Despite silverfish being one of the most common household pests that you will find in Australia, not many people know much about these insects. This lack of awareness is what allows silverfish infestations to thrive and before you know it, they bugs have wreaked havoc to your belongings. The following outline expounds more about silverfish and could help save your household from their destructive tendencies.

What are silverfish?

Silverfish are a primitive form of insect. They have the basic physiology of six legs, but are wingless and tend to be a bluish or silverfish colour, hence their name. Rather than walk, the silverfish move around by wriggling. One thing to bear in mind about silverfish is that the females are capable of hatching eggs every single day once they reach maturity, and this is what promotes their exponential growth in your home.

What are the typical habits of silverfish?

Silverfish tend to gravitate towards areas that are both dark and damp, which makes it quite difficult to spot an infestation if you are not on the lookout. Some of the favoured parts of your home that they will build their nests in include garages, bathrooms, sheds and even hard to reach corners in your kitchen. Moreover, silverfish are capable of thriving in any climate. Therefore, no matter if you live in an area that is prone to high temperatures or perpetually cold weather, you would still be susceptible to a silverfish infestation.

When it comes to feeding, silverfish can survive on almost anything. Silverfish's main source of nutrition is cellulose, sugars, starches, carbohydrates and a host of natural products. This ability to feed on most things makes it easy for the silverfish to survive as they will always find a food source to sustain them. In your household, you will find the silverfish feeding on linens, shampoo, books, silks, wallpapers, carpets, paintings and more. If they are left unchecked, the silverfish can cause irreparable damage to these items by boring holes into them. Thus, it is crucial to be on the lookout, particularly if you have put important documents, clothes, photos and other items into storage.

What are the signs of a silverfish infestation?

Since they are nocturnal critters, it can be difficult to pinpoint a silverfish infestation. Nevertheless, if you know what to look for, you could identify whether your home is infested or not. One of the first sings to be wary of would be dead bodies of the silverfish in your closet. Another sign to look for would be their faecal matter, which looks similar to black pepper.

For more help identifying and getting rid of a silverfish infestation, contact a pest control company near you.