Silverfish

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Last revised: 6 October 2008

A Picture of a Silver Fish

Description

Silverfish are about ½ inch long and are silvery grey in colour.

They eat a wide variety of foods including glue, wallpaper paste, book bindings, paper, photographs, starch in clothing, cotton, linen, rayon, wheat flour, cereals, dried meats, leather and even dead insects.

Distribution

Silverfish live and develop in damp, cool places such as basements and laundry rooms. Sometimes you will see them in the bathtub or sink, unable to climb out.

Outdoors they can be found under rocks, bark and leaf mould and in ant, bird or animal nests. They usually come into the home in food, furniture, old books or papers. They are hardy and can live without food for many months. They are harmless but can be a nuisance.

Life Cycle

Silverfish females may lay over 100 eggs during a lifetime. Eggs hatch in

three to six weeks. Adults may live from two to eight years.

Significance

Silverfish are active at night and hide during the day. When objects are moved where they are hiding, they dart out and seek new hiding places.

Control Methods

You could use a residual insecticide, which you can buy from hardware or

DIY stores. Treatment needs to be applied to all possible hiding places

such as cracks, crevices, inside floor mouldings, around heating and hot

water pipes, in and behind furniture, cupboards, even attics.

Remove old boxes and stacks of papers, magazines, books and fabrics. Often reducing available water and lowering the humidity in the home with dehumidifiers and fans can help. Repair leaking plumbing and make sure areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms are well ventilated.

Keeping your home clean and free from damp will help prevent reinfestation.

The Council does not treat for silverfish infestations and for professional treatment you should approach an independent pest Control Company, details of which can be found in local telephone directories and Yellow Pages.