How to Kill Silverfish & Eggs in the Attic

Attics usually contain multiple food sources for silverfish.

Silverfish usually stay out of sight, preferring dark, moist hiding places and nighttime activity. Occasionally, they get into the bathtub and sink and can’t get out, prompting an “eww” from the unlucky individual who discovers them. Although they don’t hurt humans, they’re considered a nuisance. They nibble on the edges of books, leaving behind small notches, droppings, scales and stains. Silverfish can live without food for a year, so persistence is key to killing these pests and their eggs.

Instructions

1. Eliminate sources of moisture in the attic, such as a leaky pipe, roof or windows or areas of condensation. Silverfish prefer environments with humidity between 75 and 90 percent. Examine everything you have stored for dampness, especially items in cardboard boxes. Make repairs, eliminate any standing water and mold and vent the attic or use a dehumidifier.

2. Clean items stored in cardboard and repack them in plastic storage boxes. Silverfish make holes in clothing and leave stains. They like to eat the starch in book bindings and paper with glue or paste, including wallpaper. It’s best to remove wallpaper, if possible.

3. Sweep or vacuum the attic floor to remove possible sources of food. Do not store boxed or bagged food, such as flour or cereal, in the attic.

4. Fill in with caulk cracks in the floor, walls and around plumbing. In addition to being an entrance into the attic, silverfish often lay their eggs in these areas.

5. Turn on lights in the attic. Silverfish don’t like light and you can make them move to an area where you can vacuum them up or exterminate them. Keep the heat above 80 degrees or below 65 degrees.

6. Set out traps. Cover the outside of a small glass jar with masking tape and put some flour inside. Silverfish can climb into the jar, but the glass sides are too slippery for them to get back out. You can drown them with soapy water. Commercial sticky traps are also available.

7. Scatter food grade diatomaceous earth in areas where silverfish congregate. The silverfish will ingest the substance which dehydrates them and damages their insides.

8. Dust small places with boric acid powder, a natural insecticide. The silverfish will bring it back to their nest stuck on their legs. You can place silverfish packs, a commercial product with boric acid inside a toxic packet, around the attic.

9. Use commercial insecticides if natural methods fail but keep pets and children out of the attic. Apply a bait/snuffer around the perimeter of your home in a 2 foot wide band.

References

• Cooper Seeds: Silverfish
• Do It Yourself Pest Control: Silverfish Extermination
• Earth Easy: Natural Pest Control
• How to Get Rid of Things: How to Get Rid of Silverfish