What do silverfish bugs look like?

What do silverfish look like? Silverfish are very distinctive tear-shaped insects that have 3 long bristle-like appendages coming off the back of the body and a long pair of antennae. Silverfish are silver or brown; and, as their name suggests, they have silvery-gray scales that cover their bodies.

Should I be worried if I see a silverfish?

No need to worry if you have a close encounter with a silverfish — they don't bite or sting, and they're not known to carry any diseases.

What are silverfish and why do I have them?

Silverfish are a warning sign that your home has developed entry points, more specifically, entry points that may have been caused by water damage. When rain water gets into places it shouldn't, it can cause mold, mildew, fungi, algae, and other things to grow.

How do I get rid of silverfish?

Use borax. Borax is an effective way to kill silverfish. For best results, purchase borax at your local home goods store, and spread a thin layer anywhere you've noticed silverfish. It's particularly appropriate for use on the back side of cabinets, along baseboards, in closets, and beneath appliances.

Why do I have silverfish bugs in my house?

Where Do Silverfish Come From? If there's moisture and starch, you'll likely also find a silverfish. These bugs love dark and damp places, like basements. Humid bathrooms are also a large draw, as are kitchens where food is found.

Learn Something About Silverfish!

How do I find where silverfish are coming from?

Where Do Silverfish Come From in Homes? Silverfish sometimes make their way indoors in search of food. However, people may also bring silverfish inside by mistake. The pests can be taken indoors with infested dry food products, boxes of books or paper, fabrics and other items that have a high starch and sugar content.

Do silverfish lay eggs in your ear?

Do silverfish crawl in ears and lay eggs? Like the earwig, silverfish have earned a reputation for climbing into the ears of sleeping people and laying their eggs. This is not true for either of these insects.

What happens when you squish a silverfish?

Silverfish are small insects with silvery scales that rub off easily, so if you squish one, it will most likely leave a gray smudge on the surface.

How do you know if you have a silverfish infestation?

Keep an eye out for feeding marks, although they may be irregular whether they are holes, notches along an edge, or surface etchings. Yellow stains, scales and/or feces (tiny black pepper-like pellets) may also be seen on infested materials.

Can silverfish get in your bed?

Finding Silverfish in Beds

Although they prefer places like bathrooms and closets, it is possible to find silverfish bugs in beds. These insects are about half an inch in length with silver teardrop-shaped bodies and long antennae. While they're more annoying than harmful, these pests can damage bedding.

What harm do silverfish do?

While silverfish are harmless to the human body, they do cause damage to clothing, books, papers, food in pantries and wallpaper. Silverfish leave small holes in materials they bite and may also cause yellow staining. Look for their presence in dark and damp locations such as bathrooms, under sinks and in garages.

How do you keep silverfish out of your bed?

Natural Oils Can Help

Use cedar oil in a diffuser or pour a cedar oil and water mix in a spray bottle and spray in and around your bedroom. Silverfish hate the strong-smelling pheromones of this tree. You can also use lavender, citrus, and other essential oils that have an overwhelming aroma.

Do most houses have silverfish?

Silverfish are common pests, but can be hard to spot because they prefer to live in dark, moist places where damp is common. This includes attics, basements, garages and kitchens where they can feed on dust, unsealed dried food and clutter, like paper.

Do silverfish mean your house is dirty?

You might be happy to learn that silverfish are not necessarily a sign of a dirty house. However, they can be a sign of underlying problems. Silverfish love warm and damp areas, and this is generally not what you want in your home.

Do silverfish have nests?

Where do silverfish nest? Inside homes, silverfish create nests in damp areas where temperatures are cooler, and they are usually found residing in basements. However, they can also be found nesting in cabinets and underneath sinks in attics, kitchens, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, and bathrooms.

What do silverfish eat in your home?

Silverfish eat starches and protein-rich items, including grains, vegetables, fibers, sugars and fabrics. The pests also feed on stored cereals and pet food. In fact, infesting these types of products is often how they are brought inside the house.

What time of year do silverfish come out?

Most silverfish infestations begin outside. In Southern California's winter when the weather is wetter and more humid, it may as well be a silverfish paradise. They find their way inside as they look for similar conditions; the controlled climate and variety of dark, uninhabited spots help them sustain populations.

Do silverfish go away in winter?

Unlike many other pests, which die off or go dormant in the winter, the silverfish, which gets its name from its silvery, metallic appearance and fish-like shape and movements, can remain active all year long.

What's the lifespan of a silverfish?

The average female silverfish will lay up to 100 eggs during her life. Silverfish have a lifespan ranging from two to eight years.

Can silverfish live in your hair?

Soap, hair, dandruff, and dust can also be food sources for silverfish, along with glue, clothing, silk, cotton, and linen. These insects can also eat dried beef products and even other silverfish. Other food products that they can eat include: coffee.

Are earwigs the same as silverfish?

While both earwigs and silverfish are insects and in the taxonomic class Insecta, earwigs belong to the order Dermaptera, while silverfish belong to the order Thysanura. Earwigs have the two appendages protruding from the abdomen, whereas the silverfish have three straight appendages protruding.

Why do I feel crawling in my ear?

Bug in your ear. While uncommon, a bug can fly or crawl into your ear and stay there, causing a variety of sensations. If the bug is crawling around, you may feel a tickling sensation. If the bug adheres itself inside your ear, bites, or stings, you may feel itching and pain.

How do silverfish just appear?

Warm and moist spaces, like basements and crawl spaces, attract silverfish. The pests will enter homes through foundation cracks, torn screens, or gaps around doors. Leaving dirty dishes out in the open will also lure silverfish indoors.

Do silverfish live in carpet?

Can silverfish live in my carpet? Silverfish enjoy carbohydrates, particularly starch and dextrin which can be found in books, clothing and dead skin. That said, silverfish aren't picky, they will move on to synthetic fibres found in carpets and rugs when their preferred delicacy runs low.

Do silverfish come up through drains?

Because they're often found here, as well as around drains in sinks and bathtubs, or around floor grates, many have concluded that silverfish come into the home via wastewater in sewage pipes.