BLOG

Are Silverfish Dangerous? | Houston Pest Control Experts

Have you ever encountered the creepy alien-like bug crawling around you on your property? Or have you ever pulled out your favorite book off the shelf, and you find silverfish darting out?

Well, these creepy bugs are enough to give a person heebie-jeebies.

But are silverfish dangerous? Do you think they can damage your home? Do your instincts tell you to stay away from these creepy bugs?

We will know more about the silverfish, so keep reading it till the end.

What are silverfish?

Many of us think that silverfish were around a hundred million years ago. They are known as the oldest insects in the world.

As the name suggests, these insects have a grey color with a shiny texture. These bugs are somewhere around one-half to one inch long. They have a flattened body with three appendages sticking out from the backend of the abdomen.

Silverfish shed their skin in their adulthood. These bugs have crept throughout the globe without having wings.

Silverfish are nocturnal bugs. Thus, they freak you out at night when you take your favorite bedtime book to read off the shelf.

Are silverfish harmful to humans?

Never judge a book by its cover. Similarly, there is good news. What?

Silverfish do not harm humans. Many people assume that silverfish are dangerous because of their appearance. However, we do not fight any scientific evidence proven that silverfish are poisonous to humans.

Also, they do not carry any pathogens that cause diseases.

However, some people may have allergic reactions to these bugs. As you know, silverfish shed their skins during adulthood, also knowns as molting. When they do so, they leave the scales behind. Some people are allergic to the dust caused by dropped silverfish scales.

Now, let’s get ready for the bad news.

Silverfish do not harm humans, but they can damage your belongings. These bugs prefer to eat food materials filled with starch, sugar, and carbohydrates.

They will chow down everything from old books to newspapers, wallpaper, insulation, and even clothes. They won’t bother to dive into the kitchen pantry to chew some cereals, having enough starch and carbohydrates.

And the funniest thing is that they will even eat the human hair fallen on the surface of your property.

While you may not be upset if the stack of old newspaper kept for recycling is eaten by these bugs, but you don’t want any holes in your clothes.

Or maybe you don’t want these prehistoric monsters to ruin your most beloved family album.

What helps in getting rid of silverfish?

You might be thinking about how to remove these bugs if you have a silverfish infestation inside your property.

Silverfish are tough to spot because they are good hiders. If you have a home with wooden shingles, it is hard to remove the silverfish from that particular property. DIY methods won’t remove the silverfish infestation, and it may occur again. Call the trained experts to combat these problems as they can recommend you better solutions.