Silverfish are one of the top Florida pests in winter. They’re attracted to damp spaces and cluttered areas. This often means you’ll find them in basements, bathrooms, attics, and garages. They can cause damage to clothing, paper (including books), wallpaper, carpet, and food, among other things. As far as Florida pests go, they are one of the creepiest.
This is because of how they move. They’re exceptionally fast for their size, and they crawl along the floor in curving lines, as if they’re a swimming fish. This looks and feels unnatural, which means plenty of people jump at silverfish despite their tiny size. Silverfish don’t bite and they don’t carry disease. They are a nuisance that will ruin several things in your home, though.
What Attracts Silverfish?
Even though it doesn’t get very cold, Florida winter pests are generally attracted to the shelter that a home provides. Winter pests in Florida look for certain levels of humidity, for easier access to food, and for a place where warmth is regulated. Silverfish are no different.
Once they’re in your house or garage, silverfish can be difficult to get rid of. Even if you clean up all your food, silverfish can live nearly a year on water alone. It’s a good idea to secure food anyway. Seasonal pests like silverfish will get into it if they can. Even if they don’t need it to live, if they can get into it, they will. This will also cause them to expand their territory to your kitchen. Sealable plastic containers are a good idea for foods that contain sugar and starch.
Silverfish Prevention
To deter these creepy looking pests, you’ll want to make sure damp spaces are de-humidified. A dehumidifier is one of the most useful tools against many pests. It makes the environment less habitable for silverfish, cockroaches, ants, and many of the other top winter pests in Florida.
You’ll want to find how they got in and seal up the cracks or gaps in the foundation they used to enter. Leaving a gap between debris and your home is also smart – this includes mulch. A six inch gap of dry dirt between the home and landscaping does wonders to create a barrier that pests don’t want to cross.
Nonetheless, if silverfish are already there, they may not leave. They’re tenacious, but so are we. As a Brevard County pest control service, Slug-A-Bug can eliminate these creepy top Florida pests and help you make small changes that prevent more from coming in. Contact us today!