Silverfish

APPEARANCE:
Silverfish are small, soft insects without wings and are a brown or silver-gray color. Their size tends to be about 1/8 to 1 inch.

HABITAT:
Silverfish normally live outdoors under rocks, bark and leaf mold, in the nests of birds and mammals, and in ant and termite nests. However, many are found in houses and are considered a pest, or at least a nuisance, by homeowners. Usually they are found trapped in a bathtub, sink, or washbasin.

DIET:
These insects prefer vegetable matter with a high carbohydrate and protein content. However, indoors they will feed on almost anything. A partial list includes dried beef, flour, starch, paper, gum, glue, cotton, linen, rayon, silk, sugar, molds and breakfast cereals.

LIFE CYCLE/REPRODUCTION:
Adults lay eggs in small groups containing a few to 50 eggs. The eggs are very small and are deposited in cracks and crevices throughout the home. A female normally lays less than 100 eggs during her lifespan of two to eight years. Under ideal conditions, the eggs hatch in two weeks, but may take up to two months to hatch.

TYPES OF DAMAGE:
A household pest, they feed on cereals and non-food items such as paste, paper, starch in clothes, rayon fabrics and dried meats.

[Back]

State Certified • Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Advanced Wildlife Control LLC • Tel: 262-242-4390 • 414-406-5785 • 262-542-1250

We service all cities, towns, and villages in southeastern Wisconsin including Addison, Allenton, Ashippun, Barton, Bayside, Bay View, Belgium, Big Bend, Boltonville, Brookfield, Brown Deer, Butler, Campbellsport, Caledonia, Cedarburg, Cedar Grove, Chenequa, Colgate, Cudahy, Delafield, Dousman, Elm Grove, Erin, Farmington, Fox Point, Franklin, Fredonia, Genessee Depot, Germantown, Glendale, Grafton, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Hartford, Hartland, Hubertus, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, Jackson, Kewaskum, Kohlsville, Lac La Belle, Lake Five, Lannon, Lisbon, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, Merton, Milwaukee, Monches, Mukwonago, Muskego, Nashotah, Neosho, New Berlin, Newburg, North Lake, North Prairie, Oak Creek, Oconomowoc, Oconomowoc Lake, Okauchee, Pewaukee, Plat, Port Washington, Random Lake, Richfield, River Hills, Rockfield, Saylesville, Saukville, Shorewood, Slinger, South Milwaukee, Stone Bank, St. Francis, Sussex, Sullivan, Thiensville, Trenton, Vernon, Wales, Waubeka, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, Wayne, West Allis, West Milwaukee, Whitefish Bay, West Milwaukee, and West Bend.