It’s happened to all of us — you go to pick up a box or move a book, and a silverfish comes scuttling out. These bugs are common household pests, especially here in Louisiana, but they look like they came here from an alien world. So, where do silverfish come from, anyway? This is the quick answer — click to jump to our in-depth explanation of what causes silverfish to show up in your house.

The quick answer is that they, like almost all household pests, come from outside. They live outdoors and move inside in search of resources.

The good news is that these insects aren’t particularly harmful. The bad news? They can become a nuisance and are difficult to eliminate without the help of a professional pest control expert. Now, let’s dive deeper into silverfish, where they come from, and how they get inside.

Tune In to Learn About Silverfish

The Big Question: What Causes Silverfish to Appear in Your Home?

As with most pests, silverfish would prefer to stay where they are if they can help it. But if they can’t find what they need, they’ll head out looking for resources. It’s a tale as old as time – they wander into your house, find what they’re looking for, and decide to stay.

The answer is simple. The cause of silverfish in your home is generally a climatic change that leads to resources becoming scarce, combined with vulnerabilities in your home, like cracks or gaps that allow them to gain access.

Where Do Silverfish Live Outside?

We often think of silverfish as household pests that are most at home in a damp basement or bathroom. While they enjoy these types of environments, their natural habitat is actually outside. Outdoors, they are frequently found in a variety of places, including:

• Under rocks and logs
• In leaf litter and soil
• Within bird and rodent nests
• Beneath tree bark

How Do Silverfish Get Inside?

For the most part, silverfish are content to remain in their outdoor environments, but when conditions become unfavorable, such as during drought or extreme heat, they seek out more favorable conditions. Like other pests, silverfish are drawn to homes in search of food or water.

Here are a few of the most common ways they enter homes like yours:

• Gaps and Cracks: Small openings in the foundation, around windows and doors, and in utility lines provide easy access.
• Infested Items: Silverfish can be unknowingly brought into a home on items such as cardboard boxes, books, papers, and even new furniture that has been stored in an infested area.
• Expansion from an Existing Population: In multi-unit dwellings, silverfish can travel between apartments through wall voids and shared plumbing.

Where Do Silverfish Live Inside Your Home?

Where are you most likely to find silverfish inside? It’s simple. Silverfish gravitate to cooler, more humid areas. It’s no wonder then that their favorite parts of your home include:

• Bathrooms: The high humidity from showers and baths creates an ideal environment.
• Basements and Crawl Spaces: These areas are often damp and undisturbed.
• Kitchens: Leaky pipes, spills, and food crumbs can attract them.
• Attics: Poor ventilation and potential roof leaks can lead to moisture buildup.
• Laundry Rooms: The moisture from washing machines contributes to a favorable habitat.
• Bookcases: Silverfish consume fibers in paper, making them a common pest in libraries and other areas with lots of books.

What Are Silverfish, Anyway?

Silverfish are a unique kind of insect named for their color, and the fish-like way they move when they walk, almost as if they’re swimming. They’re closely related to and easily mistaken for firebrats.

Here are a few more important facts you should know about silverfish:

• Their bodies are about ¾” and have an elongated shape. They have long antennae protruding from their head and an antennae-like appendage called cerci from their rear.
• Silverfish are mostly nocturnal, but may still be found during the day.
• They’re fairly harmless. They don’t bite and don’t carry any dangerous pathogens or diseases. However, they do molt their scales, and these can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
• Silverfish have large and varied diets. They will munch on practically anything they can find around a house, including wallpaper, clothing, insulation, and even human hair.

How to Prevent Silverfish in Your Home

The key to silverfish control is to learn how to prevent them in the first place. This means making your property less hospitable to the tiny insects. Our top tips to prevent silverfish are as follows:

1. Get rid of excess moisture in the home: Silverfish love damp, moist environments. To discourage such an environment in your home, consider using a dehumidifier and always use a fan in your bathroom.
2. Clean up and avoid clutter: Cluttered boxes of books and paper provide silverfish with both shelter and a meal. Properly store your important documents and other paper items in airtight bins.
3. Repair plumbing issues promptly: Leaky faucet or plumbing fixture? Not only will this attract silverfish, but a plethora of other pests as well. Promptly fix plumbing issues whenever you find them.
4. Keep dry food in sealed containers: Like pantry pests, silverfish will feast on dry foods like cereals, rice, quinoa, flour, and sugar. Consider storing all dry food items in airtight containers.

Need to Get Rid of Silverfish?

Silverfish are tricky pests to deal with. They’re fast and like to hide out of your sight. If you’re noticing more and more of these tiny bugs in your home — and can’t seem to get rid of them on your own — it’s time to call in your trusted, local residential pest control experts.

At Ja-Roy Pest Control, our exterminators will work hard to keep your property safe and sound from silverfish with a seasonal pest protection plan. Contact us today to get started!