Silverfish are nuisance pests as they are known for their destructive feeding habits. This includes behaviour such as damaging old books, wallpaper, plaster and other household items.
They survive in most environments but thrive more in high humidity, dark and damp areas such as kitchens, pantries, and bathrooms.
Silverfish are identifiable by their unique silvery-blue colour and carrot shaped body. Their movement mimics that of a fish and are also known to be called fish monks / carpet sharks.
Why do I have silverfish?
Silverfish are attracted to damp, high humidity areas and your home is a good place for them. This is why you will often find them in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
How to get rid of silverfish
Silverfish are often found in damp areas of your home and can sometimes be difficult to treat directly.
In these circumstances we recommend puffing a powder such as Residex P Insecticide Powder or Oa2ki Killing Powder.
The powder can be sprinkled into cupboards and cracks and crevices or it can be more accurately applied using a Pest Pistol Powder Duster.
However, if you can easily apply an insecticide directly onto the Silverfish we’d recommend a spray such as Dethlac Insecticidal Lacquer.
How to get rid of silverfish in drains
If you find that you have Silverfish in drains this could be down to a leaky pipe. Leaky pipes will create a damp environment which Silverfish thrive in.
To deal with Silverfish in drains we recommend fixing any leaky pipes and applying an Insecticidal powder around the drain.
Dealing with an infestation in drains is certainly more difficult than one in your home so more persistence may be needed.
How to get rid of silverfish naturally
Many of our customers prefer to use natural products to deal with a Silverfish infestation.
We sell a selection of natural insecticides which are effective against Silverfish such as Agrothrin Natural Powder and Protector Natural Insecticidal Aerosol.
How to prevent a silverfish infestation
The main reason Silverfish are attracted to your home is due is moisture and starch.
They thrive in dark and damp places and your household has many of these areas such as cupboards, bathrooms, utility rooms etc.
To prevent the chances of a Silverfish infestation we recommend keeping as many areas around the home dry and clean.
In a bathroom or kitchen it is even more important to make sure there are no leaks which create damp areas.
Are silverfish harmful?
Silverfish are more harmful to items of belonging rather than humans or pets due to their damaging chewing on newspapers, cardboard, tissue and sometimes clothing.
In general, silverfish are fairly harmless pests that cause little damage in small numbers. However, a silverfish infestation can be a lot more damaging and a bigger nuisance.
Do silverfish eat wood?
Even though Silverfish are often found around wooden items and object they don’t actually eat wood. Instead, they feed on carbohydrates and protein based products such as paper, crumbs, dandruff etc.
Are silverfish poisonous?
Silverfish are not poisonous if consumed however we strongly recommend keeping cats and dogs from eating them.
Recommended products
We sell a range of silverfish killer products including silverfish killer sprays and silverfish killer powders. Below are some of our handpicked recommendations.
