How to Eradicate Silverfish from a Home or Building

Aptly named due to their shiny, sliver or pearl gray appearance, silverfish are small, wingless insects that can infest a home. These insects are usually 15mm to 25mm in length, and they can cause significant damage to a home or building. The favorite food of the silverfish is carbohydrates. They feed on foods such as sugar, flour, dry cereal, and rolled oats. In addition to food substances, silverfish also consume starches in clothes, glue or paste on paper, and household dust or debris. Silverfish can cause damage to clothes, books, wallpaper and curtains. Identifying these pests and eradicating them can be somewhat complicated due to their nocturnal nature.

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The Lifecycle of the Silverfish –

Female silverfish prefer to lay their eggs in places such as crevices or on cloth. They will often bury their eggs in food or dust as well. The temperature will effect how quickly these eggs will hatch. When temperatures are cooler, the eggs of the silverfish can remain dormant for as long as six weeks. When temperatures begin to rise, the eggs will begin to hatch. Generally, silverfish eggs hatch is 32 days or less. Throughout their nymph and adult lives, silverfish prefer warm, damp places. Their ideal temperatures range from 71 degrees up to 90 degrees. However, to survive in hotter environments, silverfish need the relative humidity to be 75 percent or greater. In favorable conditions, silverfish can live up to 3 years. Silver fish can be challenging to eradicate from an infested building or home despite the fact that females only lay eggs in very small batches.

Recommended Silverfish Treatment Methods –

Because silverfish are nocturnal, their presence may be difficult to determine. Retaining the services of a pest control specialist may be necessary. In the event silverfish are found, the most appropriate form of treatment designed to exterminate these pests is either spraying or dusting using chemicals. Chemicals can be applied through surface dusting to areas in which the silverfish will have a tendency dwell or run. For more confined areas, a spray may be more effective. Property owners should endeavour to remove all exposed food sources once the building or home has been treated by a professional pest control company. Routine cleaning as well as dehumidifying and ventilating damp areas can help prevent future silverfish infestations.