Why Do Silverfish Come Indoors?

Silverfish are attracted to the glue used on book binders.

The silverfish is a gray shiny insect about a half inch long. It has no wings and its body is covered with scales. This nocturnal bug hides throughout the day and eats items in your home at night. Attics, ovens, fireplaces and cupboards around piping are common places to find silverfish. This bug can do a lot of damage to items. Finding the source of attraction and eliminating it can help you keep silverfish from coming into your home.

Moisture

Silverfish are attracted to moisture. Leaky piping, sinks, bathtubs and damp areas or stagnate water inside the home can host infestations. Use fans and dehumidifiers to help with this problem, along with sealing pipes and entrances into the home. Be aware that warm temperatures and humidity cause moisture inside of houses.

Paper

Silverfish feed off paper products. Old newspapers, magazines, books, paper bags and other paper products stacked around the house are prime hiding places for silverfish. Bookcases or baskets filled with paper should be checked regularly if silverfish are spotted. Base boards, wallpaper, toilet paper or wallpaper are also targets.

Starch and Sugar

Cereals, grains, pastas, flour, breads and other starchy foods attract silverfish. Sweet foods in the home do also. Starched laundry will also attract silverfish. Keep cereals in sealed containers and the cupboards tightly sealed. Starched laundry should be kept in the plastic or in a sealed bag. Clean up leftover foods from counter tops and seal garbage bins. Spilled juices, pops and other sugary drinks need to be washed with a cleanser.

Pet Food

Silverfish will enter the home to eat pet food. Don't leave pet food in dishes in the home or the garage. Avoid leaving water out for animals also. Feed pets at a specific time and give your animals water regularly. Remove the dishes when the animal has finished.

Dust and Debris

Dust and debris are eaten by silverfish. Clean your home regularly and vacuum for insects or crumbs. Vacuum by baseboards and windows. A silverfish will eat other dead bugs that it finds.

Fabric

Fabrics are another feeding favorite of the silverfish. Laundry that is left out or stored around moist, dark areas is likely to get eaten.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: Silverfish and Firebrats
• University of Minnesota Extension: Silverfish and Firebrats
• University of Nebraska Lincoln: Silverfish and Firebrats (005)

Resources

• Penn State Entamology: Bristetails ( Silverfish and Firebrats)
• University of California: Pests of Home, Structures, People and Pets
• Texas A&M Agrilife Extension: Silverfish and Firebrats