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Why Are Silverfish So Common in Texas Homes?
Admin • Jul 30, 2019
Whether you call them silverfish or fish moths, these slender, silver-skinned creatures can be a true nuisance in the home. Not only do they eat and contaminate your food, but they can destroy wallpaper, books, pictures, and other starchy items. Silverfish are especially a big problem in Texas homes, but why is that? What can you do to make your Texas home less appealing to them? Take a look.
Why Are Silverfish So Common?
Silverfish need two conditions to thrive: heat and humidity. Texas is definitely a hot place, and that year-long heat helps silverfish reproduce more rapidly. Their eggs hatch sooner when it is warm outside, and females fit more laying sessions into the year when it stays warm for so long. The more silverfish eggs females lay, the faster the population grows.
The silverfish's preference for humidity might be a little confusing since Texas tends to be dry. However, Texas homes are comparatively humid. Silverfish move indoors because they are in search of humidity that they cannot find outdoors in Texas. This is largely why silverfish are so commonly found indoors in Texas when they're more likely to live outdoors in other parts of the country.
How Can You Get Rid of Silverfish?
Now that you know why silverfish are so common in Texas, you can devise a better plan to get rid of them. Here are some strategies that work.
Reduce Humidity Levels
Since humidity is a key factor that draws silverfish into homes, reducing humidity can help make your home less appealing to them. By lowering humidity levels, you can also slow down the rate at which eggs hatch, which can give you more time to clean them up before they hatch.
Here are some easy ways to reduce home humidity levels:
- Run your air conditioner, even later in the fall when temperatures are not as high. Air conditioners remove humidity while cooling.
- Turn your ceiling fans on. They circulate air and encourage moisture to evaporate.
- Take shorter or cooler showers to generate less moisture.
- Dry your clothing outside or use an outside-vented clothes dryer, rather than hanging clothes to dry indoors.
- Keep fewer houseplants; they release moisture.
- Repair cracks in foundations and around windows, which may let rainwater inside.
Aim to keep your relative indoor humidity between 45 and 55%. Many modern thermostats will also tell you your humidity level, or you can install a separate humidistat to track that number.
Clean Corners and Remote Areas
Some Texas homeowners treat their homes for silverfish only to have the bugs return again a few weeks or months later. This usually happens because they failed to rid the home of eggs. Silverfish eggs take 19 to 32 days to hatch. These pests often lay their eggs in well-hidden areas such as behind a couch, in the backs of drawers, and under rugs.
In addition to having your home treated with insecticides to kill adult bugs, make sure you deep-clean to remove eggs. Silverfish eggs are only about a millimeter long, so you probably won't even see them mixed into the dust and debris you're cleaning up — but assume they are there.
Store Food Sources Properly
If you do miss a few silverfish eggs and they hatch, you want to ensure those insects do not have anything to eat. Seal all of your food into plastic or glass containers. Keep pet food cleaned up, and store all of your paper items, including books and toilet paper, either in sealed plastic totes or in an open area where they'll be less tempting to bugs.
Silverfish love Texas homes as much as you do, but unfortunately, they do not belong there. If you've noticed any of these pests in your home, follow the tips above, and contact Southwest Exterminating Company. We offer organic pest control solutions for all common Texas pests.
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