Silverfish are small wingless insects that measure about 1-3 inches long. They have a segmented body and three pairs of legs on each side. Silverfish feed mostly on paper products such as books, maps, and wallpaper paste; however, they also eat other organic materials like cotton clothing or silk curtains. These pests can be found worldwide and reproduce rapidly in moist environments with high humidity levels (i.e., bathrooms or kitchens).
Silverfish are not harmful to humans but will scare some people because of their unusual appearance and habit of running away when disturbed. If silverfish are found in abundance, they can do damage to upholstery, wallpaper, and clothing. In this blog, we will know more about these little pests, where they come from, are harmful, and of course, how to get rid of them.
What Do Silverfish Look Like?
Silverfish look like long, gray, segmented, insect-like creatures with two antennae and three pairs of legs. They have a long tail at the end, which helps them balance. They move very fast and can live for about two to eight years.
Silverfish eat a very wide range of materials. They also like to eat animal fibers such as wool and silk. They may eat carpet, wallpaper, clothing, starchy foods, or paper items such as books and photographs. Some silverfish eat dead insects and other arthropods.
Silverfish gets its name from the fishlike appearance of their slender abdomens which are bent at almost a right angle to their backs. The abdomen is soft and wormlike. Their tails are curved. Silverfish can be in several different colors, including silverish yellow, white and blue-gray.
Silverfish are nocturnal insects that hide during the day and come out at night to search for food. A female silverfish lays eggs in a small cavity of its hiding places where it can absorb water from paper products until they hatch within a month.
Where Do Silverfish Come From?
Silverfish can come from many different places. Silverfish are pesky little creatures that live under rocks and logs but prefer dark, damp places. They can often sneak into your home or apartment through open windows and doors, or they may be picked up on your clothes while you’re out having fun.
Silverfish are insects that belong to the order Thysanura and the superfamily Lepidoptera. Generally, they are found in areas like dark corners of homes and attics where humidity is needed.
These wingless insects can cause minor damage to items by eating off the binders and book covers. They also produce an unpleasant odor due to their waste. People who have them usually complain of an itchy sensation around the neck or head. Silverfish are more often found in places with high humidity, like basements and bathrooms.
Are Silverfish Infestations Harmful?
Silverfish are insects that belong to the order Thysanura and the superfamily Lepidoptera. Generally, they are found in areas like dark corners of homes and attics where humidity is needed. These wingless insects can cause minor damage to items by eating off the binders and book covers. They also produce an unpleasant odor due to their waste. People who have them usually complain of an itchy sensation around the neck or head. Silverfish are more often found in places with high humidity, like basements and bathrooms.
Silverfish are not dangerous to humans or pets but can become a major nuisance. They eat glue from books & wallpaper, which helps them wedge themselves into tight places within your home.
Silverfish consume starch and proteins hair, silk, cotton, and linen. The insects can eat through the paper if their population is high enough. They use the holes they make to breathe and lay eggs in them. Silverfish are only active at night, which adds to their discoloration. Some people even mistake them for cockroaches. They cannot climb on smooth surfaces and do not bite humans.
How to Get Rid of Silverfish?
To get rid of silverfish, you need to find their hiding spot then clean it thoroughly. You can also kill them by using vinegar or any other cleaning solution that contains ammonia. Make sure that the place where you put the vinegar is not more than fifty centimeters away from the silverfish and spray it for fifteen minutes at least.
To kill silverfish with ammonia, you have to put it in a spray bottle and spray it on their hiding spots. Silverfish can be killed with boiling water as well. So, if you want to get rid of silverfish without chemicals, make sure to boil some water and pour it into the problem spot, or use any other kind of chemical-free solution. You should also eliminate other insects that silverfish eat because the more food they have, the better.
Silverfish are attracted to warmth, so be sure to clean places that are not heated in winter and close your windows tightly. This way, you will decrease the number of potential silverfish havens in your house.
If nothing works, you can always use some traps or baits. If you want to get rid of silverfish using the trap option, place a bowl with molasses inside it at night and collect all of them in the morning. Place some pieces of adhesive tape on the floor near your bed so that no silverfish will ever crawl there again. You can also use a silverfish trap, a small plastic box with a chemical inside it that attracts silverfish and kills them.
If you want to get rid of silverfish in your kitchen, bathroom, or other room, choose bait. There are many baits for silverfish on the market, but if you don’t want to buy them, you can just go and do some shopping: bread, pasta, and sugar are perfect for silverfish. Then, just place the bait on a corner of the room and wait until they crawl into it.
Last but not least, if you are still finding it difficult to control your silverfish, then call a professional.