Pest Control – Silverfish

Our local pest control services help residents and businesses in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Basingstoke, Camberley, and nearby areas to overcome problems with all kinds of pests. With over a decade of experience in the pest control industry, we are perfectly qualified to help you rid your home or premises of a variety of insects – including silverfish. This guide is designed to help you identify the problem, and also lays out the action we can take to resolve it.

How to Recognise a Silverfish Problem

Silverfish are shy, light-phobic creatures that come out to forage for food while it’s dark – and often flee if disturbed. That said, a visual sighting remains the commonest way to recognise a silverfish problem.

It’s most common to see silverfish in areas of high humidity. Bathrooms and kitchens are common locations, as well as basements. During daylight hours these insects will often retreat to dark, hidden crevices, or move deeper into the structure of the building – hiding in wall cavities, below carpets, or behind fixed furniture.

In terms of appearance, silverfish are unique among UK pests, and once spotted they are easily identified. Their name stems from their silvery appearance, and their habit of slinking smoothly across surfaces. They are typically just over 1 cm/0.4 inches in length.

Professional Silverfish Treatments

As a small, nocturnal insect pest with a long lifespan (up to 8 years) and the ability to go for up to a year without eating, silverfish can be challenging to eradicate fully. The best solution is to engage a local pest control technician to deal with the existing issue, and then implement changes to make your home or work environment less appealing to future invaders!

Professional silverfish treatments include high-strength but safe insecticides that remain effective for an extended period after application – a must when dealing with a pest that is only active at night. These professional-grade products effectively target the adult silverfish, and contain an added insect growth regulator that inhibits the development of immature silverfish. By working with pressurized sprayers we’re able to ensure a fast, even, and targeted application for maximum efficiency.

Longer term, it’s wise to look at the humidity levels of affected areas – and put in place measures to address this if needed. Common steps include ensuring that rooms are adequately ventilated and heated, installing extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms, and resolving leaks resulting from faulty plumbing. Structural issues such as roof problems or inadequate damp-proofing may also be contributing factors.

Call us today on 0118 3801544 / 07972189648, email info@combatpestsolutions.com, or use our contact form to book a call-out, or simply to ask us any questions you may have.