Silverfish are small, wingless insects with slender, teardrop-shaped bodies. They measure about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long and are covered in silvery-gray scales, giving them a metallic appearance. Their long antennae in the front and three tail-like appendages at the rear make them easy to identify. Silverfish move quickly, often in a motion resembling a fish swimming, which is how they got their name.
Due to their size and movements, silverfish may be confused with earwigs, but the latter have pincers on their rear ends.
Silverfish typically eat carbohydrates like starches and sugar like cereals, flour, and other pantry staples. Of course, their diet is not limited to items fit for human consumption; they also feed on paper, glue, wallpaper paste, fabrics, and book bindings.
Silverfish don’t bite or sting humans, but they can damage books, wallpaper, clothing, and stored food. Their feeding habits can damage belongings, especially in older homes with paper-based materials.
Silverfish prefer dark, damp areas; bathrooms, basements, and kitchens are common hiding spots for these nuisance pests. They can also be found in attics, closets, and storage boxes where paper, books, or fabrics are kept. These pests often slip into cracks and crevices, behind baseboards, and inside cabinets, making them hard to spot until an infestation grows.
Silverfish are drawn to moisture, humidity, and food sources like starches and sugars. They feed on paper, glue, fabrics, and even pantry items like cereal and flour. Homes with leaky pipes, high humidity, or poor ventilation are more likely to attract silverfish.
Signs of silverfish activity include seeing these insects in bathrooms, basements, and other damp areas. Property owners may also notice yellow stains, scales, or tiny black droppings around the hiding spots mentioned above. Damage to paper products, books, clothing, and fabrics can also indicate a silverfish problem.
A silverfish infestation could indicate moisture problems in a home, which can also attract other moisture-loving pests like rodents and cockroaches. In addition to attracting insects and rodents, water leaks, poor ventilation, or excessive humidity may lead to mold growth or structural damage if left unaddressed.
Silverfish reproduce slowly compared to other pests, but their populations can grow steadily if left untreated. A female can lay eggs in cracks and crevices, and nymphs develop into adults within three to four months under favorable conditions.
If silverfish have infested your home or business, contact Acre Pest Control for effective pest control services. Serving the Birmingham metro, property owners and managers can count on our local pest control team to eliminate and prevent silverfish and other pests with ongoing pest treatments.
To prevent a silverfish infestation in your home, we recommend reducing humidity, fixing leaks, and sealing cracks that they could use to enter. You should also store food in airtight containers, eliminate clutter, and store paper products and fabrics in plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.
If you’re dealing with a silverfish infestation in Hoover, Vestavia Hills, or elsewhere in the Birmingham metro, contact Acre Pest Control for fast, reliable solutions to keep your home silverfish-free.
Stay Informed
Get In Touch
Contact us today to find out how our local pest control specialists can help you eliminate insects and rodents!
