Pest Control Guide to Silverfish

 Silverfish

These prehistoric insects are among the oldest existing creatures on our planet. They are an extremely common and persistent pest, and while they give most people the creeps, they pose no threat to us or our pets. They can, however, damage furnishings in your home by feeding on them.

Preferring warm, humid, dark spaces, they’re often spotted in bathrooms, kitchens, or utility areas, scurrying in a fish-like motion back to nearby cracks and crevices where they nest.

If you're currently dealing with a silverfish infestation, you'll be happy to know that professional treatment is highly cost-efficient and exceptionally effective.

Appearance:

Silverfish range from silver to dark grey in colour and are about 8-12 mm in length. They derive their name from their side-to-side movement and scaly silver appearance, which makes them resemble small fish swimming (we’ll leave that judgment up to you). Silverfish also have long, slender antennae that are about as long as their body, further contributing to their fish-like appearance. These antennae help them navigate dark, tight spaces with ease.

Why do I have silverfish in my house?

Silverfish are one of the most common pests found in homes. They are drawn toward our homes because they offer ideal habitats, providing the right environmental conditions, hiding spaces, and food. As silverfish are attracted to moisture and warmth, bathrooms, kitchens, and hot presses can create ideal nesting points for these pests. For such reasons, water leaks, dampness, or ventilation issues may often precede their presence and/or foster their development. They can enter our homes from soil, overgrowth, leaf piles, mulch deposits, and woodpiles that are too close to the property’s walls. However, they can also be imported on items like cardboard boxes, books, and vintage items. While you can reduce some of the conditions that allow silverfish to enter your home, you can never fully eliminate them. Once you’ve spotted them in your home, your focus should be on extermination and addressing any moisture issues (if present), rather than fixating on their entry, as they will have entered long before the problem became noticeable.

What do silverfish eat?

Silverfish are scavengers that consume a variety of organic materials. They can eat many of the products we eat, but their diet mainly includes:

• Carbohydrates: Silverfish feed on sugars and starches found in various materials such as paper, cardboard, glue, and fabric.

• Cellulose: They consume cellulose-based materials like wallpaper, book bindings, and certain types of fabrics.

• Protein: Silverfish also feed on proteins found in dead insects, hair, and some synthetic fibers.

They are particularly attracted to dark, damp environments and often infest areas like basements, bathrooms, and kitchens where these materials are plentiful.

Lifecycle of silverfish:

It can depend on the particular subspecies, but silverfish can live for up to 8 years! They have no particular mating season, and unlike many other insect species, they can produce eggs all year round. They lay multiple eggs a day, often in clutches of about 20. Once hatched, it only takes about 4 to 6 weeks for a nymph to reach full maturity and begin this cycle again. So, it’s easy to see how they can quickly multiply and persist for years if left untreated.

How to get rid of silverfish:

Silverfish are attracted to damp environments, so the first step is to eliminate excess moisture. Fix any leaks and improve ventilation in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Consider using a dehumidifier in damp areas. Persistent vacuuming will also help reduce eggs and capture some of the pests, remember to pay particular attention to cracks, crevices, beneath furniture and appliances, and book shelves. Once inside, silverfish can be tough to fully eradicate with over-the-counter remedies. This is because silverfish tend to embed themselves and their eggs within hard-to-reach cracks and crevices that such products just won’t reach. Having specialised equipment to penetrate these areas is essential in most cases.

Professional silverfish treatment:

Our silverfish spray treatment overcomes the shortcomings of over-the-counter products, which require multiple applications, extremely long periods to show any significant signs of effectiveness, and can be hazardous. Instead, our spray system penetrates deep into the crevices that harbour silverfish and their eggs, killing them instantly, while also leaving a residual formulation which continues protecting your home for months to come. It’s quick, safe, and cost-effective. An average treatment takes about 1 hour to complete, and you can safely return to the property within 2 hours. Whatever the level of infestation, we have you covered.