Silverfish Control in Manchester

Silverfish

Silverfish can be a common sight in your property, especially if you have a humidity or moisture problem. They are considered a nuisance pest as they feed on wallpaper, natural textiles and books and papers as well as more normal foodstuffs that are high in starches, sugars and proteins. While not essentially dangerous or harmful themselves, they can spread disease and contaminate
foodstuffs and are often a sign of a greater moisture or damp problem in your property. They will also pose a threat to any stored books or textiles that you may have.

What to look for:

Silverfish are about half an inch in size, with a silvery colour as their name would suggest. They are usually long and slender and taper off in size from their broad head down to their narrower tails. They will usually be found in damp and humid environments such as basements or attics, or even laundry rooms inside properties, or under stones or pavements outside. They can travel large
distances in search of food and it can therefore be difficult to pinpoint the exact site of an infestation.

They are nocturnal but will also be active if the environment itself is dark – so you may see them in basements all through the day for example. Silverfish can be active all year round and as long as they have easy access to a food source and the conditions remain dark, warm and humid, they can be a constant presence in your property.

Humidity is the main draw for silverfish – anything between 75-95% humidity is ideal for them and they are usually unable to survive for long at lower humidity's. Controlling the heat and damp in your properties is often the best way to reduce the chance of a silverfish infestation.

Silverfish can lay eggs at any time during the year, and the eggs will usually hatch within 19-43 days. The average lifespan for a silverfish is 3-4 months but as they can breed all year round, they will often have a constant presence once established in your property. They will try and feed on any source of protein, starch or sugar and will attack papers, books and textiles in order to feed on any glues or pastes that may have been used in these items' construction.

Common signs of a Silverfish infestation:

  • Finding cast skins. Silverfish moult throughout their lifecycle and their silvery casings are
    easy to spot
  • Finding irregular holes in fabrics or stored books or papers, caused by their feeding.
  • Yellowish stains left on fabrics from their feeding and waste habits.

Remember to check your basements and attics regularly, as well as any other areas that can become
damp or humid, or have large amounts of foodstuffs, books, textiles or similar items in storage.

Preventative measures:

As mentioned earlier, controlling the heat and humidity in your property is the easiest way to reduce
the chances of a silverfish problem. However, other steps can be taken to help prevention:

  • Store food sources safely and securely, in airtight boxes or packaging
  • Ensure that cracks in brickwork, crawlspaces, drains and pipework are filled as soon as possible
  • Ensure your property is adequately ventilated to reduce damp.
  • Keep gutters, drains and pipes clear to reduce damp matter from building up and providing a habitat for the silverfish.

Silverfish Treatment & Control

Once you discover a silverfish infestation in your property, it’s important to contact us here at Protec Pest Control as soon as possible to arrange a visit from one of our technicians. The longer a problem is left, the harder it will be to eradicate fully, and identifying the source of the problem will help to reduce the chances of infestations in the future.

Our highly skilled technicians will carry out an initial assessment of the problem and then advise on the best course of action to deal with the pests. This will normally involve a spray or dust insecticide applied to the affected areas, which should begin to kill off the silverfish immediately. Any potential sources of damp identified should be dealt with as soon as possible to remove the conditions attractive to silverfish, and our technician will be more than happy to provide guidance and advice on further control methods.

Protec Pest Control are fully accredited by the British Pest Control Association and approved by Safecontractor and Trading Standards. Our treatments conform to the highest regulatory and safety standards and our technicians can visit at a time suitable for you.

You can contact us via our website www.protecpestcontrol.co.uk or via telephone on 0161 448 1782 to arrange a visit and treatment as soon as possible. We cover the entire Manchester and Stockport areas and will be more than happy to provide you with fast, efficient and cost-effective treatments and advice.

Pest Control Advice