While silverfish pose no direct threat to people or pets, they can cause significant damage to books, clothing, furniture, and rugs if left unchecked. These small, fast-breeding insects can live for as many as eight years, laying eggs in dark, damp corners of your home. Over time, this can lead to a frustrating and costly infestation.
What Attracts Silverfish?
Silverfish are primarily attracted to two things: moisture and food sources. These nocturnal pests thrive in dark, damp environments with easy access to starchy food sources like books and other fibers. If you have a pile of moist newspapers in your garage or attic, get rid of them to avoid welcoming a silverfish colony to your home!
Moisture and Humidity
Moisture and humidity in the home are common attractants to all manner of pests, including silverfish. Humid rooms like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, can be silverfish magnets. And moisture accrued from leaking pipes or poorly sealed windows can also draw silverfish.
Starchy Food Sources
Silverfish are not picky eaters, meaning the number of items in your home that could become food sources is vast! They’re frequently attracted to starchy and sugary items, although they have also been known to enjoy certain protein-rich items.
- Popular culinary choices for silverfish include:
- Paper products (books, magazines, newspapers, etc.)
- Natural fabric fibers (upholstery, linens, carpeting)
- Dead skin particles (dust, dandruff, dead insects)
- Glue and paint
- Cereal, oats, flour, and other grains
- Dried meats (like jerky or pet food)
Many of these food sources are everyday items found in most of our homes. That’s precisely what makes silverfish such an inconvenience! These speedy little home invaders will eat just about anything, causing all kinds of damage to your books or collections of old magazines. To add insult to injury, they leave yellow stains on counters, walls, floors, furniture, and books — and these stains are impossible to clean!
What Can I Do to Prevent Silverfish?
The short answer to silverfish prevention? Remove attractants! Reducing moisture and food sources in your home will go a long way toward deterring silverfish from moving in. Here are some more specific tips for preventing silverfish over the long term:
1. Dry Out Excess Moisture
Reduce moisture and humidity in your home by fixing leaks, improving ventilation, and using a dehumidifier in high-humidity areas like the basement. Reducing the humidity of indoor air to 60% or lower has even been known to reduce or stop active infestations of certain pests!
2. Dust Frequently
That layer of dust gathering on your bookshelves and dressers only adds to the appeal for silverfish. Dust is (unappetizingly!) composed of many dead and decaying skin particles, along with other starches that silverfish love to feast on. Wipe down dusty surfaces regularly to not only prevent silverfish but also improve your health as well!
3. Seal Entry Points
This tip is another pest prevention classic. Silverfish can only infest your home if they find a way in! While these tiny insects can find an entry point just about anywhere, sealing known cracks, holes, and other openings where possible can reduce their likelihood of finding a way in.
4. Store Food Sources in Airtight Containers
Seal away any potentially appealing foods in airtight containers, just like you should be doing to protect your food from common pantry pests. The paper and cardboard boxes containing food items are also often appealing to silverfish, so it’s best to eliminate those and opt for plastic or glass containers with a good seal. This also applies to extra linens and clothing you aren’t regularly using and washing!
5. Declutter (Inside AND Outside)
Decluttering will remove potential hiding places for silverfish to lay their eggs, plus it makes for a tidier and comfortable environment to live in! Inside the home, avoid collecting piles of books, magazines, newspapers, and other paper products on the floor. Store any you want to keep on bookshelves (that you regularly dust) and recycle the rest. As for outside, dispose of dead and decaying material such as dead plants and leaves that may become damp from rain and therefore highly appealing to silverfish.
What If I Have a Silverfish Infestation?
If you live in one of our service areas in Kansas or Missouri and see signs of a silverfish infestation—yellow stains and shed silverfish skins, damaged household items — don’t wait to contact Advantage Termite and Pest Control!
Our integrated pest management solutions will take care of your silverfish issue quickly and effectively to prevent further damage to your books and belongings. Call us at first sight — we do it right!
