Identifying Silverfish, Earwigs, Bristletails, and Firebrats

Back in the day, when you were a child, may just be one of the only times you thought bugs were cool. If you were that kid, you thought it was fun to see a squiggly bug go by and possibly made up a name for one to keep as a pet. Chances are, at the time you weren’t too adept at identifying silverfish, earwigs, bristletails, and firebrats.

Today, being the adult you are, you probably don’t still think identifying silverfish and other bugs is rad. Plus, taking the time to fill your brain with which bug is which goes all the way to the bottom of that to-do list. If you are a bug enthusiast like us here at Kapture Pest Control, you are well-educated on every bug known. We understand the chances of this are slim and the great news is we don’t expect you to know all about the pests lurking in your home. Honestly, we get calls all day from our favorite customers and from new ones that want their bug problems fixed.

When we ask, “what does it look like?” to try and get an idea of what we’re going to be dealing with, we get all kinds of answers. That is O.K. because most of them look the same. That is why we are here. To answer your questions, take care of your concerns, and of course come kill all the bugs!

Certain groups of bugs have many of the same features and hang out in some of the same places. It’s a guarantee that you have seen one if you have left those damp towels in your laundry room too long or if you enjoy any type of gardening in New Jersey. Our team receives calls daily from customers needing help identifying silverfish, earwigs, bristletails, and firebrats. These bugs look alike with their alien-like appearance but are different in many ways. Seeing one of these scurrying under your feet will send you jumping because they are experts at hide-and-seek with built-in super speed. At Kapture, we are experts in identifying silverfish, earwigs, bristletails, and firebrats and are trained to know how to stop them from sneaking up on you. Here are some insights on what these pests look like, where they hide, what they love to eat, and how to get rid of them.

Identifying Silverfish

Silverfish are not part of the fish family but are flat, gray, and funny-looking. When looking at it quickly, it will almost look like a minnow with legs. Identifying silverfish is easy because they have a sheen to them like fish do, so when they move from side to side it looks like a fish swimming. Silverfish also have two extremely long antennas and three tail-like features in the back. You might think the tail looks like a stinger, but don’t worry it isn’t; they are just for looks. Silverfish are notorious for hiding out in damp places or inside books and old clothes. If you are a bookworm, you may have some company. These little guys enjoy books too! They get deep into the story so much that they crave the paper as a snack! Ever wondered why you see little holes or torn edges in a book? Silverfish!

Identifying Earwigs

Earwigs are scary little devils that are brown, shiny, and have pinchers on their back end. With the head of an ant, the body of a silverfish, and pinchers like a big black pincher beetle, they look like something that just came out of your nightmares. Speaking of nightmares, earwigs have a history that has created their very own urban legend. Legend has it that earwigs love to crawl deep into the ears of humans to use their pinchers as a way to eat at your brain. Don’t be fooled by this story—earwigs are harmless, although a bit scary looking. If you see one running around it’s likely because it’s living around plants, wood piles, or other damp areas like basements. Earwigs love eating plants and are known well by New Jersey’s finest gardeners.

Identifying Bristletails

Bristletails are closely related to silverfish by their appearance. They are big, brown, and will have you seeing double. Bristletails and silverfish are not quite twins, but almost although bristletails are much bigger than silverfish. Their bodies are more of a tube-like shape instead of a flat body type. Bristletails look more brown in color than silver and tend to enjoy their time outdoors versus being stuck in a book or a leaking bathroom. The tail-like appendages that stick straight out of the back of the bristletails are a lot like the silverfish. It may seem like it has a stinger but have no fear because looks can be deceiving. If you spot a bristletail scurrying around it will typically be around leaves, in-between bark on a tree, or you have picked up a rock and disturbed it snoozing.

Identifying Firebrats

Firebrats are faster, smaller, cousins to silverfish. They live up to their name by loving heat (that’s the fire) and by being annoying destroyers. Do you remember the cousin you had growing up who would come over to your house and trash your room? That’s where the brat comes in the name. Moving on, identifying firebrats can be tricky because they look very similar to silverfish and bristletails except they are more slender, smaller, and have a hairy appearance. These reckless thieves are found hiding in warm areas that give off humidity, such as around a hot water heater or oven. Firebrats enjoy a good book too but like eating away at the thicker material found in the bindings of books. These pests also mess things up in homes by causing damage due to their cravings for cellulose. Cellulose is a fancy word for starch in all its forms, such as flour in your pantry, sticky stuff on wallpaper, and even in clothing. These little bugs mean business.

How We Identify Silverfish and Other Bugs

Hopefully, this has enlightened you on the basics when it comes to identifying silverfish, earwigs, bristletails, and firebrats. They all may look alike, but there is no doubt they have distinct differences. This means treatment will also look a little different as well. It can be impossible to know what product works on what bug unless you’ve read up on your bug knowledge. Our treatment plans at Kapture are targeted and not a one-size-fits-all approach. We will work with you on how to be proactive by pointing out hot spots around your home and ways to keep those spots free of whatever is attracting the bugs. Whether it’s checking to see that moisture is not entering your home by sealing off windows and doors or making sure there are no leaks under any sinks. We also monitor the outside of your home and will suggest solutions to keep these bugs away. This could involve moving a wood pile further out from the side of your house or checking that plants are taken care of properly. Kapture guarantees that our technicians have your whole property in mind when creating a treatment plan. This includes securing time to visit routinely for any pest maintenance that needs to be taken care of in-between visits. Kapture understands that time is precious and better spent on things you enjoy; identifying silverfish and other bugs don’t have to be one of those things. Reach out to us anytime to take care of the bug navigation for you. It is our pleasure!

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