Common Pest: Silverfish

Nocturnal by nature and known for their destructive feeding habits, silverfish are teardrop-shaped insects ranging in color from white or brown to bluish-gray and measure up to a full inch in length. Though they are similar in size and shape to firebrats, silverfish get their name from their color and resemblance to a fish.

Silverfish are most often associated with homes or buildings near a body of water like a river, stream, or pond. Silverfish live and breed in attics and various places throughout a home, though they prefer extreme temperatures like that of an attic. Although they are suited for most climates, silverfish prefer dark and humid areas like attics, basements, kitchens and bathrooms. Paper and damp clothing are attractive to the insects, and they often take up residence in storage units, garages and sheds. These insects are commonly found in dresser drawers, as well as closets. A female silverfish produces around 100 eggs in her lifetime and tends to hide them in cracks and other difficult-to-reach places. Silverfish nymphs hatch fully formed, and except for color and size, look like their adult counterparts.

Silverfish primarily eat carbohydrates and like starches and sugar in particular. They synthesize protein from material made from natural (plant and animal) sources. Book bindings, linen, clothes, cotton, and silk are prime targets for their voracious appetite. Silverfish are regarded as particularly destructive to stored foods. Silverfish move quickly, avoid humans and reproduce rapidly, often allowing many infestations to go unnoticed until they are truly severe. Silverfish may chew holes in wallpaper and clothing, which are often the first signs of a silverfish infestation that homeowners notice. Homeowners may spot silverfish in bathtubs and sinks because they become trapped when seeking a moisture source. They walk down the tub or sink, consume the residue found at the drain and can’t climb out because the sides are too slick. They are also found under bookshelves, and any other dark or humid area where they sometimes leave yellow stains.

The easiest way to prevent a silverfish infestation is to deprive them of their favorite foods and habitat by controlling humidity and keeping a house or storage area clean to prevent feeding sites. However, once a silverfish infestation takes hold, a homeowner must turn to a pest control expert. Traps and other home remedies prove only temporarily effective for treating silverfish infestations. These methods only kill the insects but do not destroy the eggs. To completely eliminate a silverfish infestation, the adults, nymphs and eggs must all be targeted at once. This is a job best left to a silverfish and pest extermination professional. Given the fast-paced and destructive habits of silverfish, a homeowner or business owner should waste no time contacting a local pest control expert at the first signs of infestation before costly damage occurs.

Residents or business owners who suspect a silverfish infestation should retain the services of the professional exterminators at Bugs by Brian. Professional silverfish extermination service begins with a thorough examination of the household or business. Once the infestation is controlled, our expert exterminators can help homeowners and business owners make an effective plan to prevent the silverfish problem from recurring.