There is NOTHING cute about a silverfish. They are scaly, silvery/grey in colour with a long abdomen that comes to a point at the end resembling some sort of nightmare fish. They are wingless, and when they crawl, they crawl in a squirming or wiggling motion, which also resembles a fish… Nightmares.

Although silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) do not pose an immediate threat to people, they do pose a giant threat to our things. If you’ve ever opened a book and found some unusual little holes out of the pages, a silverfish may be to blame. Silverfish have a diet solely on starches, carbohydrates, and sugars (so do I, but this isn’t about me)… They seek out paper products, and have an expanding appetite for cardboard, books, and other high starch products in the home. Unlike other insects, silverfish actually have a long life span, up to 8 years.

Signs of a silverfish infestation:

• Unusual holes in paper and paper products
• Yellow, powder stains on household items
• Skin molts – a silverfish molts several times in it’s lifespan. They’re shedding’s will look like are a transparent, delicate shell.
• Seeing a live silverfish

Preventing a silverfish infestation

• Keep your home clean and tidy of debris
• Keep your dry foods in airtight, sealed containers
• Dispose of unused paper products such as old newspapers, books, wallpapers, cardboard boxes
• Cut off water and moisture supply – do not leave wet clothing laying around, fix leaky taps, run dehumidifiers etc.

If you think you have a silverfish problem – please give us a call. They are pesky pests that will need a professional to assist with their removal.