish. In fact, although they are not aquatic creatures, they do prefer warm humid areas. This is exactly the reason why silverfish infestations are common problems for homeowners in Brisbane.
Good news is that silverfish doesn’t pose a threat to your health. The bad news is that they can cause a lot of damage in your home. For that reason it is crucial to get rid of them. At Progressive Pest Management, we are proud for being experts in silverfish pest control Brisbane.
What attracts silverfish to properties?
Silverfish feed on a variety of things as long as they contain carbohydrates. Whilst their favourite foods include damp clothes and paper, when these foods aren’t around silverfish will eat silk, linen, and even chemicals like glue or shampoo. There are some reports of silverfish even eating human hair!
Because they are nocturnal, silverfish tend to stay in dark parts of your home. Their ideal habitats include attics, boxes, book shelves, etc. Sometimes they will even get in open packets of food and choose these places to lay eggs. Speaking of which, each female can lay between 2 and 20 eggs and quite frequently. So if you’re not careful, a full-scale infestation can quickly occur.
Damage caused by silverfish
What people find most annoying about these creatures is that often they chew through books and magazines. They can also ruin old photographs, clothes, etc. This means that they are a real danger to your memorabilia. Silverfish can even make holes in your furniture, especially if it’s damp.
The good news is that it takes a lot of time for them to cause significant damage, but this doesn’t mean you should let them be. The sooner you take care of your silverfish problem, the better. Unfortunately, many people don’t even know they have these creatures lurking in their home until it’s too late.
How do you know if you might have a silverfish infestation?
Silverfish are nocturnal creatures, so you might be fast asleep when they start wandering around your home. So, how do you know if they are there if you can’t actually see them? The best way is to call professionals to do a checkup of your home, not only for silverfish but also for other pests.
However, if you do want to do a quick check, you can search for subtle signs on your own. Some of the most common signs of silverfish infestation include:
- Small holes in old books
- Damage in tapestries
- Holes in clothing
- Yellow stains on wallpapers
You can also do a little test to see whether there are silverfish in your home. Leave a piece of damp paper on the floor and turn the lights off. Get up in the middle of the night and turn on the light – if there are silverfish present in that area, they should be chewing on the paper. But, be careful, the fact that you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Silverfish infestation prevention
At Progressive Pest Management, we use an integrated approach to pest control. That means that whilst we might use safe chemicals to exterminate, there are a number of lifestyle changes you can make in the home to ensure your home stays silverfish-free.
Silverfish can live anywhere, but their areas of choice are those which are highly humid. It’s because their nymphs develop better and grow faster in areas with high humidity. Prevention is what matters the most, which is why our team will advise you to get rid of any moisture in your walls, basement or attic. However every case is different and we will advise the best approach for your home during our service.
Getting rid of silverfish on your own
If you spot silverfish in your home, you can try to get rid of them on your own by setting up stick traps. Simply combine sugar and glue in a jar or on a piece of paper and leave out.
However, the problem with all of these methods is that they deal with the consequence, not with the cause. In order to get rid of them for good, you need to destroy their nest. Doing this is not easy, even for the professionals. Your best chance is to engage a professional. We have the tools needed to find their nests and the solutions needed to get rid of them.
Methods we use for silverfish pest control Brisbane
In order to solve the silverfish infestation, we need to attack them on two fronts. We will use solutions to kill the adult silverfish wherever they might be located in your home. However, this will not solve the problem completely. We also need to take care of their eggs. That is why our team will conduct a thorough search of your house in order to find their nest. With over 30 years experience in pest control, Progressive Pest Management know the subtle signs to look for when dealing with silverfish.