Silverfish thrive in moist, humid environments like bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
Silverfish feed on starchy materials such as paper, glue, textiles, and food crumbs.
Silverfish undergo simple metamorphosis: egg, nymph, adult, with no pupal stage, living several years.
The most common silverfish species found in Canada include the common silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) and the firebrat (Thermobia domestica). Both species thrive in humid environments but have different temperature preferences. While silverfish prefer cooler, damp areas, firebrats are often found in warmer spots like near furnaces. These pests are commonly found in homes, where they seek out moisture and food sources in basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.
Silverfish can cause significant damage to household items by feeding on starchy materials and proteins. They are known to damage books, wallpaper, clothing, and other textiles. Their presence can lead to contamination of food sources, staining of fabrics, and the destruction of important documents. The damage caused by silverfish can result in financial loss due to the need to replace or repair infested items.
Silverfish are small, wingless insects ranging from 12 to 15 mm in length. They have elongated, teardrop-shaped bodies covered in shiny, silver-grey scales, giving them a metallic sheen. Their distinctive appearance includes long antennae and three bristle-like appendages at the rear. Silverfish are known for their swift, wriggling movements, which resemble the motion of a fish, helping them evade predators and find shelter.
While silverfish do not pose direct health risks, their ability to damage household items can be a significant concern. They can contaminate food, stain clothing, and destroy books and wallpaper. Silverfish have a long lifespan of up to eight years and can survive without food for up to a year, making infestations persistent. Professional pest control may be necessary to effectively manage and eliminate silverfish infestations.
Silverfish are attracted to dark, moist environments with high humidity levels, typically above 75%. In homes, they are commonly found in basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and attics, hiding in cracks and crevices. Silverfish feed on carbohydrates and proteins, often consuming paper, glue, wallpaper paste, flour, and dried foods. Poor ventilation and high humidity levels in these areas create ideal conditions for silverfish infestations.
Preventing silverfish infestations involves reducing moisture levels in the home by using dehumidifiers and ensuring proper ventilation. Regularly vacuum cracks and crevices to remove potential hiding spots. Keep rooms cool, clean, and dry, and store food in airtight containers. Remove old papers, boxes, books, and clothes that can serve as food sources or hiding places for silverfish. Sealing entry points can also help prevent their entry.
Pestcheck’s silverfish inspection involves a meticulous examination of your property, especially in damp, dark areas like basements and bathrooms. Our experts use advanced detection tools to locate silverfish and document all findings thoroughly. This comprehensive inspection helps us understand the extent of the infestation and develop a precise, targeted treatment plan to eliminate silverfish effectively.
Pestcheck’s silverfish control strategy targets both visible and hidden silverfish inside and outside your home. We apply eco-friendly, non-toxic insecticides and baits to infested areas and establish an effective perimeter defense. This comprehensive approach ensures thorough eradication of current infestations and prevents future ones, maintaining a safe, silverfish-free environment for your home.
Pestcheck’s follow-up services include regular visits to monitor and reinforce treated areas. We adapt our methods to seasonal changes and ongoing activity, ensuring continuous protection against silverfish. By fortifying the perimeter and addressing new infestations promptly, we maintain your home’s silverfish-free status year-round, providing lasting peace of mind and a clean living space.
They are silver, teardrop-shaped creatures that look more at home on an alien landscape than the floor of your bathroom floor! Silverfish can be found in moist, humid areas of your home including basements, attics, kitchens and bathrooms. They are a nocturnal insect.
Unfortunately, these pests do not hibernate and therefore can be a problem all year long.
Silverfish prefer moist areas. The first place you’ll usually see them is on the bathroom floor. If you see one silverfish, there is a good chance there are hundreds living in your walls.
This is an insect that eats old photos, wallpaper, books, filed papers and even dandruff. They also get into food areas looking for sugar, grains, oats and cereal. Inside your home they can eat away at valuable paper products, cause mildew and ruin a good meal.
When the water table rises, silverfish must come to the surface to avoid drowning. When they do, they sometimes find their way into homes. But the real reason you have silverfish is that they have found a way into your home. Often, a large silverfish problem is evidence of a water drainage issue. When water runs down your walls, instead of down your downspouts, it can cause the wood of your home to rot. If you’re seeing silverfish, check to make sure your gutter system has no obstructions or breaks and get any holes filled or repaired.
No, silverfish are not a dangerous pest. The problem with silverfish comes from the destruction they are capable of causing to personal belongings, making them a nuisance pest.
This is the big question, isn’t it? We wish we could give you a simple answer. Silverfish can climb up through your wall voids and hide in places that are hard to get to. Getting them out of a home requires an education in their habits and habitats.
If you need assistance removing silverfish and sealing your exterior walls, the team here at Pestcheck has the education and resources to get the job done right.
Check out our blogs and articles to learn more about keeping your home pest-free and your family and pets safe! We’re sharing our expert advice and latest news from behind-the-scenes.
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In an effort to better educate our clients about our pest control services here, in the Lower Mainland, we have assembled helpful, informative preparation sheets on a variety of pests.
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