Why Do I Have Silverfish in My House and How Do I Get Rid of Them?

There’s nothing like a nuisance pest to irritate you as you’re opening up your home in spring.

And one nuisance pest stands out because of its alien-like appearance and fish-like movement. That’s the silverfish.

These creepy-crawlers can get into your dark, damp, humid places in larger numbers, especially if you have open cardboard boxes full of newspapers and magazines lying about. These are their favorite things to feed on.

Tired of being surprised by these menacing pests? Let’s go over what attracts silverfish and how you can get them out of your Maryland home.

What Are Silverfish?

Ok, let’s start with answering the million dollar question: What are silverfish anyway?

Silverfish are like the creepier, ghost-like cousins of millipedes. They are silvery in appearance and have a fish-like body shape. And instead of millions of legs like millipedes have, silverfish come with just three pairs of legs plus three long, bristle-like appendages at the rear end of their bodies. Their color gives them the first part of their name, and the second part of their name can be attributed to the fish-wiggle-type movement they make as they scurry across your floor.
They don’t bite people, luckily, but they can become a big nuisance, ruining your favorite old books and magazines if they get anywhere near them.

How to Get Rid of Silverfish in Your Home

Finding a silverfish might stop you in your tracks, looking for the nearest and fastest way to get that bug to the exit. But, if you do nothing, they can get frustrating and grow in large numbers, which is bad enough.

Here are some things you can attempt to prevent silverfish and keep them out of your house.

1. Know Where They Like to Hangout

Want to know what attracts silverfish? Even if this isn’t top on your list of things you want to Google, it should be. This is because if you understand what silverfish want, you can ensure you don’t do more to attract them.

First, silverfish can move fast and climb very well. They love high humidity -- upwards of 70 to 90 percent. Your attic qualifies, but they can be found almost anywhere in your home, including bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms.
Second, silverfish are especially drawn to paper and cardboard. So those storage boxes located in your garages or sheds are also good places to find these pests. They also eat cartons, starch, and dead insects.

In fact, silverfish like paper so much that they are known for being quite destructive when it comes to feeding on this material. Ruined items usually include books, stored files, and even old clothes.

2. Control Humidity

Now that you know what attracts silverfish, you can work on preventing silverfish. Since silverfish like high humidity -- and their nymphs develop faster in humid spaces -- one of the best control methods is to manage humidity.

To do this, open vents in crawl spaces to encourage air flow. You can also try a dehumidifier, repair leaky pipes and drains, and eliminate any moldy or wet wood.

Also, keeping up with cleaning can help prevent silverfish infestation.

If you store old books and magazines in areas silverfish like, such as basements, attics, and garages, keep them in plastic containers with tight seals instead of in cardboard boxes.

3. Seal Entry Points

Silverfish typically enter homes via cracks and crevices.

So another method for how to get rid of silverfish includes stopping them from entering your home in the first place.

In basements, attics, and near windows, ensure seals are secure with caulk to limit places where silverfish can sneak in.

Look for cracks and crevices in door seals and around windows and in siding. Use a good quality silicone or caulk to seal cracks and holes. Check for torn weather-stripping and replace those you find. Also, replace damaged screens on windows and doors to limit holes they can fit through.

You may also want to remove moist materials that are around your house, such as wet wood or excess piles of wet mulch.

4. Hire a Pest Control Pro

Since silverfish move at night and are hard to spot -- and on top of that they can reproduce quickly -- you’ll want to call a licensed pest control professional if you suspect an infestation. If not, and particularly if you have conditions and food they like, they’ll just keep reproducing.

A pro can properly inspect your home for silverfish and tell you what kind of infestation you have. Then he or she can recommend treatment methods for how to get rid of silverfish.
Treatment usually includes a boric acid bait to stop them and then a quarterly general pest control program to keep them away. Every time a pest control technician comes to your home, they can re-inspect it to ensure those silverfish are gone for good.

Silverfish Ruining Your Favorite Collectibles? Natural Green Can Help

Tired of finding holes in your clothes or seeing these nasty silver pests crawl out of your boxes of papers?

If you’ve tried to limit moisture and humidity, as well as reorganize your books, papers, and pantry items, and you’re still finding bugs, you might be beyond frustration figuring out what to do next when it comes to how to get rid of silverfish.

Let Natural Green step in. We have dealt with silverfish before so we’re used to all these creepy insects. And we have a proven track record for eliminating them from Central and Southern Maryland homes, so you can get back to the other things you want to do instead of fighting nuisance pests.

We want you to be able to enjoy your home and not let a pest take over and destroy your favorite old books. Give us a call and we’ll bring our proven pest control experience and create a custom plan for your Central and Southern Maryland residence. Get started today with a free quote.

Image Source: Silverfish, Silverfish on wall