if you find a silver minnow Running around in the bathroom, you start to worry because there might be more.This insect has a strong reproductive capacity, lives mainly in buildings, and is subject to humidity and pleasant temperature. Females can lay up to 100 eggs at a time.
If you don’t know, the whitebait’s scientific name is Lepisma saccharina, and it has a Body slender less than 1 cm, with two large tentacles on the head and three long hairs at the end of the abdomen. It’s metallic gray in color, moves very fast, and is actually quite slippery, hence the silverfish’s name.they are also called Moisture Bugs or Dust Bugs. They’re not as disgusting as cockroaches or bite like mosquitoes, but they can be a pest.
Tips to keep bugs out of your home
Where Do Silverfish Come From?
Silverfish basically need dark and humidity. Their favorite places are bathrooms, kitchens, basements, closets or indoor furniture.
they also need warmth. They need a temperature of at least 20° to reproduce, which is why they mainly live inside buildings.
they can live in two years and eight years And always close to its power source. They hate almost nothing. They eat paper, paint, clothes, books, dead insects, food scraps, shed skin, hair, dandruff, dirt…
What are the dangers of silverfish?
they are animals elusive. They will run away when they see you and will not bite. There is a legend that they get into the ear while sleeping, but this is not true.
They pose no immediate danger to humans, but their reproductive capacity is very high, as females can lay hundreds of eggs at a time.
the main problem is contaminated food They invade with feces and other fluids. They also damage paper, clothes, books…
How to Get Rid of Silverfish
The following measures can help eliminate silverfish:
- avoid moisture. Open windows after showering and use a dehumidifier in the basement or closet. good ventilate.
- Seal cracks with cement or caulk. They hide in these places, but don’t do it with silicone, as they also feed on it.
- Scrub where silverfish were once seen Use bleach diluted with water. You can also do it with ammonia diluted with water. Never mix bleach and ammonia as it is highly toxic.
- Do not pile up paper Or cardboard, because they feed on it.
- Vacuum the floor frequently Removes dead skin, hair or fluff residue used as food.
- moving furniture when you deep clean. They tend to hide under those who move little.
- pour alcohol Where you see silverfish.
- Spray diatomaceous earth (ecological insecticide) in infected areas. Insects will dry out.
- Put boric acid into the joint. If you have pets, use this product with caution. Conventional Household Insecticides It is also effective against insects.
- enclosed in an airtight container food to prevent contamination.
If these measures do not eliminate them, contact a pest control company.