About Panda Pest Silverfish Control
We’ve been serving up expert pest control solutions for over 15 years in Arizona. Whether you’re dealing with infamous troublemakers like rodents and scorpions or lesser-known insects like earwigs, we have continually been up for the challenge. Despite their being very common throughout our state, one other pest that we don’t encounter as many complaints for is the silverfish.
These small insects with shiny, silver scales and antennae are subtle in their ways and rarely caught in the act, which is why many infestations go unaddressed until enough evidence of their mischief has been found. Property owners who call us for silverfish control in Queen Creek, AZ, know how challenging it can be to notice them at first, let alone rid an entire population from their home or business. However, with a buildup of destroyed clothing, fabric, books, wallpaper, and even photographs, it gets easier to catch on.
Silverfish are extremely elusive to the human eye as they quickly scuttle to dark areas and are most active at night. As Arizona locals with an extensive background on all pests native to our area, our expert team of local exterminators is well-equipped to find silverfish hiding spaces, promptly notice signs of pest activity, and employ a blend of environmentally friendly methods. These efforts are guaranteed to maintain a cleaner space where all your paper and textiles are protected. Call us for a complimentary inspection to get started!
Common Silverfish
(L. saccharina)
Physical Appearance: The Lepisma saccharina, which is the scientific name for the common silverfish, is a tiny insect that doesn’t have wings. Its body is flat, covered with scales, and usually either silver or pearl-gray in color. In some instances, however, they can appear more brown or tan. They have two long antennae and very tiny eyes that are widely separated.
Habits: The common silverfish are nocturnal creatures that are more attracted to areas that are damp, cold, and dark. This means that Queen Creek silverfish control technicians can typically find them in basements, bathrooms, storage rooms, attics, and laundry rooms in homes. In terms of industrial areas, they are often found in maintenance rooms, wall voids, warehouses, museums, and libraries. They aren’t only indoor pests, either. When outside, they like to stay under rocks, leaves, and tree barks.
Reproduction: The common silverfish typically lives for at least two years and often up to eight years. A single female can lay eggs either individually or in small clusters. They usually find small cracks or crevices in the building to deposit their eggs. Each female lays an average of 100 eggs, which take at least two weeks to hatch. The incubation period can extend for up to two months.
Primary Problem: The main concern homeowners and commercial space managers have with silverfish is that they can destroy clothing, paper, walls, and other textiles by nibbling little holes in them. This can lead to bigger consequences if the items discovered ravaged to pieces are rare books, artwork, or even currency.
Tips for Prevention: When left with an infestation, the first step is to call a professional silverfish removal company to get all active insects out. Our team at Panda Pest Control achieves this through a combination of eco-friendly products, baiting, and other methods. Once cleared out, preventative measures are set in place, and we can schedule regular inspections to ensure their extended absence.
Gray Silverfish
Physical Appearance: Gray silverfish usually have a silver sheen on their scaly body, similar to fishes spotted by the shoreline once the sun reflects on their sides. They are small and grow to only half an inch long, at most. They are often described as carrot-shaped, with a wider torso and narrow rear. The two antennae on their head are much longer than other breeds, even exceeding their entire body length.
Habits: Unlike common silverfish, gray silverfish are not usually found outdoors. They are indoor pests that prefer to travel within the HVAC ductwork system, making each room within the building highly accessible. They can survive in either dry or moist environments with little to no food, proving they are a resilient breed, even lasting months without feeding or drinking. In contrast, at the times they have ample access to supplies, these insects can eat five times their body weight within a day.
Reproduction: Gray silverfish have a mating ritual wherein a male and female touch their antennae together, and the female briefly flees. Once they unite, the male vibrates its tail as it deposits sperm capsules into the female. The female then lays eggs in small cracks on the wall or flooring, either one by one or in clusters. The eggs turn from white to brown and eventually hatch within three to six weeks. With the help of silverfish control experts, all traces of these insects from egg to adult phase can be successfully wiped out.
Primary Problem: Like common silverfish, the gray silverfish is attracted to starchy materials. They feed on paper, glue, and natural fibers, which include clothing, books, and the wallpaper within your home. This results in significant damage to your assets and even valuables. A secondary problem is that they could potentially trigger allergies, though this is a rare occurrence.
Tips for Prevention: Prior to preventative tactics, a reputable silverfish control company will first have to assess the situation and apply the most feasible treatment option available. Depending on the gravity and size of the infestation, this may mean a combination of methods that help locate, eradicate, and obviate future swarms. After this, exclusion practices such as sealing, moisture control, and sanitation can be implemented.
Four-lined Silverfish
Physical Appearance: The four-lined silverfish is often gray or brown (or a combination of the two), with three tails and two long antennae. It looks fairly similar to other oblong-shaped silverfish except that they are much stouter, and their scales are not as shiny silver in color. They also have distinct dark brown lines on their abdomen, which provides more context to their name.
Habits: Like other silverfish breeds, the four-lined variant loves to stay in dark and damp spaces where the humidity is anywhere between 75 and 95 percent. This drives them to rooms where the moisture is high, such as laundry areas, kitchen sinks, bathrooms, crawl spaces, basements, and similar spots. This species can also thrive outdoors, where you can find them infesting mulch near building foundations.
Reproduction: The reproductive process of a four-lined silverfish is similar to the rest. After their mating ritual, the female deposits clusters of eggs into hidden and safe spaces where the young hatch after a few weeks. These nymphs resemble smaller versions of full-growth silverfish and undergo an average of seven molting phases until they mature and have offspring of their own.
Primary Problem: Silverfish are usually solitary invaders, but they reproduce rapidly. This means that if you spot one lurking in the corner, you most likely have hundreds hiding elsewhere on your property. With a single female laying over 100 eggs in her lifetime, you can expect a full swarm hiding behind your walls without regular assessments and preventative measures.
Tips for Prevention: The best way to keep silverfish out of your property is by scheduling regular pest inspections from a reliable company that offers silverfish control for indoor and outdoor areas. Controlling the moisture levels indoors, cleaning up clutter, and ensuring all entry points are sealed could also help reduce the likelihood of another infestation.
How can our Queen Creek, AZ silverfish removal experts serve you?
FAQs
Are silverfish harmful?
No, silverfish are generally not harmful to humans or other animals. They are considered more of a nuisance than a danger. They can, however, cause damage to your belongings, which is not only a great inconvenience but can also be disheartening when done to items with sentimental value.
Can silverfish spread bacteria?
No, silverfish are not known to carry bacteria or transmit disease. However, they can easily contaminate your food if they get into your pantry after a long journey outside or from the trash bin. In some instances, their molted skin or feces can also cause allergic reactions.
Do silverfish bite?
No, silverfish are not known to bite humans and other animals. They also do not present a health risk, and neither are they poisonous. The only thing these insects bite into are the materials they feed on, such as starch, paper, and items that are rich in protein.
What attracts silverfish?
Factors that make an environment more attractive to silverfish include high humidity, moisture, the presence of starch and protein, items made of cellulose, and the absence of light. A combination of these allow these insects to thrive, reproduce, and live for years within that given space.
How do silverfish get inside homes?
Since they are some of the smallest insects around, silverfish can easily enter homes and other structures through cracks, gaps, holes, and openings. They can even fit through the small spaces under doors or on windowsills. Apart from this, they can hitch a ride on items like boxes, fabrics, and similar things.
What do silverfish eat?
Silverfish love to eat things with a high starch and sugar content. Items with protein and cellulose are their go-to feast. This can include everyday belongings like clothes, books, notepads, glue, or wallpaper. Their diet can also involve those of much higher value like rare artwork or paper money.
Is seeing one silverfish an indication of an infestation?
While seeing just one silverfish is no confirmation that there are more, the chances of a swarm hiding are, unfortunately, very high. Silverfish are not known to travel in groups, but since females can lay an average of sixty eggs per time and up to a hundred eggs in her lifetime, her offspring can’t be too far behind.
Does seeing silverfish mean my house is dirty?
No, silverfish are not attracted to dirt, and spotting them within your home does not necessarily mean you have a filthy house. They are mostly drawn to areas with high levels of moisture and materials they can eat. Clutter only helps them hide but is not their primary reason for invading.
Are silverfish easy to get rid of?
Silvefish are challenging to control and remove. They are not only tiny, but they can transfer from one spot to another in the blink of an eye. These insects also reproduce fast and by the hundreds while taking shelter in hard-to-reach corners. Because of this, relying on professional silverfish control in Queen Creek, AZ, is the best course of action.
Why don’t I see silverfish during the day?
As nuisance pests that prefer to stay in dark spaces, silverfish are regarded to be nocturnal insects. This is mainly due to their compound eyes, which are highly sensitive to light, making it uncomfortable for them to be exposed during the daytime.
The Silverfish Problem
At first, silverfish may seem like a minor issue and not worth the investment to haul in a team of expert silverfish control technicians. However, once property owners and managers gain insight into the full extent of what these small but mighty pests are capable of, it would be no surprise that targeting these pests and designing treatments specifically to get rid of them is now considered a norm in Arizona. Safeguard your belongings, protect your valuables, and preserve the items you worked hard to attain. Through our complimentary inspections and free quotes, we guarantee services that make it worth your while. Call us for silverfish control in Queen Creek, AZ, today.
