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What Is A Silverfish: All Your Silverfish Questions Answered

Small, silvery, metallic body of scales sliding across your bathroom? It might be a silverfish and you could be faced with a silverfish infestation. Naturally, you might be asking yourself (or Google) many questions. What are they, where do they come from, are they dangerous and how do I get rid of them?

To put your mind at rest, silverfish aren’t considered a danger but are a nuisance pest. They don’t carry diseases but can spread germs around your home.

While you wait for pest control to arrive, watch out for your food, as their droppings can contaminate it!

What Do Silverfish Look Like?

If you’re not quite sure what it is that you’ve seen scurrying around, Silverfish are about 1/2 – ¾” in body length, however, their tails and antennas are rather long! Their body is pretty flat looking, tapered from their head to their tip and covered in shiny, silver scales. They don’t have wings. Although they’re not related to fish, their shape, colour and movement resemble their namesake.

Where Do Silverfish Come From?

If you’ve spotted a silverfish or two in your home it’s likely they’ve come in from the cold in search of food and warmth. They could have simply piggybacked their way into your home through your most recent grocery haul too though.

Bathroom silverfish won’t crawl through drains and pipework but find their way into your bathroom through cracks and crevices. If you find bathroom silverfish, they may have migrated from other areas or entry points in your home.

Remember, although a nuisance, they’re not harmful to humans. They’ve been around since prehistoric times (sharing Earth with the dinosaurs); but don’t worry they may have been around a while, that’s not to say they’ll hang around once a silverfish exterminator is on their case.

What Attracts Silverfish?

They like to nest in dark and moist environments with high humidity. You’re likely to find them in dark damp spaces like attics, sheds, basements, bathrooms, and kitchens, anywhere they can avoiding sunlight. Moist entry points (often caused by water damage) are a silverfish welcome wagon into your home. Their arrival could also signify a water issue in your home albeit a damaged pipe or outside moisture making its way into your home.

However they’ve arrived, we understand the stresses of their presence; for efficient silverfish removal in the North of England, VermEx silverfish pest control are on hand for expert extermination. Call us on 01904 798676 or use our contact form and we’ll get back to you.

What Do Silverfish Eat?

Silverfish find sustenance in chewing on starchy, sugary things (not just food) like wallpaper, surfaces with glues, starched clothing, paper, flour, oats, vegetables etc. Keep an eye on books, damp paper and places where you store fresh and dry food. Their chewing often destroys clothing, books and wallpaper.

Why Do I Have Silverfish?

If you have food or areas of dampness you could, without knowing, attract silverfish into your home. They’re simply looking for a warm, moist environment with sustenance to live and breed. They’ve not targeted your home for any other reason than food and shelter.

Their small size and fast movement mean they’re able to move quickly in small spaces, cracks, and gaps in structures. As mentioned before they can always make their way in through other means, be it groceries or firewood. They love warm and damp so it’s best to keep an eye on rooms that check these boxes (check food boxes too – flour, oats, cereals, dry pet food, etc). Use a dehumidifier and let hot, wet air out.

Check the areas surrounding your home too, if they’re in your home, it’s easy to assume they’re outside it too.

Do Silverfish Bite?

Creepy looking yes. Bite? No. They don’t bite but will usually slip away quickly when exposed to sunlight or disturbed.

Should I Be Worried?

Silverfish might defecate in your food and destroy clothing, carpets, wallpaper and books but this usually occurs in cases of extreme/prolonged infestation. Otherwise, they don’t bite, or carry diseases, but can spread germs.

When reaching the adult stage female silverfish lay eggs often, laying them in cracks in your home, hatching after three weeks. A small problem can become worse without you even seeing the effects for weeks on end as eggs mature.

It’s important to get the issue of a single silverfish or silverfish infestation under control with fast pest elimination professionals. You don’t want them causing damage to your home as they multiply, nibbling their way through your fabrics and wallpaper.

How Do I Get Rid Of Silverfish?

If you spot a silverfish in your home or are experiencing a silverfish infestation:

  • Get all surfaces clean and clear – removing clutter and storing food properly
  • Vacuum behind large kitchen and laundry room/pantry appliances (washing machines, ovens, fridge-freezers, etc)
  • Place dry bay leaves throughout your home to deter silverfish 
  • Block any entry points and cracks in your walls
  • Use cedar oil around your home – fill a spray bottle and spray infested areas
  • Call silverfish pest control –  permanently eliminate silverfish from your home

 

The VermEx team, experts in dealing with silverfish and other common pests, are ready to help. We offer reliable and efficient silverfish extermination and removal services in North England. Call 01904 798676 for a free survey or contact us online to schedule a service today.