We’ve all had run-ins with them, but silverfish aren’t talked about a whole lot. Unlike more formidable pests, you might literally never think of silverfish… until you have to.

It is winter, so it’s highly possible that moment is now. Silverfish prefer warm, humid environments—so colder winter temperatures send them hastily sneaking into your home.

Silverfish (thankfully) won’t bite you like spiders or chew up the wires under your car like rodents. But that doesn’t mean silverfish should get a free pass. As you’ll learn, they can actually be more of a threat to your home than you’d think.

After all, they’re still bugs.

 

1. One silverfish might have 50 offspring.

Or many, many more.

Their eggs ordinarily take a few months to hatch, so an infestation can swiftly go from zero silverfish to one hundred.

Worse, you may not even realize it.

Silverfish are nocturnal—so while dozens or even hundreds may be camped out in your home, you may only see a few during the day. Don’t let these lackluster weasels play you! Regularly inspect your home and vacuum frequently.

 

2. Silverfish can burrow into your food.

Yup. Pantry-invading silverfish can effortlessly gnaw holes in paper, cardboard, and plastic packaging to munch on your food. If you’re not on the lookout for them, you may not even notice until you’re already sharing a meal with them—not the type of dinner companion you’d like.

In addition to spoiling your food, silverfish will happily chew through your clothing, wallpaper, books, and even furniture. They may not bite, but silverfish are still a threat since they can destroy such a wide array of items in your home.

 

3. Silverfish are a nuisance.

Wait… isn’t this an opinion?

Sure, a statement like that would normally be an opinion—but not in this case. We’re entirely convinced silverfish are objectively irritating. Why? Well, as if everything else weren’t annoying enough, silverfish are really hard to get rid of.

For starters, they can go up to a year without food.

Not that they usually need to… silverfish will eat almost anything. They’re known for snacking on paper products, glue, fabric, and basic foods like flour. However, they’re especially drawn to protein sources—whether it’s leftover meat in your kitchen or other dead silverfish (cannibals, anyone?).

When it comes to silverfish, the best plan of attack is active prevention. To curb silverfish and other pests from claiming your home as their own, check out some of our other resources on kitchen tips and household tips. Between their proliferation, nocturnal habits, and seemingly inexhaustible food supplies, silverfish can be tough to beat on your own when they’re in the midst of a full-on takeover. If you’re looking for professional help in dealing with a silverfish issue, feel free to contact us. Whether it’s providing you with a free quote or simply answering a few questions, we’re here to help.

Sources:

https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/occasional-invaders/silverfish/

https://utahpests.usu.edu/schoolipm/files-ou/pest-press-fact-sheets/pdf/silverfish_pestpress.pdf

https://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/bristletails-silverfish-and-firebrats

https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Silverfish