How to Manage and Control Silverfish Invasion in Your Home

Silverfish are almost not counted as pests by some people as they are mostly harmless to human beings, and yet, they can wreak havoc on household materials like fabric and paper. Due to their rapid reproduction cycles, their presence can quickly escalate to a full-blown infestation which is why preventative steps are especially important. However, even seeing a few silverfish strolling around the walls or in your closet might be indicative of a large hidden infestation (not fully visible especially since they mostly only appear during the night). Silverfish is definitely not a pest to ignore.

Spot The Enemy

The silverfish is a species of small, primitive, wingless insect in the order Zygentoma. Its common name derives from the animal’s silvery light grey colour, combined with the fish-like appearance of its movements.

Silverfish are a slippery pest to say the least because they hide easily and direct light can actually render them quite hard to spot due to their translucent looking color. Silverfish are typically light brown, white, grey, or silver hence the name Silver-Fish.

They have bristles at their behind and can be quite cylindrical in shape. They are resilient pests since climatic discrepancies don’t affect them as it does other pests such as ants, or mosquitoes. They do well in damp and dark places, and even in very warm places. They are a particular danger to paper products, wallpaper, books and delicate or wooly fabrics and that is why shelves and closets are their favorite haunt.

The easiest way to stay on top of the silverfish problem is to carry out regular dusting and cleaning of shelves and closets, and to use a white light if need be to ensure there is no secret silverfish population growing inside your home in Mississauga (or Hamilton, Oakville, Burlington, Scarborough and others in Ontario Canada). Outright damage to books, paper, and fabric such as small holes, can be a sign of silverfish or cockroach being behind the attack.

Divide & Conquer

Hard to spot insects and pests like silverfish can be troublesome to remove completely for most do-it-yourselfers, having said that, let us share some insights for you to defend your property against Silverfish.

How to Eliminate Silverfish

• Using safe insecticides, even regular mothballs can significantly cut down on the silverfish population growth as can disinfecting of areas like attics and basements or dark cupboards and closets. Always try to seal holes or cracks in these storage areas. You can also get a humidity monitor to check if the levels are normal. Too much humidity can make any place very hospitable to silverfish.
• Natural remedies like cedar oil can be effective especially if you have allergies or sensitivities to store-bought insect killer solutions. Black pepper can also act as a natural deterrent and these more natural solutions can be applied and reapplied liberally without causing any harmful effects on the health of the inhabitants of the house.
• Practicing good sense like storing food responsibly, regular vacuuming, applying direct sunlight to fabric items like duvet covers, cushions, and blankets, always storing clean clothing (with delicate fabric in a proper plastic covering) can all contribute to preventing an silverfish or moth infestation in the first place.
• Silverfish are like most other pests that create problems in cycles. Pests like termite or bed bugs for example are similarly notorious for being very hard to eliminate for DIYs since even if one egg remains the problem can easily start up again in the next season. For that reason employ a growth monitoring protocol to make sure your old enemy has not returned.

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What Do Silverfish Eat?

Silverfish are able to consume and digest matter that contains polysaccharides. Their food sources are vast and can include book bindings, carpet, clothing, cotton, dead insects, linen, silk, leftover crumbs, some paints, dandruff, glue, hair, paper, photos, plaster, sugar, leather and synthetic fabrics. Silverfish are far from being non-harmful pests, if left untreated can cause major damage. Visit to find out qreas we serve around Ontario.

Looking for a Silverfish Exterminator in Mississauga?

Having over a decade of pest control experience, Maximum pest control Services is proud to answer all your pest control related questions as well as exterminate Silverfish.

Contact us for better, rapid and proven results. With proven track record thoroughly eradicating pests around Ontario neighborhoods such as Mississauga, Hamilton, Oakville, Burlington, Scarborough, others nearby, we’ll safely and effectively eliminate Silverfish from your home in Mississauga ON.

We take pride in our work getting rid of pest problems for all our valued customers.

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Difference Between Silverfish vs Firebrat

The firebrat is a small hexapod, in the order Zygentoma (same order as Silverfish). Both insect species are the same size (about ½ inch long, nearly the size of a single grain) and same shape almost identical. They differ in their coloration. Silverfish are a solid silvery or gray metallic color, while firebrats are a brown and gray mottled color.