Why Are These Silver Bugs In My Charlotte Bathroom?

The wonders of nature include some pretty bizarre and alien-looking creatures. Some of them are even common home-invaders that can cause the same kinds of headaches as the other more common animals we think of as nuisance pests. One of these otherworldly bugs is the silverfish. They make trouble for homeowners all up and down the Atlantic Coast. These bugs can move quickly and are excellent climbers, meaning they can easily get inside a home.

Silverfish Identification

They may be called “fish” but these pests are actually insects that move at high speeds and can survive for weeks without food or water. Some of their key characteristics include:

• Color – Silverfish get their name from the metallic appearance of their hard shells, which can be silver to brown or tan in color.
• Shape – Silverfish are oval or tear-shaped, with long tails and two long antennae protruding from their heads.
• Size – While their tails and antennae can appear to add some length, silverfish don’t normally grow longer than about a half-inch in size, smaller than a nickel.

What Attracts Silverfish Into Your Home

Knowing what attracts pests inside is the best way to know what actions you can take to keep your Charlotte property pest-free. Some of the factors that drive silverfish inside are:

• Moisture/Humidity: Silverfish thrive in humid, wet environments, so they are often drawn to places in the home where moisture builds up. Such as kitchens, basements, crawl spaces and vents.
• Food & Water: Just like all pests, silverfish are drawn to places that offer quick, easy access to sustenance. They feed on paper products and starchy food products like flour and oats. 
• Safety: Being such small animals themselves, silverfish are hunted by other larger insects, as well as mammals and birds. Being indoors affords them some protection from these predators. This is especially true for when they need to breed or lay their eggs somewhere hidden.

How To Prevent Them From Getting In

Silverfish populations can lead to some nasty problems, like odors caused by their pervasive, pepper-like droppings. They can also chew holes through household items and materials, like clothing and upholstery. Knowing how to prevent them from getting in is in every homeowner’s best interest:

• Regular inspection – Not only should you check the areas in your home that are attractive to silverfish, but you need to be diligent about checking products that you buy in stores. Silverfish are often brought inside the home via infested food or furniture that’s purchased elsewhere. 
• Moisture control – Because they like it hot and humid, silverfish can be kept away by making sure that rooms are properly ventilated and that plumbing is in good working order. Preventing and maintaining areas with spills or pools of condensation is important.
• Maintenance – Continuing the thought from above, any areas of a home with cracks, dampness or malfunction of any kind should be addressed. Pests can get in through cracks and holes, and faulty building materials will only degrade and become bigger problems down the road.

Professional Solutions Work!

With all these things to think about, household prevention or elimination can seem like a daunting task. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about going it alone. Professional home pest control services, like those provided by Aruza Pest Control, are effective at eliminating silverfish populations and preventing them from getting inside in the first place. Don’t waste your own time and resources trying to track down problem pests, turn to the experts at Aruza at the first sign of an infestation.