Why do I have silverfish?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orkin.com


How do you get rid silverfish?

6 ways to get rid of silverfish
  1. Put a starchy food or substance in a glass container and wrap the outside with tape. ...
  2. Roll up newspaper. ...
  3. Put out sticky traps. ...
  4. Put out small bits of silverfish poison. ...
  5. Use cedar or cedar oil. ...
  6. Spread dried bay leaves throughout your home.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


What attracts silverfish the most?

Silverfish are sensitive to moisture and need high levels of humidity (above 75 percent) to survive, so they're attracted to humid, damp conditions. You can find often find silverfish in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, garages and cabinets.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on terminix.com


Can you completely get rid of silverfish?

Sticky traps, available at most hardware or home and garden stores, are an excellent way to get rid of silverfish. Purchase several of these traps and place them anywhere you've noticed silverfish activity. After a few days, check the traps and discard any that have silverfish stuck to them.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on smithspestmanagement.com


Should you kill silverfish?

Although they are not dangerous, they can damage property and trigger allergies. A person can try several natural and chemical methods to get rid of them before contacting a professional pest control service. Silverfish are a type of wingless insect that lives worldwide, including throughout the United States.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


Learn Something About Silverfish!



Do silverfish go in beds?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on westernpest.com


Is one silverfish a problem?

If you see one silverfish, there is a good chance there are hundreds living in your walls. A single female can lay 100 eggs in her lifetime and it only take 3 months from egg to adult. It doesn't take long for silverfish populations to get out of hand.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on allamericanpestcontrol.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pestworld.org


Why do I have silverfish in my bedroom?

Silverfish love damp places, so your bed would offer the perfect ecosystem for them. Combined with your body's heat and the temperature of your room plus the dark spaces in between bedsprings and cushions, silverfish can populate in no time using your bed as a breeding ground.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on homerepairgeek.com


Where do silverfish lay eggs?

Silverfish eggs are commonly placed inside tiny cracks or crevices, making them difficult to locate. Silverfish eggs are elliptically shaped and measure approximately 1 mm in length. Initially soft and white, silverfish eggs toughen and yellow after a few hours.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orkin.com


What kills silverfish in the house?

To control Silverfish in and around the home, spray Yates Home Pest Long Term Control Barrier Spray. This product kills Silverfish on contact and provides a control barrier for up to 12 months indoors and 3 months outdoors.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yates.com.au


What do silverfish eat in your house?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orkin.com


Does hair attract silverfish?

Besides contaminating food items in your pantry, these creatures have an affinity for starches and sugars which means they will eat things such as glue, book bindings, paper, photos, sugar, coffee, hair, dandruff, and more.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on parkwaypestservices.com


How do I keep silverfish out of my bathroom?

Since silverfish love moisture and nymphs develop in humid areas, the best way to prevent an infestation is to control your space's humidity. Try to open any vents in your crawl space, use baseboards with caulking and maintain your housekeeping practices, especially since silverfish love to consume a variety of foods.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on hunker.com


Do silverfish mean my 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on schoolofbugs.com


Is seeing one or two silverfish mean an infestation?

A homeowner who sees a silverfish in one or two places in the home does not necessarily have an infestation. However, a homeowner who sees silverfish regularly likely has a problem.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on akhomeshow.com


What do silverfish do to humans?

Silverfish are harmless enough to humans but they can destroy books, old papers, wallpaper, carpets and clothes with their droppings. They also love to make unsealed pasta, oat and cereal packets their home, so you'll want to get rid of them quickly.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on countryliving.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ortho.com


Where are the silverfish 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orkin.com


What are silverfish scared of?

Silverfish do not enjoy the scent of oranges and other citrus, cinnamon, or lavender. Using essential oils in these scents is an excellent way to keep silverfish away. Try adding them to this homemade all-purpose cleaner. Spray it in kitchen and bathroom cupboards, under sinks, and around baseboards.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on housewifehowtos.com


How do I keep silverfish out of my bed?

To remove and prevent silverfish, use your dehumidifier to take moisture out of the air. Store your food properly in containers, remove clutter and use caulk to fill any cracks or holes in your walls. Silverfish don't like high temperatures, so keep your house warm – this will prevent damp and keep pests out.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pestdefence.co.uk


Do dirty dishes 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orkin.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on lloydpest.com


How long do silverfish live for?

The surrounding environment has a major influence on silverfish development and how long silverfish live. In ideal environments of high temperatures and humidly, these insects can live for about three years.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on orkin.com


What is the lifespan of silverfish?

The normal lifespan of a silverfish is between two and eight years. Silverfish reproduce at all times of the year, with the female laying about 100 eggs over the course of her lifetime.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on trianglepest.com