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Ancient survivors of over 400 million years, silverfish are among the oldest insects on Earth. Fossil records show these wingless pests have existed since some of the first land-living animals. They have two long antennae and a smooth, silvery body. They move with quick, side-to-side motions, similar to a swimming fish, which explains their name. Despite their short and thick legs, silverfish can move at surprising speeds, making them difficult to catch.
Silverfish have thrived for millions of years due to their ability to adapt to harsh environments. However, they are best known for their destructive feeding habits, targeting books, photographs, wallpaper, clothing, and dry food supplies. Although silverfish do not breed as rapidly as some pests, their long lifespan (up to six years) allows infestations to grow substantially over time. If left untreated, they can spread to multiple home areas, leading to widespread damage. Monitoring, controlling, and eliminating factors that attract them is essential to prevent silverfish infestations.
Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are small, wingless insects known for their silvery-grey scales and wiggling movement. Their elongated, carrot-shaped bodies taper at the rear, and they measure between 12–19mm in length. A distinguishing feature of silverfish is their three bristle-like appendages extending from their tail. Their rapid, side-to-side motion resembles that of a swimming fish, giving them their name.
As one of the oldest surviving insect species, silverfish have existed for over 400 million years, predating dinosaurs. Their ancient lineage and minimal evolutionary changes testify to their adaptability and resilience in various environments.
Silverfish are nocturnal pests that thrive in dark, humid, and undisturbed environments. During the day, they hide in cracks, behind bookshelves, inside storage boxes, and under sinks. At night, they emerge to feed on starch-based materials, including paper, glue, fabric, and food crumbs.
Due to their fast movements and nocturnal nature, silverfish often go unnoticed until an infestation becomes severe. Their ability to survive in diverse conditions makes them a persistent household pest, particularly in homes with high humidity and abundant food sources.
Silverfish invade homes in search of food, shelter, and moisture. Several factors increase the likelihood of an infestation:
Having a silverfish infestation can be a pain. Silverfish are experts at hiding and are often difficult to detect, especially when you don’t know what to look for. Below are a few major signs of a silverfish infestation:
Every living creature exudes some kind of waste, including silverfish. Their droppings are small, spherical in shape and black in colour. It can often be found where they eat, including in stacks of paper, books, or packages of pasta or bread.
Since silverfish love paper, an obvious sign of their presence in your home is finding damaged paper or cardboard items such as storage boxes, wallpaper, or books. Pay close attention to food containers filled with starchy carbs. If something is eating away at your cereal box, you probably have a silverfish infestation.
Like many other insects, silverfish shed their skin as they go through their lifecycle. Considering their size, the shedded skin is often difficult to detect. The most likely places to find these would be in the kitchen, bathroom, or basement.
Most people think that seeing a single bug proves nothing but what they don’t realise is in most cases, a single bug is a sure sign there are many more you don’t see.
Eliminating silverfish requires a multi-step approach, combining environmental control, natural remedies, and professional intervention if necessary. These pests are resilient, so a consistent effort is key to completely eliminating them.
Preventing silverfish is easier than getting rid of an existing infestation. By making your home less attractive to these pests, you can avoid costly damage and maintain a silverfish-free environment.
Silverfish are not directly harmful to humans as they do not bite, sting, or spread diseases. However, their presence can be a major nuisance due to their destructive feeding habits. These pests thrive on starchy materials, damaging books, wallpaper, essential documents, clothing, and stored food. Over time, an unchecked silverfish infestation can damage valuable items, particularly in homes with libraries, historical documents, or delicate fabrics. Their ability to consume glue, paper, and textiles is a hidden threat to personal belongings and household materials. They can also contaminate food storage areas, making dry goods such as flour, cereals, and pasta unfit for consumption.
Beyond material damage, silverfish can trigger allergic reactions in some people. Their shed skins, scales, and fecal matter contribute to dust buildup, aggravating respiratory conditions like asthma. While they are not known to transmit bacteria or viruses, their rapid reproduction rate makes them challenging to control once an infestation is established. A female silverfish can lay up to 100 eggs, allowing populations to spread quickly in dark, humid environments. If left untreated, silverfish can become a persistent problem, so preventative measures such as moisture control, sealing entry points, and regular cleaning are essential to keeping them out of your home.
While preventative methods are helpful when it comes to controlling silverfish, if you do have or suspect an infestation, it is best to call in the experts to provide professional treatment.
If you have or suspect a pest problem or would like to know more about protecting your home from pests, contact Rentokil today.
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