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Banded silverfish - Thermobia domestica, lateral view, a common household pest.

Do Silverfish Eat Clothes?

Silverfish are those sleek, silvery insects that are common in many households across America, especially South Florida. They prefer to remain in dark areas out of sight but can be quite a surprise when they unexpectedly pop up in the humid areas in your home like your attics, kitchens, and baths, and sometimes even on your clothes and furniture.

In this blog, we’ll provide insights into dealing with house silverfish and offer tips on how to get rid of them with quality pest control, such as the services offered by Hulett Environmental Services.

What Does a Silverfish Look Like?

Silverfish are small, wingless insects characterized by their distinctive appearance and unique movements. Typically measuring between half an inch to one inch in length, silverfish have elongated, teardrop-shaped bodies covered in silvery scales that give them a metallic sheen. They possess two long antennae on their heads and three bristle-like appendages at the rear called cerci, giving them a somewhat fishlike appearance. These insects move in a distinctive, undulating manner, resembling the swimming motion of a fish, which contributes to their name. Be on the lookout for silverfish droppings that look like specks of black pepper, as these are silverfish infestation signs.

Are Silverfish Harmful to Humans?

Silverfish are generally considered harmless to humans and do not pose a direct threat. They do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. However, they can be a nuisance when they invade homes and damage items such as books, paper, wallpaper, and clothing.

Where Do Silverfish Come From?

Like many other pests, silverfish make their way indoors through gaps in doors and windows and boxes and furniture brought inside. They’re nocturnal and prefer dark, damp environments such as attics, kitchens, and bathrooms, where they feed on starchy materials like paper, glue, and clothing. This means they can be hard to detect and even harder to follow if they run out of sight.

What Are Silverfish Attracted To?

The best way to track down the source of a silverfish infestation is through a Hulett Environmental Services pest exterminator. Still, we recommend you start by looking in high-moisture areas like:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Laundry Rooms
Closets
Pantries
Attics
Crawl Spaces
Basements

Do Silverfish Eat Clothes?

Silverfish are known to cause damage to clothes, but it is not because they have a taste for fashion. These wingless insects have a distinct diet that revolves around starchy materials, cellulose, and sugars. When a more nutritious food source is not available, their culinary preferences include items like paper, glue, wallpaper, books, and woven fabrics like cloth, especially if there is food or drink residues.

It should be noted that if you’re experiencing mysterious holes in your favorite sweater or finding fabric shreds in your closet, it’s more likely the work of other pests like clothes moths, roaches, crickets, or carpet beetles. Whereas silverfish are more likely to damage books, magazines, or cardboard storage containers.

Silverfish feeding on cardboard and paper

What Do Silverfish Eat?

While clothes are not at the top of their menu, finding silverfish in your closet should still be seen as a problem. They thrive in environments with high humidity, and their presence may mean you have underlying moisture issues. Excessive humidity can create conditions favorable for mold growth, which can harm fabrics and compromise the air quality in your home. The damp environment is also perfect for silverfish reproduction, increasing the risk of damage to your clothes and the chances of a full-on infestation. But thankfully, you have Hulett in your corner.

Silverfish have a particular fondness for paper products. Old books, documents, and cardboard boxes are all potential feasting grounds.
The glue binding your books, wallpaper, or cardboard boxes can attract silverfish.
If your walls are adorned with wallpaper, be aware that silverfish might find it appetizing.
Stored food products, especially those containing starch, are susceptible to silverfish infestations.

Helpful Tips To Prevent Silverfish

Consider the following tops for preventing silverfish! Store food in sealed containers to cut off their access to food sources. Discard cardboard from packages promptly and avoid clutter, as silverfish are attracted to these materials. Fix any moisture issues in your home to reduce humidity, a key factor in silverfish infestation. Increase airflow in the humid areas of your home, like bathrooms, to further deter them. Lastly, ensure regular cleaning to maintain an environment that’s less appealing to silverfish. These steps will help keep your home free from these pests. However, if silverfish have already invaded, professional pest control treatment can be required to eliminate this pest.

Silverfish vs. Earwig

Silverfish and earwigs are common household pests often mistaken for each other. Silverfish are small, silvery insects that wriggle like fish and thrive in damp, dark areas, feeding on starchy materials like paper and fabric. Earwigs, slightly larger with pincers on their abdomen, prefer decaying plant matter but may occasionally nibble on fruits. While their appearance can be alarming, earwigs are mostly harmless. Knowing their differences helps in choosing the right silverfish pest control method.

Get Rid of Silverfish in Florida – Just Call Hulett!

At Hulett Environmental Services, our commitment to eco-friendly practices is at the forefront of our approach to silverfish pest control, including the meticulous eradication of silverfish. Whether dealing with a minor intrusion or a more extensive infestation, our skilled technicians utilize environmentally friendly treatments to track down silverfish at their source.

During our thorough inspections we identify entry points and implement preventive measures and traps to ensure a comprehensive solution and elimination. By addressing the root cause, we not only eliminate existing silverfish but also fortify your space against future infestations. Our approach is a proactive one—guarding your home not only from silverfish but also maintaining your home from any other potential invaders seeking entry.

We offer silverfish pest control in the following areas of South Florida:

Take back control of your home and schedule an inspection with Hulett Environmental Services today. Don’t wait for silverfish damage to occur. Let our experts identify and address potential risks before they become problems.

Just call Hulett Environmental Services, and we’ll ensure your living space remains pest-free.

December 28, 2023 Posted in Pest Control Silverfish