Otherwise known as ‘fishmoths’ (due to their fish-like movements and silvery light grey and blue color), these small, wingless pests are after the glues and pastes in the bindings of your magazines, books and papers. Although they are also quite fond of carbohydrates such as sugar, starches, and cereals, it’s the valuable documents, fabrics, prints and etchings they attack which cause the most concern to the homeowner. Silverfish enjoy moisture and because there is little molding behind which they can hide and the smooth bowl of wash basins or bathtubs make it difficult for them to get out, they are often spotted in bathrooms.

Silverfish are known as one of the most primitive of all insects. Some believe they evolved even before the cockroach. These insects are certainly long lived, known to survive for several years. Carrot-shaped, long and slender, these bugs are wide at the front-end and more narrow at the rear. Usual size is between a half to a full inch long with short legs, long slender antennae and three tail-like appendages called bristletails at the end of the body. There are 13 known species of silverfish in the United States, most of which can be found indoors, while a number of species establish themselves in the nests of ants, termites and birds. Silverfish prefer warm and temperate climates with lots of humidity. They can be found in basements and around water pipes and are commonly brought into new homes in cardboard cartons and books and papers that have come from infested sites. It is uncommon to find these insects outdoors.

Bringing about a change in the environment and effectively eradicating moisture in the immediate area of infestation will reduce potential harborages for these pests.

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of Silverfish. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations.

Silverfish are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should silverfish come crawling.

The body of the flea appears to be well adapted for forward movement. Dark colored adults are flattened from side to side with many bristles or ctenidia that point backwards and facilitate forward movement through fur, hair, or feathers. Fleas are wingless creatures, with strongly developed legs and hind legs that are especially adapted for jumping (and dancing, apparently!). Their sucking mouthparts also make them well equipped for a parasitic lifestyle on many animals and birds.

While difficult for some of us to imagine, some individuals become accustomed to fleas and are not disturbed by them in the least! Others are extremely irritated by the mere presence of fleas, let alone their painful bites. Fleas are common in the United States because of the even temperatures and high humidity. Newcomers are especially susceptible to flea bites, even though some individuals have to be bitten repeatedly to become sensitive to the bites, and often become immune after being bitten over a long period of time. Flea bites may be mistaken for a rash but various cooling preparations will often give relief to those who are sensitive to the bite.

Since the tendency of the flea is to feed on several different species of animals, it is prone to carry disease from one animal to another, for example, from rat to man. The flea life cycle varies according to the living conditions. In hot weather and with no blood to feed upon, fleas may live from two to five days. However, when fleas have a blood source to feed upon, they may live for a month to almost a year!

Keeping the health of the occupants of your home or structure as the first priority, we offer several different approved pest control techniques for the treatment of Fleas. These methods may include handspraying, dusting, fogging, baiting and the use of residual crack and crevice aerosol products among other treatments. Because each occurrence is different, treatments will be employed as applicable in specific situations. IGR (Insect Growth Regulators) are used to disrupt the life cycle of the eggs and larvae so they cannot grow to become biting adults. Once adult fleas have mated, the female flea will not lay eggs until she has a blood meal. Fleas can get their blood meal from a variety of sources. Rat or cat fleas may attack humans who come into a house where the preferred host has been removed.

Fleas are an unwelcome sight and can be unnerving, disrupting your peaceful home or building. It is for this reason that we suggest a recurring service plan for residential or commercial properties. This will maintain a healthy barrier around your structure should fleas come crawling.