Are Silverfish In Atlanta Something I Should Be Worried About?

Often called "bristletails" because of their three long, bristle-like tail appendages on the rear of their bodies, silverfish are silvery, metallic insects that got their name from their fish-like movements. Silverfish are very common in Atlanta, as they love hot, humid areas, making homes here a perfect place to set up shop.

What Do Silverfish In Atlanta Look Like?

At first glance, you might think the insect in your Atlanta home is a venomous centipede. However, upon closer inspection, you should see some of the following features that indicate the creature invading your Atlanta home is actually a silverfish.

1. Silverfish are typically 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long, not including their tail.
2. Silverfish do not have wings; however, they can still move extremely fast.
3. A silverfish is shaped like a teardrop, or carrot, tapering from head to rear and covered in scales.
4. Silverfish are, you guessed it, silver, and they sometimes have a metallic sheen.

Silverfish also have thread-like antennae and compound eyes widely separated on the face.

Signs Of Silverfish In Your Atlanta House 

Silverfish especially love hot, humid, moisture-filled areas, so you'll most likely find them in your bathroom, attic, or around leaky pipes. Below are some signs that indicate silverfish have invaded your Atlanta home:

• Aside from seeing a silverfish with your own eyes, droppings are the first things you will see when looking for signs of silverfish infestations. Silverfish droppings are small and resemble pepper flakes. These droppings are black and spherical. You will find these wherever they are hiding and are likely to see them in your kitchen, pantry, and sometimes in the middle of stacks of papers and books.
• As silverfish scurry around your home and over your belongings, they leave behind yellow stains. If you notice these stains on your clothes, around your pantry, or on the wallpaper, it is a definite sign of a silverfish infestation.
• As silverfish grow, they shed their skins and leave them behind. Left-behind skins are another sign that silverfish are setting up shop; however, they are small and often hard to notice if you are not actively looking for them, so be sure to keep an eye out for these around your Atlanta home.
• Silverfish are destructive and leave behind holes in things like wallpaper, books, loose papers, and cardboard because these creatures have an odd diet. They actively look for items that contain glues and adhesives and other starchy foods found in your pantry or even your laundry linens. 

Do Silverfish In Atlanta Bite?

The good news is that silverfish are mostly harmless. They are not known to bite humans, and while they do resemble venomous centipedes, they do not carry any venom. However, even though they are harmless to people, your belongings might not be so lucky. Silverfish are notorious for eating through wallpaper, papers, books, and cardboard. Your decor, storage boxes, important papers, and beloved books would be at risk of being destroyed if silverfish invaded your Atlanta home.

How To Get Rid Of Silverfish In Your Atlanta Home

Like all insect infestations, silverfish can be difficult to remove by yourself. Given the amount of damage they can do to your Atlanta home, the best thing you can do once you discover an infestation is to call us at Squash A Bug Pest Control. Here, we have expert technicians armed with the skills and tools needed to safely and effectively remove entire infestations and keep them from coming back. On top of that, we work quickly to help minimize the silverfish damage to your home.

Call us at Squash A Bug Pest Control today if silverfish have invaded your Atlanta home. Our service technicians will customize a home or commercial pest treatment plan in Atlanta that works for you, and we always use people and pet-friendly treatments. Let us help you today!