When we are discussing the control of insect pests, there is one very important concept that must always be kept in mind: we will never be truly “free” of insect pests; they will always be present in some sort of numbers within our houses. Decades of war against insect pests have proven this beyond a shadow of doubt; some of the most toxic substances known to man have been used in the battle, and yet theses insect pests persist, many of them stronger than before. In waging this kind of pest warfare, humans have only damaged ourselves and our environment.

 

Integrated pest management means identifying the best ways of dealing with pests and then using the least toxic methods available to control their numbers. The best way to manage pest populations, of course, is to control their numbers through preventative measures.

The silverfish is a great example of an insect pest that is adaptable yet for the most part harmless, as long as its numbers are kept in check. Here are a few ways in which you can ensure that the silverfish population in your home does not grow to infestation numbers.

 

* Regularly clean spare rooms and areas. Silverfish require a humid and hidden area in which to lay their eggs and reproduce. Silverfish infestations will rarely start in the main rooms of your house, which you probably clean regularly. Instead, they are likely to occur in attics, closets, and spare bedrooms where you may not look or clean frequently. A regularly scheduled cleaning of these rooms will mean the silverfish are denied the spaces in which they can lay their eggs.

* Clean any spills, particularly in the bathroom. Silverfish are very drawn to toiletries. The high fibre content in our every day bathroom products is an ideal food for them, and the fact that a bathroom provides a great humid atmosphere makes it even more likely that this will be the main feeding area for these insect pests. Make sure that any toothpaste and other toiletries that you may have spilled get cleaned up before providing a few dozen silverfish their meals!

* Keep rooms ventilated. There should be windows and open doors in every room in your house, particularly bathrooms. When the rooms are not in use, keep the doors open. This will prevent the build up of that temperate climate that silverfish thrive in.

 

Obviously, some areas of the country will be more affected by silverfish numbers than others. Humid areas are much more likely to have silverfish problems, and in these areas there will be no way to get rid of every single silverfish in the house. Follow some basic prevention guidelines, though, and the silverfish problem will be one that remains small.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 7:09 am and is filed under Natural Pest Control. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.