Silverfish How to Get Rid of Them

Silverfish are small, wingless insects in the order of Thysanura. Lepisma saccharina, the silverfish is also known by the names fishmoths, carpet sharks or paramites. The common name, silverfish, comes from the insect's silver scaly appearance and fish like movements. Silverfish are nocturnal insects that typically grow to up to an inch in length. The abdomen of the silverfish is tapered giving them a classic fish like appearance. The hatchlings of the silverfish are white in color and don't develop the classic silver appearance until after the third molting.

The lifespan of the common silverfish is from two to eight years. Found throughout North America they live in moist areas needing a relative humidity of between 75% and 95% to thrive. Usually found in bathrooms, frequently trapped in sinks or bathtubs, they can be found anywhere there is enough humidity and food source to survive.

Females usually lay less than one hundred eggs in their lifetime. Eggs will hatch, depending on conditions, within 2 weeks to 2 months. Young silverfish are white in color and develop their trademark silvery sheen after several moltings. Silverfish can molt up to thirty times a year and are one of the few insects that continue to molt after mating.

The silverfish diet is composed mostly of carbohydrates. Starches and dextrin in adhesives, such as the glue on wallpaper and book bindings is a common food for silverfish. The also eat paper, sugar, hair and even dead skin and the casings of molted silverfish.

If in a famine situation silverfish will even eat leather and synthetic fabrics, but they can survive without food for a year. Although silverfish are considered a household pest and contribute to damage of property and contamination of food, they don't transmit disease.

To prevent silverfish from infesting your home you can take a few easy steps. Lowering the relative humidity to a threshold below which silverfish can thrive is the easiest. Consider a dehumidifier for your home, repair any leaky pipes or drains and get rid of any source of moisture.

If you store books or magazines in a basement or attic, make sure they are in air-tight containers to lessen the chance of infestation in these areas. Storing sugar, flour and coffee in air-tight containers is a must. Silverfish love to get into your pantry where a food source is plentiful.

If you have an infestation of silverfish, you can use a variety of tools to get rid of them. Silverfish traps are widely available to trap and dispose of the pests. Traps don't treat the source of the problem but they do cut down on the amount of silverfish that you see.

To get rid of the silverfish for good you'll need to treat your entire house. Boric acid is a common choice for getting rid of silverfish. Spread the boric acid around the common areas where silverfish live, under your bathroom sink and in cupboard and attics.

There are also natural ways to treat silverfish infestation and eliminate the problem of silverfish in your home. Bob Haskins' Get Rid of Silverfish Guide is a great resource for eliminating your silverfish problem for good, without chemicals or toxins.