How many silverfish is an infestation?
If you’ve spotted a few silverfish in your bathroom lately, you may be wondering where they came from and how many there need to be before it’s labelled as an infestation.
These small yet pesky bugs are fairly harmless to us, but they can be a nuisance to find in your home, ruining the atmosphere and making your home feel ‘dirty’. Luckily enough, once you spot them, they’re fairly easy to get rid of.
Today, Premier Pest Control will walk you through what silverfish are, where they come from, how to remove them from your home, and how many there need to be before you call pest control.
If you’re dealing with an infestation that’s taking over your home life, contact us today, and we’ll assign our professional pest removers to the case.
What are silverfish?
Silverfish are those small, grey/silver insects that you see hiding behind bathroom sinks or crawling along your skirting boards.
In fact, they were once commonly found crawling about in old books, as they loved the glue, which contained high starch, animal protein, and sugar (although most don’t anymore).
Now, you’ll find them chomping on the wallpaper in your house or chewing through clothing that has been starched. Also known as Lepisma saccharina, Silverfish have crawled the planet for millions of years, gaining their name from their shiny, silvery coat and fish-like movements.
Since they love moist areas, you’ll often find them hiding out in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, attics, and warm, humid environments. They move quickly, hide in cracks, and are most active at night, and adults can live for more than three years, laying eggs in tiny crevices.
How many silverfish are considered an infestation?
You likely have a silverfish infestation if you’re seeing several silverfish each week, spotting them in multiple rooms, or noticing a lot of daytime activity.
You can recognise them by their narrow head and carrot-shaped body, which is often about three-quarters of an inch long. They also have long antennae that you’ll be able to spot almost instantly.
Common silverfish breed best when indoor relative humidity is around 75% or higher, which is why poorly ventilated bathrooms, attics, and boiler cupboards become hotspots and breeding grounds.
Common signs of silverfish infestations
If you’re unsure of whether it’s silverfish you’re dealing with, or you can’t quite tell if you’re experiencing an infestation of them, we’ve compiled a list of the most common signs.
Since they come out mostly at night, many of these signs will be more noticeable at night (besides, of course, daytime activity):
- Seeing them several times a week or spotting them in more than one room
- An increase in daytime activity
- Finding them trapped under sinks or bathtubs
- Feeding damage on paper, books, cardboard, wallpaper and fabrics
- Yellowish stains/smudges on walls and skirting boards
- Pepper-like droppings (tiny black pellets), shed skins (translucent), and a light dusting of loose scales near harbourages
If you’re still unsure, place a few sticky insect monitors around the bottom edges of walls and furniture where you’ve noticed any of the warning signs. If you catch a lot of silverfish, then you’ll know it’s a hotspot and what areas to focus on for the extermination process.
How to get rid of silverfish
Now, there are plenty of ways you can tackle a silverfish problem at home. Of course, if it’s too much for you to handle, then it’s best to get a professional pest removal specialist in.
1. Tackle humid rooms
Since silverfish thrive in moist conditions, it’s best to get any areas that are too humid under control.
This could involve installing a ceiling fan or air conditioning unit, adding a dehumidifier to the room, or repairing any leaks. It’s best to store any paper or textiles (such as books) in airtight containers and constantly dust any bookshelves.
2. Seal and gaps
If you have any gaps or cracks in your skirting boards, along pipe runs, or at the back of cabinets, it’s best to seal them up ASAP.
You can do so using caulk, or fit tight-fitting brush strips to loft hatches and cupboards so silverfish can’t make their way in.
3. DIY treatments
There are actually some homemade remedies you can use to keep silverfish at bay. Try the following at home:
- Desiccant dusts (diatomaceous earth or silica aerogel): Place these in cracks and gaps along runs to dry out silverfish; they’re most effective when kept dry and out of reach of children and pets (however, they’re not harmful to humans or animals). Silica can cope better than diatomaceous earth in slightly damp spots, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
- Household insecticide: labelled for silverfish (spray or powder), this can be applied to harbourages and entry points to keep silverfish from entering your home.
4. Treat infested items without chemicals
If certain items in the room are infested with silverfish, start by isolating these items so they don’t spread to the rest of the room.
Slip books, paperwork, or textiles into clean polyethene bags or lidded plastic tubs and label them with the date and location. You can then decide whether to treat the items or throw them away if they have no value.
To treat them, keep them in these airtight bags and place them in the freezer and follow a complete hold period before slow thaw while still sealed (typically –18 °C to –20 °C for 14 days or –30 °C for 3 days). When done correctly, this method will effectively kill insects and their eggs.
Are silverfish harmful to humans?
Silverfish don’t bite, sting, or carry any known diseases, so you shouldn’t worry too much about direct harm if you come into contact with them.
However, while they’re typically harmless to humans, they can indirectly cause allergic reactions, as their shed skins, droppings, and loose scales can add to indoor dust.
There’s also the risk of food contamination if they get access to stored goods, leaving frass and surface damage that forces you to bin affected items. Since they’re a food source for other types of pests, they may even invite spiders, cockroaches, or centipedes into your home.
Why choose Premier Pest Control
Has your silverfish infestation got out of control?
If you’ve tried a few methods and nothing is working, our domestic pest control can help restore your property and take it back from unwanted pests. We’ll identify the source, treat it safely, and provide you with a straightforward plan to help keep the issue under control.
Just call us on 0151 426 1604 or 07484 003657, or request a callback via our contact form.