SILVERFISH DETAILS
Product Description
Their bodies are long and slender, flattened. The bodies are broad at the front, and
gradually tapering toward the rear. They can be found almost anywhere, but prefer
damp, moderate temperature places such as basements, laundry rooms, and under
sinks.
Silverfish Biology and Habits
Silverfish prefer a dark, moist environment and require a large supply of starchy
foods or molds.
Silverfish are considered to be nuisance pests that can feed on wallpaper pastes,
natural textiles, books, and papers.
Silverfish also feed on mold or fungi that can grow on various surfaces.
They are fast-moving and can travel throughout buildings. Once silverfish find a
good source of food, however, they stay close to it.
Silverfish go through only a three stage life cycle called gradual metamorphosis,
while many insects have a four stage life cycle (complete metamorphosis). Silverfish
may lay eggs at any time during the year, and take 19-43 days to hatch. The life
cycle from silverfish egg to adult is three to four months. They prefer humid areas
(75 to 97% humidity), like bathrooms and moderate temperatures (70o to 80o F).
Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet
shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-
floor areas.
Silverfish are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the
structure. Silverfish can be a problem year round.
Attics are a favorite place for silverfish due to the abundant food sources due to
the
recycled blown in paper insulation and storage boxes.
You may see silverfish trapped in sinks and bathtubs because they enter seeking
moisture and are unable to climb a slick vertical surface to escape.
Symptoms and Damage of Silverfish:
Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet
shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-
floor areas.
Because they molt during their adult lives their cast skins may be a useful detection
too.
Silverfish diets are high in protein, sugar, or starch, including cereals, moist
wheat
flour, starch in book bindings, and paper on which there is glue or paste.
Silverfish can damage book bindings, wallpaper, paper goods and dry foods. They
may eat holes, irregular shaped in the wallpaper to get to the paste. Silverfish may
bite very small holes in various fabrics, including cotton, linen, and silk, even
though
they cannot digest either linen or cotton.
Firebrats will feed extensively on rayon, whereas silverfish usually damage it only
slightly.
They may leave a yellowish stain on fabric.
Outside, they may be found in nest of insects, birds, mammals, and under tree bark
and mulch They can be found in wood shingles or sidings on houses, they may enter
the home from these.
RECOMMENDED MEASURES FOR SILVERFISH CONTROL: How to Get Rid of and Kill
Silverfish
Sources of any undue moisture, such as faulty plumbing or condensation that
provide the humidity favored by these pests should be eliminated. Dehumidifying
reduces the moisture content of the air that these insects find essential. Some
methods for dehumidifying include: Mend leaking pipes. Ventilate closed rooms and
attics. Eliminate standing water. Use a dehumidifier an air conditioner. Use
silica gel
which acts like a desiccant such as DRIONE DUST. Regularly vacuuming cracks and
crevices with a narrow vacuum tip also can be a good method to physically remove
these insects from their harborages. Removal of food sources , stored in tight
containers. If you have a problem of silverfish inside your home, a good residual
perimeter treatment of:
Cyonara 9.7
Demon WP / Cynoff WP insecticide
Talstar One or Bifen IT - These residual insecticides, sprayed around entry points and
foundation of the house would be the first step. Spray along the foundational wall,
with a two or three foot band. Cyonara 9.7, Demon WP/Cynoff WP or Talstar
One/Bifen IT: last for two to three months. All these products are odorless. The
wettable powder (WP) formulation in the Demon WP and Cynoff WP will leave a slight
film that can be seen against dark surfaces. The Cyonara 9.7, Bifen IT or Talstar
One do not leave a film. However if you have a more severe problem with
silverfish , look into stored boxes and the insulation in your attic. It is best
to dust or
bait these areas for greater control. When you use baits or dusts, you do want to get
it as close as possible to their habitats to be effective. You never want to bait and
dust in areas that are visible. Dust needs to be in hidden areas such as : Attics-
Insulation Behind Refrigerators and Ovens Boxes Light fixtures Electrical outlets
Under siding .
A recommended dust for silverfish control would be DRIONE DUST. It is a desiccant
dust that last for 6 months. It dries up insects has they pass through it. Apply
it in
the attic in the insulation area in particular, under siding, in storage boxes,light
fixtures, electrical outlets. Apply it to areas that can be kept dry. An easy way to
apply DRIONE DUST. You
will want one lb. of dust per 800-1000 sq. ft. For smaller dust jobs BELLOWS 8 OZ.
DUSTER would work fine.
Another very effective way is the use of baits in the attic or on the outside for
silverfish control. INTICE GRANULAR BAITS (SAME ACTIVE INGREDIENT AS NIBAN)
works very well against silverfish as well as roaches and crickets. It can be
sprinkled
out in a self contained one lb. bag, in all the areas you believe they are hiding.
You
can also you a residual aerosol like D-FORCE HPX with a crack and crevice tip,
enabling you to get behind baseboards and corners of traveling paths of the
silverfish. This type of aerosol is very helpful in bathrooms where silverfish
like to
eat the back of wallpaper. SILVERFISH PAKS are designed to go inside. These Paks
destroy these year-round pests that eat wool, paper, linen and cellulose materials.
Place odorless, wafer-thin packets under rugs, behind curtains, in closets and dark
hidden places . Place away from children and pets. Niban/Intice and Silverfish Paks both are designed to attract the silverfish as they eat, functioning as long term
baits.
If you do not know the exact location of the habitat of the silverfish and cannot
treat
it directly, baits are ideal for silverfish control.
*** Silverfish Paks is an excellent product to accompany a through spraying and/or
dusting. It is not advised as a stand alone treatment. DIY Pest Control Product sells professional pest control products that are not available at local hardware stores.
Not all professional pest control products can be sold to every state: it must be a registered product in the respective states.
DIY Pest Control Product will not sell any products or kits that contain restricted pesticide to such states as NY.