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Silverfish
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Size: Small, elongated, triangular insects,
usually between 1/2-inch and one inch in length.
Color: Typically a shiny gray or silver. |
Silverfish have three long, thin appendages extending
from the rear of the abdomen.
Behavior
Silverfish feed on fungal molds and organic matter. They can damage
natural fabrics, paper and book bindings. Treatment of cracks and
voids as well as attic and crawl spaces is necessary to minimize
silverfish. This pest, however, is one of the most difficult insects
to totally eliminate even for a professional company.
Habitat
Silverfish live in cracks and voids and are commonly found in larger
numbers in attics, basements, and crawl spaces. They are also
common outdoors in southern states. Homes with cedar shake roofs
seem to
experience more serious infestations of silverfish. This may
be due to the additional molds that form on this type of shingle.
More
available food results in more silverfish. Inside, they will
be seen occasionally or on a regular basis in kitchens, bathrooms,
and other rooms.
Tips for Control
Silverfish can be very difficult to control, especially in those
homes which have wood shake (shingle) roofs. Shakes hold moisture
and permit surface molds to grow which serve as food for silverfish.
Shake roofs are also very difficult to treat completely -- to reach
all the areas where silverfish can possibly live. In addition, silverfish
often live in the soffits and behind the fascia board behind gutters.
Individual silverfish then invade the interior of the home from
this "reservoir" site. Compounding the problem in attics
is blown-in insulation that prevents a professional from safely
venturing into the attic to look for silverfish harborages. A professional
should be consulted when silverfish are a regular problem.
Areas that may require treatment include:
- voids where plumbing is located
- voids behind electrical outlets
- molding around windows and doorways
- attic, crawl space and basement
- soffits
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