Silverfish

What do silverfish look like?

Silverfish are wingless insects with elongated, teardrop-shaped bodies with silvery-gray scales that give them a metallic sheen. They measure about ½ to 1 inch long. Their most notable visual characteristics include:

• Long antennae on the head
• Three long antennae-like appendages protruding from the rear
• A wiggling and slithering motion

When you find silverfish in your home, you may notice that some are tiny while others are large. The tiny silverfish are the immature nymphs. Silverfish do not have a larval stage. They hatch as tiny versions of the adults.

Why are silverfish called silverfish?

Two characteristics led to the naming of these insects: the silvery, metallic scales on their bodies, which look like fish scales, and their fish-like movement as they slither across floors.

These traits and their preference for damp environments have earned them their fishy name.

What do silverfish eat?

These little pests have quite a unique diet composed chiefly of starchy foods. Some are foods humans, dogs, and cats eat, but many are not. They often consume: 

• Book pages, documents, stationery, newspapers, and envelopes
• Pizza boxes and cardboard food packages
• Book bindings, glue, envelope adhesive, and stamps
• Fabrics—particularly cotton or linen
• Wallpaper and the paste that adheres it to walls
• Food found in kitchens and pantries such as oatmeal, flour, crackers, bread, pasta, cereal, granulated sugar, and candy
• Food packaging and the labels on jars
• Hair, dead skin in dust particles, and food crumbs
• Dead insects, mold, mildew, and dried plant matter

In the wild, silverfish eat decaying organic matter and help to break down waste, making them beneficial organisms. Unfortunately, when they find their way indoors, they feed on building materials and household items, making them far less helpful and not even the least bit welcome.

How do silverfish get into homes?

Silverfish use the same entry points all pests use. Here are a few common vulnerabilities pests exploit:

• Thin gaps around window frames
• Damaged screens and open windows
• Damaged door sweeps or poor weatherstripping seals
• Decaying cavities in door frames
• Holes created by other pests, such as mice and rats
• Gaps around pipes or AC lines
• Foundation damage

Silverfish may also hitchhike from one area of infestation to another. For example, they may hide inside a box of used books in a humid storage locker. Always check used items before bringing them into your home to avoid purchasing a gently used silverfish infestation.  

Do silverfish cause damage to property or belongings?

Yes. Building materials and household items made of materials that silverfish eat.

• They get into storage areas, particularly those with high humidity or damp conditions, and feed on books, photographs, clothes, and other items.
• They get into bathrooms or humid basements and damage curtains or wallpaper.
• They enter home offices and feed on documents, stationery, and notes.
• They get into pantries, chew through food packaging, and feed on starchy foods like cereal.

Silverfish can contaminate food with their presence when they become pantry or kitchen pests. However, they are not known to spread diseases or germs.  

How can I eliminate silverfish?

Contact your Termio Pest Control service team for advice and pest control services if you're in the Phoenix area. We don’t just help you get rid of pests. We provide year-round solutions that keep these pests and others out! 

What attracts silverfish to houses?

Humidity, darkness, and food attract silverfish. Here are some examples of each:

• Humidity: Bathrooms are common living areas for silverfish due to high humidity. These pests also feed on condensation. Therefore, you’ll likely find them in your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room.
• Darkness: Attics, storage rooms, closets, wall voids, and furniture voids are attractive to silverfish.
• Food sources: Any location in a home can provide a food source for silverfish. They eat everything from dust to human food, but high concentrations of food, combined with moisture, are sure to catch their attention. For example, a humid, dusty pantry with sugar granules and moist paper packaging will attract silverfish.

In Phoenix, monsoon season can increase silverfish populations. When the moisture starts to retreat, these pests often make their way indoors. A poorly ventilated structure with high humidity can make them feel at home.

How can I prevent silverfish infestations?

There are many ways to prevent a silverfish infestation. Here are some tips to get you on track:

• Reduce humidity, both outdoors and indoors.
• Reduce damp conditions by addressing poor drainage, damaged sprinklers, etc.
• Remove organic clutter next to your home.
• Seal entry points around doors, windows, and utility lines.
• Repair screens and cover vents with screen material.
• Use your bathroom vent to reduce humidity.
• Repair leaking faucets or showerheads.
• Keep interior spaces as clean as possible to remove dust, hair, and crumbs.
• Address indoor pest issues to reduce dead insects as a potential food source.
• Store certain foods in airtight plastic containers.
• Store clothing and paper products in covered bins.
• Always inspect used items before bringing them into your home.

It requires some work to keep silverfish out. If you’d prefer a more straightforward solution, we recommend a year-round pest control service for the exterior of your home.