The silverfish is not always silver.
Silverfish are not fish at all.  Silverfish are insects, related to cockroaches and ants. Colored
blueish-silver to greenish-silver, these slippery and disgusting creatures carry the moniker “fish”
because their movements mimic small fish.  Silverfish are ½ to 1 inch long scaly pests that thrive
in damp environments.  They feast on starch and carbohydrates, eating everything from cereals
and bread to cardboard boxes and wallpaper (they love the starchy glue).  You can easily get rid
of silverbugs by following a few simple steps.
Silverfish Damage
Very little harm is caused by silverfish and they post no health risk or threat of pain or
stinging.  Silverfish just want to quietly go about their life living in the damp crevices of your
home an munching on your books, walls and photos.  Small holes will appear where
silverfish have been nibbling and some yellow staining may occur.  You will also find
slothed off shells because silverfish molt continuously.
Dry Up
A dehumidifier is the best weapon against silverfish.  Unlike other insects, silverfish have
a soft shell and are very susceptible to dehydration.  They love humidity above 75%.  That is
why they congregate near leaky faucets, drips, standing water and dank musty places in
the attic and basement.   Seek out these areas and dry them up.
Check around your home for cracks and crevices.  
Silverfish use these for entry into your house and also
live in these tight spaces.  A good caulking job does
wonders.  Also check your wallpaper for any loose
corners or seams.  This is prime silverfish territory.  
Repair the wallpaper immediately.
Get Rid of Silverfish
Clean Up
Keep your food tightly sealed.  Cereals are a
favorite haunt of silverfish.  They will crawl into an
open box for their heaven of starch, starch and more
starch.  They may even lay some eggs for you to enjoy
with your morning breakfast.  You get the idea.  
Deny these rather disgusting pests a food source.
Seal Up
Boric acid (borax) and diatomaceous
earth
are available online and at home
and garden centers.  Both dusting agents
are completely organic and safe.  
Spreading the dust in suspected silverfish
hangouts will effectively kill the critters.  
The dust scratches the exoskeleton of the
silverfish and then it acts as a dessicant to
suck the moisture out of their bodies.  
Pretty cool, huh?
Dust Up
There are sticky traps and
insecticides
that will catch and kill
silverfish but they should be a last
resort.  Silverfish are fairly harmless
characters.  Spreading poison
around your home and food might
not a bit of overkill unless there is a
serious infestation.
Traps and Poisons
Blogs and Sites About Silverfish
Hornet blogs and sites are a great source of informations.  Some of our favorites are Silverfish No More, Buzzle, Associated Content, Silverfish Control and
How To Get Rid of Silverfish.
Suck Up
Vacuuming is a safe and easy way to get
rid of silverfish.  There’s only one
problem with this strategy – you’ll need
to vacuum in the dark at night.  Silverfish
are nocturnal and they scatter at the
first glimpse of light.
Silverfish are slithery, scaling, fairly disgusting creatures that do very little damage and pose no serious health risk.  
They are just plain unsightly and most people would rather they not be around.  Silverfish eat starches and carbohydrates
and live in moist, dank places.  Drying the air in your home and eliminating wet spots is a strong defense against silverfish.
 Cleaning up and sealing your food shuts off their food source, and sealing cracks and crevices shuts off their entry points
and living spaces.  Insecticidal dusts are effective in getting rid of silverfish and they are also easily vacuumed in a stealthy
night time raid.  Good luck as you fend off these squirmy fiends!l crop up.  Tough thing to do.
You Can Get Rid of Silverfish
Let's face it, I'm pretty disgusting.
Silverfish and kids love these cereals.
There are excellent products available online.  Amazon offers a comprehensive list of brand name
products at inexpensive cost in their Home and Garden Store.  They even have a special section for
Pest Control.  Amazon is the largest online purveyor of pest control products.
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This article is intended to educate and entertain.  The author of this site does not accept responsibility for any damage or injury
resulting from information dispersed on this site.  Always check with experts when dealing with dangerous substances and situations.
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