Silverfish are some of the oldest arthropods on the planet. These pests get their name from their silver scales and fish-like appearance. They are known for eating paper and paper products, as they live on proteins and cellulose. You may be wondering where do silverfish come from? The silverfish habitat has adapted from the outdoors to both homes and workplaces. They are now found in countries around the world.
HUMIDITY REQUIRED
Silverfish look for environments that offer easy access to food sources, consistent temperatures and high humidity. The optimum conditions for them are 75 to 95 percent humidity, with a temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. There is another pest, the firebrat, which looks similar to silverfish and is often confused with them. Firebrats, however, prefer warmer areas, and are more likely to be found in locations where the temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit. They have similar eating habits, but differ in appearance. Firebrats are the same shape as silverfish – they are often compared to a carrot – but are splotchy white and brown instead of greenish-silver.
Outside, silverfish are commonly found underneath tree bark, in insect nests or in the nests of birds and dens of mammals. In your home, the silverfish habitat is more likely to be the attic, basement, laundry room, near bookshelves, in closets or anywhere else that has close proximity to a food source and offers high humidity. In fact, the presence of silverfish might be a sign that you should check your home for moisture issues.
Because of where they like to live, it can be difficult to determine where silverfish come from inside your home. One of the easiest ways to try to find them is by using sticky traps, such as those used for cockroaches. As with any traps, be sure to keep them out of the reach of children and pets. Silverfish may enter your home inside purchased items such as books or things that come inside cardboard boxes, through cracks and crevices or via pipelines.
Now that you know what to look for in terms of the silverfish habitat, you can start taking steps to keep these nuisances out of your home. If cleaning, sealing cracks, checking for moisture and humidity, and placing traps are not keeping your problem in check, consider calling in the experts. Call Terminix® today for your free pest estimate, and get help figuring out the best method for silverfish control.
