S & W Pest Management Inc : Insect Guide

Pest Guide » Occasional Pests » Silverfish:

Silverfish
Order Thysanura
Color: Shiny grey or silver
Legs: 6
Shape: Oval; round when rolled up
Size: 1/2"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No

Silverfish eat a wide variety of foods, including glue, wallpaper paste, bookbindings, paper, photographs, starch in clothing, cotton, linen, rayon fabrics, wheat flour, cereals, dried meats, leather, molds and even dead insects. Silverfish often live in damp, cool places such as basements and laundry rooms. Sometimes, they are found in a bathtub, sink or washbasin, unable to climb out.

Silverfish live in cracks and voids and are commonly found in larger numbers in attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Homes with cedar shake roofs seem to experience more serious infestations of silverfish. This may be due to the additional molds that form on this type of shingle.

Prevention:

Be sure to remove old stacks of newspapers, magazines, papers, books and fabrics plus foodstuffs spilled and stored for long periods of time.
Reduce available water and lower home's relative humidity with dehumidifiers and fans is helpful.
Repair leaking plumbing and eliminate moisture around laundry areas.
Lighting a dark, sheltered area may force these insects to move to new sites where they can be controlled more easily.
Once the infestation has been eliminated, sanitation will help prevent reinfestation.

If you would like to make an appointment with S & W Pest Management, please fill out the online appointment form or call 1-877-989-BUGS.