Silverfish are small, silvery, wingless insects that move like a fish and hate the light. They do not bite and they do not spread disease. What they do is quietly eat paper, fabric and anything starchy in the dark, damp corners of the house.
What to look for
Signs you have them
- Small, silver-grey, carrot-shaped insects that dart away when you open a cupboard or turn on a light.
- One stuck in the bath or the sink in the morning. They fall in and cannot climb the smooth sides.
- Irregular holes, notches or scraped patches in paper, book covers, wallpaper and cardboard.
- Small holes or yellowish stains on stored clothes and linen.
- Tiny dark specks, like pepper, on shelves and in drawers.
- Fine, shed skins and silvery scales in wardrobes and bookshelves.
Usual hiding spots
Where they hide
- Wardrobes, linen cupboards and drawers that are not opened often.
- Bookshelves, filing boxes and stored paperwork.
- Bathrooms, laundries and anywhere humid.
- Roof voids, subfloors and wall cavities.
- Cardboard storage boxes in garages and spare rooms.
The honest version
Why it matters
Silverfish are not a health risk. The damage is to your things.
They feed on starches and sugars, which includes paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, photographs and natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk.
They live a long time for an insect, hide well and feed slowly, so the damage builds up unnoticed in the things you look at least: stored documents, photo albums, the good clothes.
A lot of silverfish can point to a damp or poorly ventilated area that is worth fixing anyway.
Before we get there
What to do, and what not to
Do this now
- Air out wardrobes and cupboards, and improve ventilation in bathrooms and laundries.
- Fix leaks and deal with damp areas.
- Move precious paper, photos and clothes out of cardboard and into sealed plastic tubs.
- Vacuum shelves, wardrobe floors and the edges of carpets.
- Go through stored boxes and note where you are finding them or their damage.
Do not do this
- Do not store documents, photos or clothes in cardboard boxes in a damp garage or under the house.
- Do not ignore damp. It is what they are there for.
- Do not assume the ones in the bathroom are the whole story. Check the wardrobes and the bookshelf.
Our part
How we deal with it
Every home is different, so the detail comes with the quote. This is how a job like yours usually runs.
Inspect
We check the dark, undisturbed places they favour: wardrobes, storage, the roof void and wet areas.
Treat
We treat the areas where they live and travel. We explain what the treatment involves at the quote.
Advise
We tell you what to do before and after, and how to store things so they are not on the menu.
Asked a lot
Silverfish: common questions
Something else on your mind? Put it in the quote form and we will answer it when we reply.
Are silverfish harmful?
Not to people or pets. They do not bite or sting and are not known to spread disease. They are a problem for books, papers, photos, wallpaper and clothing.
Why do I keep finding them in the bath?
They come out at night looking for moisture, fall in and cannot climb back up the smooth surface. It does not mean they came up the drain.
Does having silverfish mean my house is damp?
Not necessarily, but they do best in humid, still air. If you are seeing a lot of them, it is worth checking ventilation and looking for leaks.
Are they covered in a general pest treatment?
Silverfish are one of the pests we treat as part of general pest control. Tell us what you have seen when you ask for a quote and we will confirm what is covered.
The rest of the line-up
Other pests
Got silverfish?
Better call Saulo. Send the details and a photo of what you are seeing and we will come back with a quote.