What are Silverfish

Silverfish are insects that are also known as Lepismodes Glitellius. They are in the Thysanura order of the insect. While silverfish eat foods high in carbohydrates, protein is what their bodies mainly use for energy.

Silverfish look similar to fish in appearance because of the way they wiggle and swim instead of fly. They are about 1/2 to 3/4 inches long, which is exceedingly difficult to notice as they look like a dark-coloured piece of lint. Their colour ranges from silver, gray or white with 2 antennae and additional legs called cerci under their abdomen.

The silverfish life cycle starts with the female who will lay eggs and then they hatch into larvae. The larvae stay as larvae for about a month and then they turn into pupae and enter the cocoon stage. The adults emerge from the cocoons in about two weeks, leaving the empty casing behind.

A female will lay anywhere from 100-400 eggs, and they will hatch within 30 days. The silverfish live up to 3 years. The silverfish breed quickly because of their short life cycle and their reproductive capabilities.

Silverfish larvae are whitish, about 1/4 inches long, and have three pairs of legs. They feed on the same type of material as the adults which is paper and glue.

The silverfish life cycle lasts from 3 to 6 months depending on what environment they live in. Silverfish can be found anywhere buildings exist such as basements, bathrooms, walls, or attics. They are also found in moist climates.

The silverfish infestation will not go away by themselves because they reproduce so quickly. If you suspect that you have a silverfish infestation, it is best to call a pest control expert as soon as possible for treatment before the numbers increase and spread throughout your home.

Once the first silverfish is seen, a house owner must recognize that it is a problem for their home and should immediately treat it. This insect is extremely hard to get rid of, so the longer someone waits the more silverfish that will enter their home.

In order to treat a silverfish infestation, a house owner must call a pest control expert for treatment.

One way to get rid of silverfish is by learning what attracts them into your house and getting rid of those to prevent a silverfish problem from coming back. So, what attracts them? Check out the things below:

Knowing what attracts these pests and even other pests helps in identifying the right methods to take to repel silverfish and control silverfish infestation.

Silverfish are not known to carry or spread disease. However, they do significant damage to paper products.

During the daytime, these insects hide in dark areas such as crevices, cracks, corners, and closets. In homes, they are commonly found hiding in books, shirt pockets, behind wallpaper, baseboards, and carpeting. They may go away for a few weeks or months at a time but eventually will return.

In order to better understand these insects, it is helpful to know where they come from and that is tropical rain forests. Silverfish are found throughout the world as well as in North America.

In their natural environment, silverfish eat decaying leaves and plants but in human surroundings, they will eat anything that contains starch. They are nocturnal insects which means they only feed at night and hide in dark places during the day.

Silverfish come from warm and humid climates where there are steady food sources. They prefer to live in damp areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and attics.

They can survive in most conditions, but they do have some limitations that prevent them from being able to live in certain places. Silverfish can not survive extremely cold temperatures, dry climates, and places without a ready food source.

These insects can be found anywhere in a building because of their ability to enter through any opening larger than 1/32 inches. Silverfish prefer areas with high moisture levels, but it is important to note that they can survive in drier climates as long as the humidity is above 50%.

Silverfish are hardy insects; they can live for months without any food.

If you see silverfish in your home, they already have laid eggs and it is an innovative idea to hire an exterminator for treatment. When inspecting items that may be affected by silverfish, look for the following signs of damage:

If you detect the presence of silverfish in your home, call a pest control professional for treatment as soon as possible because their larvae are most damaging to fabric items and things like wallpaper and glue.

The best way to kill silverfish is to call a pest control expert. Like other types of insects, it is not recommended that you treat silverfish by yourself because there are too many areas in your home where they can hide and enter.

While killing silverfish with chemicals works effectively for a short-term solution, it will not take care of the problem eventually; if the source of the infestation is not taken care of, silverfish will eventually come back into your home.

While different pesticides work best on each type of insect, the most effective over-the-counter bug killers for controlling silverfish are hydramethylnon and boric acid. These chemicals are food additives that insects consume which kill them slowly and effectively.

You can purchase bug sprays that contain either one of these chemicals and spray it on silverfish, but make sure to read all warning labels before you treat the infestation and always wear protective gear when using any pesticides.

While there are many diverse types of deterrents for silverfish, they will not work as long as a professional pesticide treatment.

For temporary relief, you can place bay leaves in your pantry which deters the silverfish by giving off a strong scent. Repel these insects with cedar oil or peppermint oil; both of these agents are natural insect repellents that make areas intolerable for silverfish to enter.

Although there is no completely safe way of getting rid of silverfish, you can reduce their numbers by cleaning your home regularly and sealing cracks and crevices where they may enter.

Silverfish are attracted to areas with moisture, so you must find the source of an infestation quickly. If there is a leak in your plumbing or anywhere else in your home; fix it immediately because this attracts silverfish.

Even if you find a way to kill all of the silverfish inside your home, it is almost impossible to keep them from coming back over time. Silverfish take 30 days after hatching before they become sexually mature and reproduce, which means that you will not see a decrease the silverfish population for at least that long. Unless you seal all possible entrances and take care of the source of an infestation, they will come back and more will soon follow.

Below are some products we recommend to control silverfish infestations:

If there is an existing silverfish infestation in your home, the following are some tips that you can try to kill silverfish and get rid of them.

Try these tips and see if your silverfish infestation will finally end and avoid another infestation from happening. However, if you end up with large infestations, calling pest control experts can be your last resort.

Once you have resolved the issue, it is recommended that you observe different ways to prevent silverfish and other pests from coming back. Check out the following:

If you see signs of silverfish contact a pest control professional for treatment immediately.