Category: Pest Control

How to Get Rid of Silverfish

First, Determine if You Have Silverfish or Firebrats

Before you start reading up on how to get rid of silverfish you need to make sure the bug you’re trying to get rid of is actually a silverfish. Believe it or not, there are several other small creepy bugs that look very similar to silverfish.

Second, Learn Why You Need to Get Rid of Silverfish ASAP

Besides the fact that there are nasty little bugs running around your home, there are other reasons why you will want to get rid of silverfish as soon as possible

Silverfish Facts » Why You Should Get Rid of Silverfish Right Now:

Silverfish don’t die or leave when it gets cold , they live up to 2-8 years…so when they find a home, they’re not leaving anytime soon!

Silverfish are most active at night and can jump up to two feet into the air (that’s high enough to get onto your bed!)

They can go up to a year without food , so removing all the things they eat in your basement won’t affect them it just motivates them to start exploring more parts of your house.

Most silverfish go unnoticed and will slip into cereal boxes, rice boxes, or anywhere they think is a good place for food or to lay eggs.

They can climb walls (so they can practically get everywhere inside without difficulty)

They have been around for 400 Million years , which probably is the reason why they are immune to most bug poison.

Silverfish eat things we surround ourselves with (paper, cardboard, glue) so at night when they come out for food they could be crawling everywhere!

Silverfish love toothpaste and eat the toothpaste remains off of toothbrushes, and have even been found INSIDE toothpaste containers!

Silverfish molt continuously throughout their lives leaving dead tiny body parts around your home!

Fortunately though, there has been no evidence that suggests that silverfish can spread or transmit diseases. Needless to say, this should still be more than enough reasons for you to want to get rid of the silverfish in your home as quickly as possible.

An Introduction to getting rid of silverfish

So now you probably realize that silverfish are a pretty tricky bug to get rid of…but just to recap:

Silverfish are immune to bug poison

They can go up to a year without eating or needing food

They don’t leave when it gets cold outside or if the house is uninhabited

Earwig & Silverfish Identification & Prevention

What are earwigs & silverfish?

Both earwigs and silverfish can be confused with each other but are two different species of insects. Both are occasional invaders, which means they live most of their life outdoors but sometimes move inside, seeking a damp environment when the weather becomes too hot and dry. Earwigs are reddish-brown, while silverfish are a silver color. Earwigs have pincers located at the end of their abdomens. Silverfish have a three-pronged extension at the end of their abdomens and move in a unique fish-like manner.

Are earwigs & silverfish dangerous?

While silverfish and earwigs certainly are not creatures you want living in your home, they aren’t dangerous pests. They don’t bite or sting people, and they aren’t known to spread diseases. Earwigs are a type of garden pest but only cause significant plant damage if their numbers are high. When disturbed, earwigs produce an odor that is not pleasant. Also, they can contaminate pantry items like flour, bread, and cookies. Silverfish living indoors may damage clothing, upholstery, and paper items by chewing on them. They also contaminate starchy pantry items like flour, cereals, pasta, and potatoes.

Why do I have a earwig & silverfish problem?

Silverfish and earwigs will move inside to take advantage of a home’s cool, damp areas and can become a problem in any home. Houston weather that becomes too hot, dry, or wet will drive these pests indoors. Earwigs and silverfish also hitchhike their way into homes in objects that were once outside like potted plants, newspapers, furniture, and boxes. Because they seek out areas of moisture, if these pests are in your home, there is a good chance there is a moisture problem present.

Where will I find earwigs & silverfish?

Silverfish and earwigs hide in damp, dark areas. They tend to gather near the foundations of a home under mulch, landscaping ties, leaf litter, compost piles, and trash cans. If it becomes necessary, they will move into homes and other structures through cracks in the foundation, exterior walls, and spaces under doors (especially basements doors). Once inside, they hide in areas that mimic their outdoor environments such as basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and laundry rooms.

How do I get rid of earwigs & silverfish?

The best way to live pest-free is to partner with the pest professionals at Pest Solutions. family wants to keep your family and home safe from earwigs, silverfish, and other pests. guaranteed services provide our home and business owners with fast, effective pest elimination

Silverfish

What are Silverfish and How to Get Rid of them

Silverfish have been around for millions of years and have been found in fossil records as early as the first land-living animals. Silverfish have survived for such a long time because they are known to survive in a variety of very tough environments. Silverfish are best known for their vast destruction of various household items such as books, photographs, artwork, clothing and accessories. Some people may be allergic to the faeces and cast skins (moults) of Silverfish, which may trigger conditions such as asthma

Description:

Silverfish are heavily segmented and soft-bodied insects, covered in fish-like scales. Depending on the age and species, they are between 2 – 18 mm in length, varying in colours of silver, gold, bronze and brown. The body shape is flattened from top to bottom; and when viewed from above, the body is wide at the head tapering to a pointed rear (abdomen). Often around the perimeter of the body are short fine hairs.

The head is small with two very small compound eyes on either side of the head, however, some species are eyeless. At the front of the head are a pair of very long and straight antennae, greater than half the length of the body. At the front and underside of the head are chewing mouthparts.

Behaviour:

Silverfish are fast runners; they can also jump and hop. When disturbed, silverfish either sit very still or swiftly scurry away. Silverfish also have an interesting and elaborate mating ritual.

Lifecycle:

After moulting and mating, adult females lay eggs in clutches of 7- 12 eggs, laying up 60 eggs at a time. In one lifetime, a female lays approximately 100 eggs. Eggs generally hatch within 20 days, however in sub-optimal conditions, they can take up to 40 days. Eggs hatch into juveniles (nymphs) which are similar in appearance to adults, only smaller and lighter in colour. Juveniles grow through 6 – 7 growth phases, shedding skin at each phase. Juveniles take 3 months to 3 years to reach full maturity. Silverfish can live for up to 6 years and continue to moult throughout their lifetime.

Household Bugs and Natural Remedies For Ridding Them

The arthropoda category includes almost every bug you can think of, including spiders, insects, centipedes, mites and butterflies. Arthropods make up 75 percent of life on Earth, so it’s no surprise that they have adapted to living in unison with humans and have taken advantage of our habitats as well.

When it comes to household bugs, these unwanted roommates can vary in visibility and impact on your home. One lone spider in a dusty corner may not harm anyone, but an infestation of bed bugs will definitely leave their mark. While it’s tempting to buy-out the bug spray aisle of your local hardware store if you have a bug infestation, these products can contain toxic chemicals that are unhealthy for you and your family (including your pets), as well as detrimental to the Earth.

Luckily, there are many common household items that can help you deal with your pest problem. These household remedies are easy to create and will help keep bugs out of your apartment in a safe manner. Save our visual for a quick reference on how to get rid of bugs the natural way!

While some landlords are responsible for pest control, they often will take a while to deal with the infestation or may use harmful products. Next time you spot one of these common household bugs, try taking preventative measures with these natural remedies.

Household bugs found in your kitchen

While bugs can be found in all parts of your home, here are a few of the most common pests in your kitchen — plus a few tips to keep them out.

How to Get Rid of Silverfish

If you’ve ever flicked the bathroom light on at night, you may have seen silverfish scurrying away from the bathtub or sink. These nocturnal creatures thrive in moist or humid environments, which is why they’re sometimes seen in the bathtub. Because they’re quick, catching them in a piece of paper to deposit them outdoors isn’t a practical option. Basic cleaning and moisture-prevention methods help keep these critters at bay, while a homemade trap can catch them.

Prevention

Because silverfish enjoy moisture, dry the bathtub after the last person has used it at night. Removing this moisture that they enjoy helps keep them away. If the faucet or showerhead drips, repair the drip as soon as possible, or place a small container in the tub to catch the water, dumping it frequently. Remove dust and stacks of books or magazines from the bathroom, as silverfish eat starch found in the book and magazine binding glues. They also eat some materials found in dust and enjoy hiding in dusty, untouched areas.

Trapping

Create a silverfish trap by covering the outside of a small glass jar with masking tape. Place the container in the tub at night, or along the sides of the tub — wherever you’ve noticed silverfish. The creatures will climb up the tape to get into the jar and won’t be able to climb out. Empty the jar outside away from the home, or fill the bottom of the jar with petroleum jelly, which the silverfish will stick to, unable to get out.

Bed Bug Confidential: An Expert Explains How to Defend against the Dreaded Pests

Chances are, you or someone you know has had a run-in with bed bugs. It might have happened in a scrupulously clean bedroom. Or maybe it was a hotel room, office or college dorm. In the February issue of Scientific American entomologist Kenneth Haynes of the University of Kentucky explains how, after a lengthy absence, bed bugs are staging a comeback. The good news is scientists are intensively studying these insects, and their insights suggest novel ways of detecting the bugs and eradicating infestations. Some of those potential solutions are a long way off, however. In the meantime the best bet is to avoid bringing bed bugs home in the first place. I called Haynes to ask him how to do that and what to do if one suspects an infestation (eek!), among a bunch of other practical-minded questions.

Do bed bugs only feed on humans?

No. Bed bugs are also pests in poultry operations, and they’re known to parasitize bats. Some labs that study bed bugs rear them on guinea pigs and mice. The bugs might feed on cats and dogs. Fur is probably a barrier to them, but they could feed at any place on the body without fur. Bed bugs are not specific to humans, but they are adapted to parasitizing us

Could you have a bed bug infestation in your home and not know it?

That’s very possible. I have heard of couples reporting that only one partner is getting bitten. The truth is that both are getting bitten, but only one has a reaction to the bites. Thirty percent of people or more don’t react to bed bug bites at all, and the elderly are less reactive than the rest of the population. Among those people who do react to the bites, most of them don’t respond to early bites, but develop a sensitivity to subsequent ones. Those individuals who are not sensitive to bed bug bites may not know they have an infestation. Because bed bugs are nocturnally active, it’s hard to see other signs of their presence—unless you’re accustomed to waking up at 3 A.M. and taking a census. With a huge infestation, bed bugs start to move away from the bed, so you’re more likely to see one in an exposed place during the day. In very severe infestations people can become anemic. That takes a lot of bugs though—maybe 100,000 feeding once a week or more.

Another clue to infestation is odor. Like many species of bugs, bed bugs release odors called alarm pheromones. When a group of bed bugs gets disturbed, you may get a whiff of that odor, which is similar to the odor stink bugs give off. At higher concentrations the odor is unpleasant. Some people say at low concentrations it’s a pleasant smell—like coriander. In fact, older literature refers to the bed bug as the coriander bug. I’ve tried to smell the coriander scent in bed bug alarm pheromones and have not been able to make the connection, however.

What can one do to avoid getting bed bugs?

The first thing is you have to be able to recognize and distinguish a bed bug from any other insect. Everything starts to look like a bed bug if you start to worry about them. An adult bed bug is about the size and shape of an apple seed. If it has not fed recently it will be flattened and brown. If it has fed it will be round in circumference and reddish. Immature bed bugs have a similar appearance to adults, with the smallest being the size of the head of a pin. You can then learn to look for their fecal spots, which can be easier to detect than the bugs themselves. Check your hotel rooms when you travel. And think twice before bringing home used furniture. If you are purchasing used furniture, ask the furniture store how they deal with bed bugs. If they have no plan whatsoever, that’s probably not a good sign. If you purchase used clothing, put it through a clothes dryer on a medium to high setting for a cycle as soon as you bring it home. And before you move into an apartment, ask the landlord whether there has been a bed bug infestation, or whether the building has ever been treated for bed bugs.

DIY bed bug treatment: myths and facts

Bed bugs can be a huge burden for home and business owners alike. The sheer thought of these blood-sucking insects is enough to keep anyone up all night. These crawling insects can deliver a multitude of aggravating bites that can itch for hours, and can sometimes be particularly troublesome to control.

More often than not people will try a DIY solution using home remedies to control bed bugs before contacting a pest control professional. Here, we dig into which methods that can be effective

Still, if you have noticed any signs of bed bugs, we recommend you reach out to a pest control professional for a real solution to your problem

Home remedies for bed bugs

So, which home remedies for bed bugs actually work? And what can you do to help stop them from spreading? Read on to find out.

Method:

The idea behind this home remedy for bed bugs is to use ultrasonic devices, typically those that you plug into the wall. The high frequencies of the sound waves emitted from the device are believed to be uncomfortable for bed bugs, forcing them to leave the area.

Don’t let the bed bugs bite

Question: If you put on “Off” or some other insect repellant before retiring in a hotel will this prevent them from biting? Can they get in your hair?

Answer: Although we have not specifically tested mosquito repellants on bed bugs, we have tested repellant insecticides. Bed bugs do not seem to respond in the slightest to repellent insecticides. In fact, they will sit on top of them until they die. These results have been confirmed by the older bed bug literature (Usinger 1966) who stated that many repellant materials were applied to bed frames in an attempt to keep bed bugs from crawling up, but none had any effect. Because we have not tested repellants on skin, we can’t say for sure whether bed bugs would be willing to stick their mouth parts though repellant treated skin or not. But we have found bed bugs to be very determined little creatures and I think it would be hard to stop a hungry bed bug. In addition, the repellants that you buy for mosquitoes last only a couple of hours before the effects begin to wear off.  If you apply a repellant before getting into bed, a lot of the material could rub off on the sheets etc.  Also, bed bugs are most active between 3 and 5 am, which is several hours after the time you would have put the on the repellant to go to bed.  Bottom line, a repellant may prevent you from getting a bite or two but I do not believe that they will significantly hinder a hungry bed bug.

Bed bugs can get in your hair but the good news is that they really don’t want to be there. Unlike fleas and lice that have bodies or claws that are specifically designed for navigating through hair, the common bed bug does not have these modifications. In fact, bed bugs need to set their front claws in a particular position so that they can insert their mouthparts into the skin just so, in order to be in the proper feeding position.  Hair on the human head would make this very difficult. They would much prefer to feed on the bare skin.  If they encountered your head first, they would most likely move to your face (many people suffer face bites) or some other less hairy area to feed.  If you are bald, well, the head is fair game.

Question: Would the silk “sleep sacks” sold as a travel accessory be any help at all against bed bug bites at a hotel?

Answer: Unlikely. Bed bugs can very probably feed directly through the weave of the “sleep sack.” Even if the bag were to offer some protection, the bed bugs could crawl to the opening of the sack and enter that way. The best defense is to inspect the bed (mattress and sheets) and the head board for signs of bed bugs.  If you find any, report this to the management and request a different room.

Question: When traveling I carry a can of Lysol spray and spray the bed with it. Is this helpful in getting rid of bed bugs?

Answer: The only way that Lysol spray could help you is if you sprayed the bugs directly.  The alcohols and propellants would probably kill bed bugs if you wetted them down with the material.  However, dried spray on or around the bed would have no effect

If you are traveling, always inspect your mattress for bed bugs by pulling back the covers and looking carefully at the seams and tufts for bed bugs or bed bug evidences (black fecal spots).  If you find bed bug, don’t spray them yourself.  This may cause them to move around and infest other areas.  Instead, contact the hotel management inform them of the bugs and ask for another room immediately.  Leave the spraying to a professional.

EASY TIPS TO PREVENT BED BUGS

Learn the Best Ways to Keep Bed Bugs Away With These Expert Tips

Bed bugs present a major problem for households throughout North America. Since bed bugs need a safe, temperate environment to thrive, there are many places inside a home that provide perfect breeding conditions.

There are certain measures that you can take to prevent bed bugs from invading your home, but sometimes—even with the best preparations—bed bugs will still find their way into your house.

Bed bugs are elusive, and they typically hide in narrow cracks and crevices. Basically, anything you can slide a business card into will be an ideal hiding spot for a bed bug. It is also important to remember that bed bugs are not always found in a bed. They will shelter in any place that meets the necessary temperatures they require to live.

Cover Power Outlets

Cover your power outlets – bed bugs use power outlets to evade extermination. They climb into the outlet holes and hide there until it is safe to move elsewhere. In cases of severe infestations, bed bugs can travel through walls via electrical outlets, effectively spreading the infestation to other areas of your home or business

Store Your Clothing in Vacuum-Sealed Bags

This is especially important when traveling, since bed bugs are most commonly transferred from hotels. Purchase standard vacuum-sealed bags and store your clothing in these airtight vacuum bags when traveling. This will make your belongings less accessible to pests, and will prevent bed bugs from making their way home with you. Learn more about how bed bugs travel.

Tips for Preventing the Spread of Bedbugs

In many cases, bedbug problems start when they “hitch‐hike” in our luggage or other items during trips and stays at hotels and rental properties or if our jobs take us into potentially infested dwellings. Here are some tips on what you should do if you know or suspect that you picked up some bedbugs during a trip.

Know the Signs of Bedbugs

Bedbug bites are somewhat similar in appearance to mosquito bites, but many people do not react to the bites. For that reason, bites (or bite-like marks) or rashes are not reliable signs of a bedbug problem. Look for actual bedbugs and their fecal smears. Bedbugs are reddish‐brown, oval, flattened insects from 1⁄4 – 1⁄3 inch long and 1⁄16 – 1⁄8 inch wide before feeding (Figure 1). After a blood‐meal, they are swollen and dull red.

Bedbugs can be difficult to spot on furniture, luggage, backpacks, etc. particularly if the items are dark in color. They like to hide in crevices no thicker than a credit card. Their oval white eggs are only 1⁄25 inch and even more difficult to spot. Figure 2 shows a bedbug and dark‐colored fecal smears on the seams of a mattress. For more information about identifying bedbugs, see Bedbugs – Biology and Management.

What Can You Do to Reduce the Likelihood of Picking up “Hitchhiking” Bedbugs?

Skip to What Can You Do to Reduce the Likelihood of Picking up “Hitchhiking” Bedbugs?

Carry some plastic trash bags in your luggage. You can also enclose your clothing and other items in trash bags inside your luggage.

Don’t place luggage on beds or on the floor near beds. Some hotels have fold‐out luggage stands. These stands are not “bedbug proof” but you can check them for signs of bedbugs particularly where the webbing wraps around the frame. You can store luggage in a trash bag (preferably a white or light-colored trash bag so you can spot any hitch-hikers on the bag). Another option is to keep your luggage in bathtub.

For work-related home visits, minimize what you bring into the home. Place items on a hard surface, such as a table, rather than on a couch, chair or the floor next to furniture.

Avoid spraying pesticides in your hotel / vacation room. Remember, you are not the only guest who has used (or will use) the room and many people are sensitive to pesticides. The management of your guest accommodation likely has a pest control program in place and any spraying you may do can be both hazardous and actually disruptive to their pest control efforts.

If your job takes you into potentially-infested homes, be careful about spraying repellents on your clothing. Know your client. Although you may not be sensitive to pesticides, the residents of homes that you visit may have a reaction to the chemical including an asthmatic event.

If you’re staying at a hotel or vacation rental property, pull back the covers and sheets inspect their mattress & box spring for signs of activity. You can do the same thing at home periodically to make sure you haven’t missed something. Remember that spotting on a mattress or box spring does not necessarily mean that it’s bedbug feces OR that there is a current bedbug problem. Many places are now using mattress encasements. Do not open the encasement because it may be difficult to reseal and so compromise its effectiveness.