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What Was That Little Silver Bug In The Bathroom?

If you saw a silver bug racing across your bathroom floor, there is a good chance it was a silverfish. These little pests love moist, dark places, and bathrooms are high on their list of preferred areas, and they can move fast when they want to. You’ll also frequently find these bugs in your basement, attic, and kitchen. So, if you see a fast-moving silver bug in these areas–yup, you guessed it–you probably have silverfish.

Why are silverfish in my house?

A silverfish infestation often begins with water damage. If you have these little pests running around on your bathroom floor, you may have a bigger problem than icky bugs scaring you when you flick the light on during a midnight bathroom visit.

These pests could be a warning sign. If you have gutters that aren’t working properly or water accumulated near your basement walls after it rains, it can damage the wood of your home. When areas begin to rot, pests such as the silverfish exploit those entry points and come into your home.

Can I get silverfish in the winter?

Yes! Here are a few things you should know about these little silver bugs that have chosen your house to hide in through the winter.

Silverfish do not hibernate. If you have these little bugs in your nice cozy home, they are going to be active all winter long.

Though they don’t hibernate, silverfish can go into a state called diapause, where their development is arrested for a period of time due to a lack of favorable living conditions like cold temperatures or a lack of food sources.

Silverfish are cold blooded creatures that cannot control their body temperature. But, in a state of diapause, they can alter their blood composition to form a sort of antifreeze that will keep them from freezing. For this reason, they can be found in some surprisingly cold places in your home during the winter months.

What should I do about silverfish?

Silverfish won’t harm you. These bugs don’t sting or bite. But when you see them running around inside your home, you should definitely have a professional look at the situation. Why? Because a professional will do two things for you: When a pest technician inspects your home, they will be able to determine the most likely entry points these pests are using.

If they are gaining entrance to your home through a rotted spot, you’ll be able to address the issue before it worsens into a real problem. If your pest technician determines that the silverfish are coming in through gaps and cracks in your foundation, torn screens, missing door sweeps, damaged weather stripping, or some other hole in your defenses, they can help you get those holes filled.

Can I take care of silverfish on my own?

When you see silverfish, avoid the urge to crush them. This can stain light-colored surfaces.

You can make your home resistant to silverfish by reducing humidity. Install a dehumidifier in your basement to keep it dry down there. Turn the fan on in the bathroom when you take a shower. Refrain from leaving wet towels or clothing on the floor.

Silverfish are looking for moisture. But, to effectively keep silverfish out of a home you need someone with experience and training in pest control to treat adult bugs and harborages, seal any entry points, and monitor for new activity.

Protect your home and protect your family from silverfish, and a host of other household pests, with ongoing pest service like Moyer Pest. When you have year-round pest management, you don’t have to wonder if your house is being damaged, and you don’t have to worry about battling mysterious, pest-related illness. Year round pest service is the smart way to guard against pests.

Give us a call at 215.799.2010 or fill out the form below and we will contact you.

 

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