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With a life span of 6 years, an attraction to high moisture areas such as bathrooms, and an appetite for kitchen pantry staples, silverfish are certainly not ideal houseguests. In this Hivemind blog, we share our top 7 tips to help you keep silverfish away from your home for good.

What questions will this article answer?

Why are silverfish in my kitchen and bathrooms?

As their name suggests, silverfish are elongated, grey, gold or brown coloured insects with a characteristic scaly appearance and long antennae. Although they rarely grow beyond 2cm long, silverfish can survive without food for months on end, and live for up to 6 years.

However, these tough insects require one key factor to survive: humidity. In your home, this means that areas containing high moisture such as your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry make for ideal nesting places.

With an appetite for sugary, starchy and fabric-based items, silverfish can easily access a smorgasbord of food sources, not just from your kitchen and bathrooms, but all around your home.

What problems can silverfish cause?

While they are thankfully not known for spreading diseases, these creepy crawlies can still cause chaos and disruption in other ways. Here’s how:

Damage to your home

Silverfish will be just as happy raiding your kitchen pantry for grains, cereals, rice and pasta as they are chewing through fabric and paper items. This includes bathroom towels and mats, as well as clothing, photos, books, timber, and even wood-based musical instruments around your home.

Food contamination

For most of us, seeing silverfish crawling around sugary and starchy pantry staples makes them seem far less appetising, and certainly unfit for human consumption.

Allergies

Silverfish droppings and moulted skins can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms in some people.

For fast silverfish control, speak to an expert today

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How to tell if you have a silverfish outbreak

If you’re seeing any of the following signs, your home might be in the midst of a silverfish infestation:

Frequent sightings

If you see more silverfish scurrying around, especially in the evenings, you may have a big silverfish problem brewing.

Damaged clothing and furniture

Look for unexpected and unexplained tears, rips and holes in your clothes and fabric furniture, as well as paper-based items such as books or photos.

Droppings

Resembling very small, black peppercorns, silverfish droppings can sometimes be mistaken for dust.

Moulted skins

Typically shedding their outer skins around 30 times a year, you may notice an accumulation of these delicate, translucent layers discarded throughout your home.

How to prevent silverfish in your kitchen and bathrooms

If you spot an odd silverfish lurking in your home, there’s likely to be many more hidden away in unsuspected places. Avoid the unpleasant surprise of a silverfish outbreak by following these 7 handy hints:

Tip 1: Remove all sources of moisture

Fix leaking roofs, taps, pipes and drains and reduce humidity levels inside your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry where possible. This might involve buying a dehumidifier or opening some windows. If you notice mouldy or damp areas, be sure to carefully inspect for the presence of silverfish.

Tip 2: Keep your home clean

Regular and thorough sweeping, vacuuming, dusting and mopping in less frequented and hard to reach places can assist with removing eggs. Remember to check behind and underneath furniture, and even steam clean fabric furniture and upholstery.

Tip 3: Store unused fabric and paper items away

Clothes, towels, sheets, blankets and rugs are best stowed away inside wardrobes, closets and drawers, with silverfish-deterring mothballs adding extra protection. Photo albums and books can be stacked in tightly sealed plastic bags and non-cardboard boxes.

Tip 4: Practice proper food storage

Pantry items, especially those which are starch- or sugar-rich, are best kept dry in tightly sealed containers.

Tip 5: Regular yard maintenance

Clothes, towels, sheets, blankets and rugs are best stowed away inside wardrobes, closets and drawers, with silverfish-deterring mothballs adding extra protection. Photo albums and books can be stacked in tightly sealed plastic bags and non-cardboard boxes.

Tip 6: Remove access points

Identifying and sealing over holes, gaps, cracks and crevices will make it more difficult for silverfish to enter your home.

Tip 7: Pesticide sprays

Available at most hardware stores and supermarkets, general pesticide sprays are effective at stopping silverfish in their tracks.

Protect your belongings from silverfish, get expert advice today

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Professional silverfish management

Once a colony has been established, it can be difficult to manage a silverfish infestation without professional assistance. This is because silverfish lay eggs in easily overlooked tiny cracks and crevices all over your home and belongings.

That’s why at Allstate, our pest technicians are always available for ongoing treatments for persistent and recurring outbreaks when needed. Here are the methods that we use to successfully control silverfish:

Silverfish insecticide sprays

Effective in large areas, a fast-acting aerosol spray can reduce the silverfish population quickly.

Fumigation

A powerful solution for severe infestations, we’ll arrange with you to safely fumigate large, enclosed areas while you, your family and pets are not at home for a specified period of time.

Silverfish control dust

Sprinkled liberally in hard-to-reach spaces such as tiny gaps and wall cavities, diatomaceous earth control dust deters silverfish from accessing these areas to nest and hide their eggs.

Choose Allstate for fast and effective silverfish control

At Allstate, we’ve seen how sneaky silverfish can quietly cause damage and disruption in homes and businesses across town. That’s why we’re available 24/7 for urgent advice and solutions to managing silverfish problems in all suburbs of Adelaide.

Since 1986, Allstate has offered comprehensive pest control services, including innovative and modern silverfish treatments, to residential, commercial and industrial clients alike.

With an emphasis on safety, our pest control methods are always focused on the wellbeing of people, pets and the environment.

We offer payment plans and competitive warranties on all our services, so you can access long-lasting protection from silverfish outbreaks sooner rather than later.

Our expert team is ready to help you now.

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FAQs

What is a stored product pest?

A stored product pest, also known as a pantry pest or stored food pest, is any type of insect or small animal that infests and contaminates stored food products. They are commonly found in kitchen pantries, food storage areas and warehouses where grains, dried goods, flour and other food items are kept.

How to manage stored product pests?

To manage stored product pests, it’s crucial to identify and manage the source of the infestation. This could include removing infested food items, cleaning and sanitising affected areas, sealing cracks and crevices that pests can enter through, and using non-toxic methods such as traps or natural repellents.

A storage pest is any organism that damages or contaminates stored products. This can include insects, rodents, birds, and even fungi or bacteria. These pests are a common problem in food storage areas and can cause significant economic losses if not properly controlled.

What is the difference between primary and secondary stored product pests?

The difference between primary and secondary stored product pests lies in their feeding habits. Primary pests feed directly on the stored product, while secondary pests feed on the waste produced by primary pests or other materials in the storage area. Examples of primary stored product pests include beetles, moths and weevils, while secondary pests may include mites and psocids.

How can I prevent stored product pests?

Preventing pests from infesting stored products starts with proper storage and sanitation practices. These include regularly cleaning and inspecting food storage areas, properly sealing and storing all food items in airtight containers, and rotating stock to ensure older products are used first. Additionally, keeping the storage area dry and well-ventilated can help deter pests from infesting.