Earwig's & Sliver Fish








Apperance Earwigs are easily recognizable by their pincers (forceps harmless to humans) at the ends of their abdomen. They are dark reddish-brown, with light brown legs, and are about 5/8 inch long.

Earwig Biology

In a season, females reproduce up to 20-60 eggs laid in burrows (called chambers), 2 to 3 inches beneath the soil.

Most species have one generation a year, over-wintering in the soil. Both adults and the young require moisture to live.

Habits

Earwigs are primarily nocturnal, feeding at night. They are scavengers, eating primarily dead insects and decomposing plant materials. Some earwig species are attracted to lights.

During the day, earwigs will seek shelter under organic matter such as mulch, pine straw, leaf litter, and other debris. Earwigs prefer dark and damp areas like under sidewalks, and stones.

Earwigs eat live plants and can do damage to field crops.

Earwigs are found in homes and can get in through entry points like doors and windows, and by going up the foundation.

Their populations build up around foundations. Earwigs produce large populations rather quickly and are often a major problem in new subdivisions.

Earwigs live in habitats that also harbor centipedes, sow bugs (roly-poly), and millipedes.

Prevention

Because earwigs are attracted to moisture it is important to eliminate high moisture areas. Earwigs may be present, althugh invisible during the day around foundations, in mulch, under stones, boards, ect.

Look for ways to eliminate damp moist conditions particulary around crawl spaces, faucets, and along the foundations.

Rain gutters and spouts should direct water away from the house foundation.

Caulk or use weather stripping at all possible entry points such as doors, windows, pipes and other entry points at the ground level

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Change landscaping by creating a clean, dry border immediately around the foundation wall. Gravel or ornamental stones can make an attractive barrier against earwigs and other pest invaders.

Earwig Control and Recommendations

Removing earwig habitats is very important to the control of all insects, including earwigs.

As they are attracted to lights, it might help to reduce some of the lighting outside at night.

Most insecticide treatment should be done outside with application around the building foundation, flower beds, mulch areas and turf within a couple of yards of the building, as well as in the crawl space areas of the home. Treat in a three to six foot band around the building adjacent to the foundation (perimeter treatment) to stop or limit earwigs from getting indoors. Spring and Summer are the best times to apply insecticides.


Sliver Fish

Silverfish is about 1/2 inch long, with a uniform silvery color over the upper surface. Their bodies are long and slender, flattened. The bodies are broad at the front, and gradually tapering toward the rear.
They can be found almost anywhere, but prefer damp, moderate temperature places such as basements, laundry rooms, and under sinks.

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Silverfish Biology and Habits

Silverfish prefer a dark, moist environment and require a large supply of starchy foods or molds.

Silverfish are considered to be nuisance pests that can feed on wallpaper pastes, natural textiles, books, and papers.

Silverfish also feed on mold or fungi that can grow on various surfaces.

They are fast-moving and can travel throughout buildings.
Once silverfish find a good source of food, however, they stay close to it.

Silverfish go through only a three stage life cycle called gradual metamorphosis, while many insects have a four stage life cycle (complete metamorphosis).
Silverfish may lay eggs at any time during the year, and take 19-43 days to hatch.
The life cycle from silverfish egg to adult is three to four months.
They prefer humid areas (75 to 97% humidity), like bathrooms and moderate temperatures (70o to 80o F).

Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas.

Silverfish are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure.
Silverfish can be a problem year round.

are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure. 

Attics are a favorite place for silverfish due to the abundant food sources due to the recycled blown in paper insulation and storage boxes.

You may see silverfish trapped in sinks and bathtubs because they enter
seeking moisture and are unable to climb a slick vertical surface to escape.

Silverfish is about 1/2 inch long, with a uniform silvery color over the upper surface. Their bodies are long and slender, flattened. The bodies are broad at the front, and gradually tapering toward the rear.
They can be found almost anywhere, but prefer damp, moderate temperature places such as basements, laundry rooms, and under sinks.

.

Silverfish Biology and Habits

Silverfish prefer a dark, moist environment and require a large supply of starchy foods or molds.

Silverfish are considered to be nuisance pests that can feed on wallpaper pastes, natural textiles, books, and papers.

Silverfish also feed on mold or fungi that can grow on various surfaces.

They are fast-moving and can travel throughout buildings.
Once silverfish find a good source of food, however, they stay close to it.

Silverfish go through only a three stage life cycle called gradual metamorphosis, while many insects have a four stage life cycle (complete metamorphosis).
Silverfish may lay eggs at any time during the year, and take 19-43 days to hatch.
The life cycle from silverfish egg to adult is three to four months.
They prefer humid areas (75 to 97% humidity), like bathrooms and moderate temperatures (70o to 80o F).

Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas.

Silverfish are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure.
Silverfish can be a problem year round.

are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure. 

Attics are a favorite place for silverfish due to the abundant food sources due to the recycled blown in paper insulation and storage boxes.

You may see silverfish trapped in sinks and bathtubs because they enter
seeking moisture and are unable to climb a slick vertical surface to escape.

Silverfish is about 1/2 inch long, with a uniform silvery color over the upper surface. Their bodies are long and slender, flattened. The bodies are broad at the front, and gradually tapering toward the rear.
They can be found almost anywhere, but prefer damp, moderate temperature places such as basements, laundry rooms, and under sinks.

.

Silverfish Biology and Habits

Silverfish prefer a dark, moist environment and require a large supply of starchy foods or molds.

Silverfish are considered to be nuisance pests that can feed on wallpaper pastes, natural textiles, books, and papers.

Silverfish also feed on mold or fungi that can grow on various surfaces.

They are fast-moving and can travel throughout buildings.
Once silverfish find a good source of food, however, they stay close to it.

Silverfish go through only a three stage life cycle called gradual metamorphosis, while many insects have a four stage life cycle (complete metamorphosis).
Silverfish may lay eggs at any time during the year, and take 19-43 days to hatch.
The life cycle from silverfish egg to adult is three to four months.
They prefer humid areas (75 to 97% humidity), like bathrooms and moderate temperatures (70o to 80o F).

Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas.

Silverfish are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure.
Silverfish can be a problem year round.

are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure. 

Attics are a favorite place for silverfish due to the abundant food sources due to the recycled blown in paper insulation and storage boxes.

You may see silverfish trapped in sinks and bathtubs because they enter
seeking moisture and are unable to climb a slick vertical surface to escape.

  .

Symptoms and Damage of Silverfish:

Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas.

Because they molt during their adult lives their cast skins may be a useful detection too.

Silverfish diets are high in protein, sugar, or starch, including cereals,
moist wheat flour, starch in book bindings, and paper on which there is glue or paste.

Silverfish can damage book bindings, wallpaper, paper goods and dry foods. They may eat holes, irregular shaped in the wallpaper to get to the paste.
Silverfish may bite very small holes in various fabrics, including cotton, linen, and silk, even though they cannot digest either linen or cotton.

Firebrats will feed extensively on rayon, whereas silverfish usually damage it only slightly.

They may leave a yellowish stain on fabric.

Outside, they may be found in nest of insects, birds, mammals, and under tree bark and mulch
They can be found in wood shingles or sidings on houses, they may enter the home from these.

   

RECOMMENDED MEASURES FOR SILVERFISH CONTROL: How to Get Rid of and Kill Silverfish

Sources of any undue moisture, such as faulty plumbing or condensation that provide the humidity favored by these pests should be eliminated.

Dehumidifying reduces the moisture content of the air that these insects find essential. Some methods for dehumidifying include:
Mend leaking pipes.
Ventilate closed rooms and attics.
Eliminate standing water.
Use a dehumidifier an air conditioner.

Mend leaking pipes.
Ventilate closed rooms and attics.
Eliminate standing water.
Use a dehumidifier an air conditioner.