The silverfish is an elongate silver colored insect. We sometimes find these little gray bugs in our bathtubs. They fall in and can’t climb out. We wonder what they are and are they harming anything in our house.
Silverfish live outdoors, but they are also inhabitants of most Mississippi homes, where they damage book bindings, stored papers, wallpaper, photographs, cotton fabrics and similar products. Because they are chewing insects, they can eat through your belongings. It seems that items that have been in storage and left undisturbed for a long time are the most likely to be damaged.
Silverfish do not bite, sting, or carry diseases or pathogens. Even though they are not a threat to your health, silverfish are not pests you want to live with. Silverfish can damage household goods and building material, and their creepy presence will quickly make your home an unpleasant place to be.
For most homeowners, the nuisance effect of seeing these gray, carrot-shaped, half-inch long insects scurrying around the bathroom or other rooms in the house is more important than the relatively minor damage they do. However, damage to books and other paper products can be significant when items are stored for long periods of time in moist, humid areas such as basements or attics. Silverfish also occasionally feed on cotton, liner or silk clothing. Silverfish do not live by carbohydrates alone, they also feed on dead insects and other sources of protein.
In homes with significant infestations, it is common to find these insects trapped in a sink or bathtub. Silverfish thrive in indoor areas with high humidity. They have an elongate body that tapers from head to tail, with two long antennae protruding from the head and three long filaments protruding from the rear. Silverfish are said to have “no metamorphosis” because the immatures are so similar to adults.
To control silverfish, practice good moisture management and sanitation. Repair water leaks, use ventilation to lower humidity, avoid clutter, vacuum regularly and thoroughly, and be sure to store important documents in bug-proof containers. Apply ready to use spray or aerosol insecticides containing active ingredients like deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin or bifenthrin, to cracks, crevices and voids. This also includes spraying under and behind furniture and appliances, and along baseboards. Dusts containing deltamethrin can also be applied to cracks, crevices and voids. Be sure to follow labels.
Source: Bug’s Eye View, Number 19 “Silverfish," Mississippi State University Extension, Dr. Blake Layton.
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