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Silverfish
Besides being a nuisance in your home, silverfish has destructive feeding habits. They can cause extensive problems by damaging valuable books, photographs, paintings, plaster and other household items containing starch or cellulose.
This nocturnal and discreet pest which can cause an infestation to go unnoticed for a long period of time until substantial damages have been done. Silverfish can also survive in most environments, but thrive in conditions of high humidity and can often be found in dark, damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements and attics.
In small numbers, silverfish bugs do not really cause a problem but a large infestation can lead to a serious issue for your business.
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Silverfish are attracted to damp areas with 75% - 95% humidity, hence it is recommended to reduce the humidity with dehumidifiers and fans.
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Seal cracks and crevices on walls, floors, and holes around pipes to deter silverfish’s entrance.
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Keep closed rooms ventilated.
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Regularly inspect and tidy up your storage areas and look out for any sign of damages caused by silverfish.
Effective Silverfish Treatment from Rentokil
At Rentokil, our experts are fully trained, licensed professionals with knowledge of the habits and lifecycle of silverfish. Our industry approved trainings enable us to treat and get rid of silverfish as effectively as possible.
Besides our integrated pest management programme, we also have a range of effective solutions such as residual spraying that are highly targeted at the places that silverfish commonly hides.
How to keep silverfish away
Silverfish’s Usual Hiding Place
- Kitchens or Bathroom- under sinks and kitchen cabinets
- Laundry area – behind wallpaper, window or door frames
- Storage areas – in storage boxes, bookcases, old stacks of newspapers and magazines
How To Identify Silverfish
(Ctenolepisma Thysanura)
Appearance
- Silvery or grey in colour.
- Tapered abdomen with 3 long, bristle-like appendages.
- Wingless, with 2 slender antennae.
- Teardrop-shaped and measured up to 10 – 12 mm in length.
Lifecycle
- Silverfish reproduction habits vary by species – some species laying a few eggs a day and others laying clusters of 2 – 20 eggs on a daily basis.
Habits
- Silverfish eggs are commonly hidden in tiny cracks or crevices, making them extremely difficult to locate.
- Silverfish prefer warm, humid places such as bathrooms and kitchens and are especially attracted to paper and damp clothing.
- Feed on carbohydrates, especially sugars and starches.