Latin: Lepisma Saccharina
Silverfish is a small shiny insect with several legs and feeler horns. Silverfish got their name because of their shiny surface, which resembles the scales of a fish. They are said to have lived on earth for more than 300 million years. Since then, they have lived all over the world and they are also common in Denmark. In warmer countries they live in the wild e.g., under rocks and the like, but in Denmark they mainly live inside our home, as heat and moisture becomes them.
The silverfish can live in up to five years, which is quite a lot for an insect. On the other hand, they only lay few eggs, which is a good thing considering their long-life span.
Appearance
There are two different species of silverfish. The most common, is the Lepisma saccharina, which can be up to one centimeter long with the silvery body. The other species is Thermobia domestica, known as the oven fish, which can be up to two centimeters long. This one is not as shiny as the ordinary silverfish.
The silverfish has two long antennae and three tail wires. The tail threads are less than half a body length.
Biology and behavior
The silverfish thrives in humid environments. Which is why you often finds them in bathrooms and kitchens where it is humid. It can be in bathtub and under the sink. In the bathtub they will be found at the bottom, as it cannot get up. The silverfish cannot crawl on vertical or smooth surfaces. The other species, the oven fish, thrives in warmer and drier places, but it is not as common in Denmark as the silverfish.
The silverfish is nocturnal. And it is during the night they are feeding. The silverfish hide in cracks and cervices during the day. It is here you will find the silverfish, so do remember to vacuum in those places, if you want to get rid of the silverfish. The silverfish also lay its eggs in cracks and cervices. The timespan from the egg hatching until the silverfish is mature, takes about six months.
The silverfish feed on starchy and sugary substances. It eats bread, crumbs, newspaper, wallpaper, paste and the like.
Damage
As silverfish are attracted to starchy products, they are often found in food stuff and in wallpaper, which is also full of starch. They eat the starch, which can damage the wallpaper and can be unhygienic in food stuff. The silverfish can also eat paper – especially if it is damp. It has also been experienced that the silverfish has gnawed holes in various textiles. They can therefore be a major nuisance.
Prevention and pest control
Silverfish can do a lot of damage. They can be difficult to get rid of once they have settled. There are however methods that can help a bit.
As mentioned, silverfish thrives in very humid places. The most important thing is to keep the rooms relatively dry. As well as finding out where the moisture comes from. It is a good idea to vacuum in cracks and crevices, as this is the hiding place for the silverfish during the day. In general, vacuuming is the most ideal form of cleaning to remove silverfish because it does not involve water and moisture. The appearance of silverfish can therefore be prevented if you vacuum often and do it very thoroughly. Along with the thorough cleaning, one can also use insecticides to get rid of the silverfishes. The insecticide to use should be for crawling insects. It is important to get into cracks and crevices, as this is where they hide during the day. You can often get the insecticide as a powder, so it is easier to use it in just cracks and crevices. It is difficult to get rid of the silverfish completely, even when you clean thoroughly as well as using an insecticide.
"Pests in House and Home"
"Bed Bugs - Bites, Stings and Itches"
"Food Pests"
"Husets dyreliv" (Insects Around the House - Only danish)
"Skadedyr i træ" (Timber Pests - Only danish)
"Stuefluen" (Common Housefly - Only danish)