COMMON PESTS
Silverfish
Most of us have seen silverfish (named for its shiny gray appearance) at one time or another. These insects can damage natural materials, cloth, paper or book bindings. These soft-bodied, wingless insects are nocturnal and you won’t see them in the daytime unless there’s a heavy population or they’re disturbed. They can easily climb rough surfaces, but not slippery surfaces, such as your bathtub or sink.
Torpedo-shaped, with three long bristles at the rear, they reside quite happily in your attic, feeding mostly on starchy materials, book bindings, wallpaper, cotton cloth and linens. While not a serious pest, they can dispense with some of your stored treasures. Oval, white eggs are dropped in a few places week after week. Eggs hatch in 2-8 weeks with adulthood reached in about 2 years. They thrive in moist, hot areas from the attic to the crawl space. Since it does not like dryness or heat, it is less likely to be found in a heated home during the winter. The nymph molts eight times, after which point they are able to reproduce. The adults also molt throughout their entire lifetimes, enabling them to re-grow lost appendages. They are also quite long-lived; often living more than 3 years!
Silverfish normally live outdoors under rocks, bark and leaf mold, in the nests of birds and mammals, and in ant and termite nests. However, many are found in houses and basements, and are considered a pest, or at least a nuisance, by homeowners. Usually they are found trapped in a bathtub, sink or washbasin. Eliminating food sources and hiding places can help prevent an infestation, but sanitation alone will not control an infestation. If an infestation is suspected, contact SAWYER to set up an effective treatment plan.
Most of us have seen silverfish (named for its shiny gray appearance) at one time or another. These insects can damage natural materials, cloth, paper or book bindings. These soft-bodied, wingless insects are nocturnal and you won’t see them in the daytime unless there’s a heavy population or they’re disturbed. They can easily climb rough surfaces, but not slippery surfaces, such as your bathtub or sink.
Torpedo-shaped, with three long bristles at the rear, they reside quite happily in your attic, feeding mostly on starchy materials, book bindings, wallpaper, cotton cloth and linens. While not a serious pest, they can dispense with some of your stored treasures. Oval, white eggs are dropped in a few places week after week. Eggs hatch in 2-8 weeks with adulthood reached in about 2 years. They thrive in moist, hot areas from the attic to the crawl space. Since it does not like dryness or heat, it is less likely to be found in a heated home during the winter. The nymph molts eight times, after which point they are able to reproduce. The adults also molt throughout their entire lifetimes, enabling them to re-grow lost appendages. They are also quite long-lived; often living more than 3 years!
Silverfish normally live outdoors under rocks, bark and leaf mold, in the nests of birds and mammals, and in ant and termite nests. However, many are found in houses and basements, and are considered a pest, or at least a nuisance, by homeowners. Usually they are found trapped in a bathtub, sink or washbasin. Eliminating food sources and hiding places can help prevent an infestation, but sanitation alone will not control an infestation. If an infestation is suspected, contact SAWYER to set up an effective treatment plan.
