How To Get Rid Of Fish Moths In South Africa
What are Fish Moths?
Fish moths (silverfish) is a tiny wingless insect, silver-blue in colour, scales on exterior and movement similar to that of a fish. It is among those small active insects that have two or three bristles at the end of their abdomen. They can be seen in kitchen, bathroom, laundry rooms, and spaces with moisture. They are not harmful to humans. They live on food items like sugar, flour, cereals, wallpaper, and clothes. The first step that should be taken is to make sure that you remove the food fish moths live off. If you need to keep these items then pack them in a sealed container.
How To Get Rid Of Fish Moths In South Africa
Follow these straightforward instructions to get rid of fish moths quickly and easily:
- Keep food closed. Food is a big attraction for fish moths so one of the easiest things you can do is always keep food containers firmly closed and clean up crumbs quickly. Systematically go through your kitchen (and anywhere else food might be lurking) to remove spoiled food and transfer any open food items to sealable containers.
- Reduce humidity levels. Fish moths like moisture so reducing humidity in your home can help keep them out. Consider buying a dehumidifier to draw moisture from the air but don’t neglect general home maintenance either – make sure your water pipes and roof aren’t leaking, seal up any cracks in the walls, and ensure that your gutters are nice and clear.
- Declutter crowded spaces. Make sure you’re not providing a friendly environment for fish moths to set-up their own homes by keeping hold of clutter. Magazines or books left in damp areas are the ideal home for fish moths so minimise the amount of paper you keep around the house, especially in rooms like the bathroom or kitchen where moisture levels will be higher.
Home Remedies or Natural Ways of Getting Rid of Fish Moths
Cinnamon
Not only will your home smell lovely form the cinnamon fragrance, but it will also keep these pests from entering your home. Place cinnamon sticks in the drawers, kitchen cupboards, bathroom, and book shelves.
Citrus Fruits Peels
Citrus fruits serve as an excellent fish moth repellent. Lemon, lime and orange peels in particularcan prove to be very useful. Place these peels in the areas you suspect to see them. You will however have to keep changing the peels on a regular basis.
Naphthalene (Moth) Balls
Naphthalene (Moth) balls can be kept in the clothing to get rid of fish moths. Place them in your closet and book shelfs. The scent of moth balls is so irresistible; therefore they will die when coming into contact with these balls.
Cucumber
This is probably one of the best home DIY insect repellents on the market. Cucumber peels will repel fish moths (silverfish) from accessing your home. Place some thick pieces of cucumber peel at the places from where they may enter.
Cloves
Cloves contain Eugenol, a natural repellent which is used to get rid of most pests in your home. You can use whole cloves to get rid of fish moths naturally. You can place these whole cloves in all the damp and dark areas in your home. Fish moths cannot stand the scent of cloves hence they will not enter your dwelling.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I use to get rid of fish moths?
Cedar and lavender are great natural deterrents of Fish moths. They give off gasses that are unpleasant and poisonous to fish moth. Cut up old stockings and fill them with a combination of the two and hang them in your wardrobe. This should drive the fish moths out.
What attracts fish moths?
What attracts fish moths to my home? Fish moths love areas that are warm and moist. Always clean up any spills and that there are no moist areas in your home. This includes areas such as bathroom, underneath the sink, and around pipes.
How do you get rid of moths and silverfish?
Regularly inspect and vacuum clean these areas. Clean woolen clothing, furs or blankets that are to be stored between seasons, and place them in sealed plastic bags. Camphor, mothballs or pest strips can be used to deter these pests in storage areas such as linen cupboards and wardrobes.
Does lavender oil repel fish moths?
Use lavender or citrus essential oil(a spray that can help repel fish moths). These sprays can be used in closets, drawers, and other bedroom areas.
What essential oil gets rid of silverfish?
The strong aroma of peppermint oil, like that of lavender oil, is enough to repel silverfish. In fact, most essential oils have insect-repelling properties because of their concentrated odor. Essential oils of tea tree, cinnamon, and eucalyptus are some other great options to eliminate silverfish
Why do I have so many silverfish?
Silverfish are sensitive to moisture and need high levels of humidity (above 75 percent) to survive, so they’re attracted to humid, damp conditions. You can find often find silverfish in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages and cabinets
Should I be worried if I see one silverfish?
If you see one silverfish, there is a good chance there are hundreds living in your walls. A single female can lay 100 eggs in her lifetime and it only take 3 months from egg to adult. It doesn’t take long for silverfish populations to get out of hand.
What Problems Do Silverfish Cause?
Silverfish feed on starchy materials and items that are high in protein. They are active at night and cause damage to books, stored food, and clothing. While these insects do cause problems, silverfish are not harmful to human health and do not carry any diseases.
How do I protect my clothes from silverfish?
Cedar and lavender emit a smell that is noxious to silverfish, and will prevent them from eating your clothes. These aromas act as a natural moth and bug repellent. Try adding Lavender Pouch to your garment storage to drive them away, and spritz items often with our Wool & Cashmere Spray, which has a cedar-based scent.
How does vinegar get rid of moths?
Create a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. 3. Spray the solution over all affected areas and wipe the solution inside cabinets and drawers, drawer slides and liners, and undersides of shelves, making sure you go over the corners, edges and nooks well.
Does bleach get rid of silverfish?
Walls of areas where silverfish are present can be sprayed with a mixture of two parts water and one part bleach. Bleach and hot water can be poured down drains to kill any of the insects that may be lurking in pipes.
What smell do silverfish hate?
Silverfish hate the smell of citrus, cinnamon and lavender. If you are looking to repel them naturally, a great idea is to use essential oils to clean your home or as a home fragrance (such as candles and diffusers) to keep them away.
What smells do moths hate?
Moths and other insects are repelled by the pheromones in cedar. Combine dried, crushed, and powdered herbs. Combine the following in a bag that you can hang anywhere you keep clothes or food: lavender, bay leaves, cloves, rosemary, and thyme. Moths also hate the odors of these herbs.
Do silverfish mean your house is dirty?
You might be happy to learn that silverfish are not necessarily a sign of a dirty house. However, they can be a sign of underlying problems. Silverfish love warm and damp areas, and this is generally not what you want in your home.
Why do I keep finding silverfish in my house?
If there’s moisture and starch, you’ll likely also find a silverfish. These bugs love dark and damp places, like basements. Humid bathrooms are also a large draw, as are kitchens where food is found.
Do silverfish come up through drains?
Because they’re often found here, as well as around drains in sinks and bathtubs, or around floor grates, many have concluded that silverfish come into the home via wastewater in sewage pipes.