| Appearance |
 Slender
and shiny silver or gray, with long antennae and three tail-like appendages
in back; 1/2- to 1
inch. |
| Habitat |
|
Silverfish prefer warm, damp,
undisturbed areas and
may go undetected for years. They live in cracks and voids and are
commonly
found in attics, basements and crawl spaces. Because they feed on
fungal molds
and organic matter, they are also seen regularly in kitchens and
bathrooms.
They can damage fabrics, paper and book bindings. |
| Diet |
| Molds and starchy materials like cereals, flour, sweet foods, paper, curtains
and wallpaper. |
| Control |
|
Silverfish are one of the hardest insects
to control,
especially in homes with wood shake (shingle) roofs. Shakes hold
moisture and
allow for mold to grow, which serves as food for silverfish. Treatment
of
cracks and voids as well as attic and crawl spaces is necessary to
minimize
silverfish. Because they can live in hard-to-treat spaces such as in
soffits,
behind fascia boards and under shingles, professional treatment is a
must when
silverfish are a regular problem. |
|
