Silverfish Research Paper

Silverfish Extermination

SILVERFISH APPEARANCE, BIOLOGY, HABITS, CONTROL RECOMMENDATIONS
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Silverfish Photograph by: J.L. Castner, University of Florida

Silverfish Appearance

Silverfishis about 1/2 inch long, with a uniform silvery color over the upper surface. Their bodies are long and slender, flattened. The bodies are broad at the front, and gradually tapering toward the rear.
They can be found almost anywhere, but prefer damp, moderate temperature places such as basements, laundry rooms, and under sinks.

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Silverfish Biology and Habits

• Silverfish prefer a dark, moist environment and require a large supply of starchy foods or molds.
• Silverfish are considered to be nuisance pests that can feed on wallpaper pastes, natural textiles, books, and papers.

• Silverfish also feed on mold or fungi that can grow on various surfaces.
• They are fast-moving and can travel throughout buildings. Once silverfish find a good source of food, however, they stay close to it.

• Silverfish go through only a three stage life cycle called gradual metamorphosis, while many insects have a four stage life cycle (complete metamorphosis). Silverfish may lay eggs at any time during the year, and take 19-43 days to hatch. The life cycle from silverfish egg to adult is three to four months. They prefer humid areas (75 to 97% humidity), like bathrooms and moderate temperatures (70o to 80o F).

• Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas.

• Silverfish are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure. Silverfish can be a problem year
round.

Attics are a favorite place for silverfish due to the abundant food sources due to the recycled blown in paper insulation and storage boxes.

You may see silverfish trapped in sinks and bathtubs because they enter seeking moisture and are unable to climb a slick vertical surface to escape.

Ecology

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A book damaged by silverfish

Silverfish consume matter that contains polysaccharides, such as starches and dextrin in adhesives.[4] These include glue, book bindings,paper, photos, sugar, coffee, hair, carpet, clothing and dandruff. Silverfish can also cause damage to tapestries. Other substances that may be eaten include cotton, linen, silk, synthetic fibres and dead insects or even its own exuvia (moulted exoskeleton). During famine, a silverfish may even attack leatherware and synthetic fabrics. Silverfish can live for a year or more without eating.[2][4]

Silverfish are considered a household pest, due to their consumption and destruction of property.[2] Although they are responsible for the contamination of food and other types of damage, they do not transmit disease.[4][14]

Earwigs, house centipedes and spiders are known to be predators of silverfish.[15][16

Symptoms and Damage of Silverfish:

• Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas. • Because they molt during their adult lives their cast skins may be a useful detection too. • Silverfish diets are high in protein, sugar, or starch, including cereals, moist wheat flour, starch in book bindings, and paper on which there is glue or paste. • Silverfish can damage book bindings, wallpaper, paper goods and dry foods. They may eat holes, irregular shaped in the wallpaper to get to the paste. Silverfish may bite very small holes in various fabrics, including cotton, linen, and silk, even though they cannot digest either linen or cotton. Firebrats will feed extensively on rayon, whereas silverfish usually damage it only slightly. • They may leave a yellowish stain on fabric. • Outside, they may be found in nest of insects, birds, mammals, and under tree bark and mulch. They can be found in wood shingles or sidings on houses, they may enter the home from these.

RECOMMENDED MEASURES FOR SILVERFISH CONTROL: How to Get Rid of and Kill Silverfish 1. Sources of any undue moisture, such as faulty plumbing or condensation that provide the humidity favored by these pests should be eliminated. 2. Dehumidifying reduces the moisture content of the air that these insects find essential. Some methods for dehumidifying include: Mend leaking pipes. Ventilate closed rooms and attics. Eliminate standing water. Use a dehumidifier an air conditioner. 3. Regularly vacuuming cracks and crevices with a narrow vacuum tip also can be a good method to physically remove these insects from their harborages. 4. Removal of food sources , stored in tight containers. 5. If you have a problem of silverfish inside your home, a good residual perimeter treatment of: o [pic]Cyonara 9.7

o [pic] Demon WP /Cyper WP insecticide These residual insecticides, sprayed around entry points and foundation of the house would be the first step. Spray along the foundational wall, with a two or three foot band. Cyonara 9.7, Demon WP/Cyper WP : last for two to three months. All these products are odorless.
The wettable powder (WP) formulation in the Demon WP and Cyper WP will leave a slight film that can be seen against dark surfaces. The Cyonara 9.7 does not leave a film.

However if you have a more severe problem with silverfish , look into stored boxes and the insulation in your attic. It is best to dust or bait these areas for greater control. When you use baits or dusts, you do want to get it as close as possible to their habitats to be effective. You never want to bait and dust in areas that are visible. Dust needs to be in hidden areas such as : Attics-Insulation Behind Refrigerators and Ovens Boxes Light fixtures Electrical outlets Under siding .

6. A recommended dust for silverfish control would be [pic] ECO PCO DX Dust or[pic] Delta Dust. Both dust last 6 months in the attic area or recessed
area. Apply it in the attic in the insulation area in particular, under siding, in storage boxes,light fixtures, electrical outlets. Apply it to areas that can be kept dry. An easy way to apply Delta Dust or ECO PCO DX Dust, if broadcasting in the insulation area would be the use of a duster called the [pic]Dustin Mizer,cranking out a large amount of dust at a time. You will want one lb. of dust per 800-1000 sq. ft.

For smaller dust jobs [pic] Bellows Duster would work fine.

7. Another very effective way is the use of baits in the attic or on the outside for silverfish control. 8. . [pic]Intice Granular Bait works very well against silverfish as well as roaches and crickets. It can be sprinkled out in a self contained one lb. bag, in all the areas you believe they are hiding. 9. You can also you a residual aerosol like [pic]D-Force HPX Aerosol with a crack and crevice tip, enabling you to get behind baseboards and corners of traveling paths of the silverfish. This type of aerosol is very helpful in bathrooms where silverfish like to eat the back of wallpaper. 10. [pic]Silverfish Paks are designed to go inside. These Paks destroy these year-round pests that eat wool, paper, linen and cellulose materials. Place odorless, wafer-thin packets under rugs, behind curtains, in closets and dark hidden places . Place away from children and pets. Niban/Intice and Silverfish Paks both are designed to attract the silverfish as they eat, functioning as long term baits. If you do not know the exact location of the habitat of the silverfish and cannot treat it directly, baits are ideal for silverfish control.

*** Silverfish Paks is an excellent product to accompany a through spraying and/or dusting. It is not advised as a stand alone treatment. • Silverfish