Silverfish in Homes

Silverfish are common insects that may infest and feed on items in the home (especially paper items). They are commonly spotted in bathrooms where they enjoy the moist environment; they especially enjoy any room if there is mold or mildew to eat. They don’t directly harm humans, however, these bugs are considered pests because they can damage some household items, especially if there are many silverfish in the home.
Silverfish are sometimes mistaken for centipedes, which do inflict painful bites. One way to tell the difference is to note how many legs the bug has. Upon close inspection of a silverfish, you’ll see that it only has six legs.

Features

  • Silverfish are small insects (between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch) and have shimmering, silver-colored scales. When they move, their tail end moves to and fro similar to a fish’s fin–hence the “fish” part of the name.

Silverfish Chewing Habits

  • Silverfish do chew and those their chewing and eating may damage paper, clothing and other items. They also eat food items, such as sugar and flour and products containing those. However, despite their ability to chew holes in paper, they do not bite humans.

Silverfish Habitat

  • These insects can slip easily into very small spaces due to their size and flattened body structure. Look for these creatures in cupboards and drawers, beneath the bathtub, in corner crevices and in seams of wallpaper. However, even if you do not see them, your home may still have them. Silverfish enjoy the dark and are most active at night, therefore, you may have silverfish in your home without knowing it.

Prevention/Solution

  • Keep moisture in the home low as silverfish do not like a dry environment. Controlling moisture will also help prevent mold and mildew, upon which these bugs like to feed. Keep all grains, cereals, flour, sugar, cookies and other cupboard items in tightly sealed containers. If the silverfish have no access, they will not infest the food. In addition, remove all unnecessary cardboard boxes from the home and store paperwork in sealed containers.
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