How To Get Rid of Silverfish

Silverfish, also known as the longtail silverfish, are a wingless insect that can infest your home and feed on your belongings and the structure of your home. While these bugs are not poisonous and do not bite people or pets, they can eat your wallpaper, contaminate dry goods in your pantry, and chew through books.

While silverfish typically enter your home through cracks or gaps in the infrastructure, they also live in old newspapers, books, and magazines. To prevent silverfish from entering your home, seal up any holes or gaps you notice in the walls of your home.

Thoroughly inspect books and magazines from other locations before bringing them inside your house. Mounds of paper tend to attract silverfish to homes and structures that hold a lot of antique art and books.

Silverfish are nocturnal insects attracted to moisture. They gravitate toward dark, wet environments like basements, attics, and bathrooms. Silverfish can enter a home through leaks, cracks, and holes in walls and floors.

They can also make their way into dried goods that are not stored properly. Silverfish can get into cereals, flour, and pet foods when moisture enters the containers. Inspect any previously used containers or items from flea markets or thrift shops before storing things in them.

If you don’t immediately see a silverfish in your home, you may notice feeding marks on the edges of books or fabrics. They also leave behind yellow stains, scales from their body, and tiny black pellets.

If you suspect silverfish may be lurking in your belongings, check humid, moist areas of your home, such as your basement, attic, or bathrooms. Some people find silverfish when they drop from the ceiling or skylights, which means they likely enter through the roof or attic.

It can take some time to get rid of silverfish. There are nine different species of silverfish. They can live for up to 2-3 years and survive for weeks without food and water. Silverfish can produce over 50 offspring, making it more challenging to get rid of them the longer they are around.

Here are possible ways to get rid of silverfish sooner:

Address their food sources: Because they feed on cereals, flour, pasta, and pet food, keep these items in airtight containers.
Decrease moisture in your home: Use a dehumidifier in your basement and install plastic sheeting in your crawl space. Also, make sure the exterior of your walls is painted and any holes are filled. Keep gutters and landscaping clean so water can flow away from your house.
Reduce places they can hide: Look for crevices and cracks under and behind baseboards, windows, and door trim, as well as holes near pipes. Eliminate these openings with caulk, expandable foam, or spackle.
Use diatomaceous earth: This powdery substance causes insects to lose moisture. You can apply it to cracks and crevices or inject it into wall voids.
Try boric acid: Like diatomaceous earth, boric acid can be sprinkled around to kill silverfish instantly. However, it can be toxic to children and pets in your home.
Contact a pest control specialist: Trained professionals can treat your home for silverfish. In some cases, it may take multiple visits.

The first step to preventing them from entering your home is to remove their food supply. For example:

Clean out any closets and cupboards where you store dry foods
Remove any paper products, such as old books, magazines, and newspapers, from damp environments
Keep any old books with water damage in plastic-sealed containers
Possibly vacuum carpeted surfaces in your home regularly

Silverfish are attracted to moisture. Using a dehumidifier and occasionally opening windows can help keep your home well-ventilated. Remove debris, leaves, and wood piles away from your home. If silverfish get in there, they may then find access to your home.

If you like collecting old magazines, check through them and any boxes you use to transport them. You can also have a pest control service come to check for pests on a regular basis. If you prefer a natural solution, you can use essential oils like cedar oil, cinnamon, and bay leaves to prevent silverfish manifestations.

Although silverfish do not bite humans, they can trigger an allergic response. A silverfish infestation may affect your breathing if you are allergic to common indoor allergens. One study found that people with a dust mite are more likely to experience symptoms when encountering silverfish.

People are often allergic to the protein tropomyosin in shellfish. Silverfish and dust mites also have this protein. If you accidentally eat dried goods with silverfish in them, you may experience an allergic reaction. 

Silverfish are wingless insects that can destroy your belongings and infest your home. If you find silverfish in your home, it is important to address the issue immediately by reducing unnecessary moisture inside your home. This can include using a humidifier, placing all dried goods in air-tight containers, and using insecticides.

Silverfish are also attracted to areas full of debris. Cover any holes in your walls and floors where silverfish can infest.