Author: Jamie Simpson
Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are slender, fast running,
wingless insects that are approximately a centimetre and a
half to two centimetres in length. They are metallic
silvery-blue in colour with antennae at the front of their
bodies and three long bristle-like tails protruding from
their rear end. Their fish-like darting movements and
their colour gave rise to their name. These insects are
very ancient creatures having been around for over 300
million years and are found throughout the entire world but
are especially associated with human habitats.
How do silverfish breed?
The male silverfish lays his spermatophore (basically a
capsule containing his spermatozoa) which is then taken up
by the female for fertilisation, who of course will then
produce fertilised eggs. The female silverfish will lay her
eggs in small cracks and crevices in places that are damp
and warm. The eggs will hatch usually between two weeks to
two months later depending on the conditions prevalent at
the time. When the young silverfish emerge, they will look
just like smaller versions of the adults and will reach
maturity in about six months.
Where do silverfish like to live?
They favour moist, humid places so can be found in and
around shower rooms, bathrooms, toilets, kitchens, damp
floors, cupboards (particularly under the sink), sinks,
windows, old pipes and skirting boards. Sometimes they can
become trapped in the bath or the sink as they slide down
whilst foraging for food and are unable to climb back up
the slippery surfaces. You can suspect the presence of
silverfish in your home if you find yellowy stains on paper
or material, evidence of scales or excrement, or if books
and wallpaper look notched or damaged at the ends. They
don't like the light and are nocturnal by nature so will
usually been seen scuttling around the floors, pipes and
skirting boards at night, which is also when they like to
feed.
What do silverfish eat?
Silverfish like to feed on just about anything and are
particularly attracted to starch and polysaccharides. They
will eat away at adhesive bindings or anything containing
glue substances, photographs, cotton and other material and
fibres, wallpaper, wallpaper paste, books and papers,
detergent residues, shampoo, shaving foam and other
toiletries containing cellulose, dried and powdered foods,
cereals, leather, and have even been known to feed on dead
insects at times.
How do silverfish get in the house?
They can quite easily be transferred into the house inside
cardboard boxes, old books or papers, or on any starched
fabrics as well as other materials.
How do I get rid of silverfish?
Silverfish are not harmful to humans but they are
considered a nuisance pest, particularly if they are
present in large numbers. You can treat existing
infestations of silverfish yourself quite easily with a
residual insecticide making sure that you apply it to
window frames, skirting boards, cupboards and shelves under
the sinks, floors around the toilet and bath, pipes, cracks
and crevices and anywhere else that you suspect they may be
lurking. You could also try airing rooms regularly to
prevent a build up of moisture and treating any damp areas
as silverfish cannot survive in dry conditions. Another
option is to remove or at least restrict their food supply
by clearing up old books and newspapers that are lying
around, making sure that any detergents or residues from
shampoos and other toiletries are thoroughly rinsed away
and that all containers are properly sealed. However,
removing their food supply as the only means of prevention
is not effective as silverfish are able to survive for many
months without any food at all.
About the Author:
If you are experiencing silverfish problems and need
products to help kill silverfish, then please come and
visit our site. http://www.ppcsupplies.co.uk/
