Silverfish are alien-looking insects that have white, brown or a bluish-silver color, and they move like fish. They vary from 12 to 19mm, with a unique teardrop shape, and can appear very flat. Also, they have three thread-like tails at the tip of their abdomen and are covered with slippery, flexible scales, which protect the insect from being captured by larger insects like spiders. Moreover, the body covering and the thinness of their bodies enable them to slip neatly into the binding edge of a closed book, so that they can feed on the paste within without being caught until visible damage has been done.
Silverfish eating habit
Silverfish like eating old photos, bedding, clothing, curtains, tapestries, shampoo, dead insects, as well as books and other papers in your filing cabinet, and wallpaper paste off the walls. Nonetheless, silverfish eat regular foods such as cereal, pasta, flour, and other starchy types of food. No wonder they are often found in pantries, and kitchens. A few silverfish in the home cannot pose any serious threat to your properties; however, as they multiply, they cause more damage. Note that silverfish can survive many months without eating anything at all, but they can come back to ravish everything you hold dear.
Furthermore, silverfish cannot bite humans; their jaws (mandibles) are designed to scrape the food they are eating, but it is not strong enough to bite through our skin.
Where do they live?
Silverfish prefer dark and damp areas of your home such as attics, basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. Although, they can thrive in most climates; they can be found in sealed food packages. Since they feed on papers and damp clothing, they can reside in laundry rooms and any part of the house where papers are stored. However, they can stay inside stored boxes in sheds or garages.
Where do they come from?
They are likely to infest your property through the soil around your home; when things are dry outside, they look for a humid environment. Also, silverfish find their way into your home through gaps and cracks in your foundation or walls. Furthermore, silverfish can also move into the house when their current hideouts are too wet; silverfish come to the surface to as the water table rise to avoid drowning. Silverfish infestation can mean water damage and places that are giving access to moisture-loving insects.
How fast does silverfish reproduce?
Before mating, silverfish perform love dances, the male silverfish then lay spermatophores, which are taken into the ovipositor of a female silverfish. Some silverfish can a lay a few eggs in a day, and others can lay clusters of 20 eggs in a day; it all depends on the species of the silverfish.
How to get rid of silverfish
There are practical measures you can take to keep silverfish out of your home if these pesky pests do not already infest your home.
Seal up the outside of your home, and ensure all doors sweeps and screens are in good working orders. Also, keep the perimeter of the property clean and dry. However, if you already have them inside your house, you may need the service of a professional pest control company. These professionals will assist you with silverfish infestation and other household pests.