Silverfish are a sign of moisture more than anything else. They’re harmless to people, but they chew paper, cardboard, book bindings, and wallpaper glue in humid, undisturbed spots.
Signs and sources
- Small, silvery, carrot-shaped insects that dart away when disturbed
- Ragged holes or yellow stains on paper and cardboard
- Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and under sinks
- Garages and storage boxes
- Bookshelves and stacks of old papers
What our treatment does
We treat the areas where silverfish hide and point out the moisture and storage problems that are keeping them around.
What treatment can’t do
We’ll be straight with you: as long as the humidity and the cardboard stay, silverfish will too. Drying things out is what makes treatment last.
What actually helps
- Lower the humidity. Run bathroom fans during and after showers and fix leaks.
- Switch to plastic. Store papers, photos, and clothes in sealed plastic bins instead of cardboard.
- Clear the clutter. Recycle old newspapers and magazines.
- Vacuum often. Crumbs, hair, and dust feed them. Vacuum along baseboards, closet floors, and shelves.
- Fix the drips. Repair leaky faucets, toilets, and pipes, and check under sinks for slow leaks.
Still seeing silverfish?
In a climate this dry, silverfish usually point to one damp spot. Check under sinks, behind toilets, in the water heater closet, and around evaporative coolers. Find and fix that spot and they’ll have nowhere to live.
Common questions
Are silverfish harmful?
Not to people. They don’t bite or spread disease. They do chew paper, cardboard, book bindings, wallpaper glue, and some fabrics, so they can damage stored papers and photos.
Why do I have silverfish in such a dry climate?
Because they’ve found one damp spot. In Valley homes that’s usually a leaky sink or toilet, a bathroom without a working fan, a water heater closet, or an evaporative cooler. Fixing that spot does more than anything else.
How long do silverfish live?
Several years, which is unusually long for an insect. They can also go months without eating, so they won’t starve out on their own.
Tips and tricks
Set a jar trap. Wrap the outside of a small glass jar with masking tape so they can climb up, and put a pinch of bread or flour inside. Silverfish crawl in overnight but can’t climb the smooth glass to get out. Where you catch the most tells you where they’re living.
Protect your papers and photos
- Store photos, documents, and keepsakes in sealed plastic bins.
- Keep stored boxes up off garage and closet floors.
- Check stored books and papers once or twice a year.
Get help with silverfish
Noticing silverfish in storage areas? We’ll treat where they’re hiding and help you fix what’s drawing them in.
Other pests we handle: Scorpions, Cockroaches, Ants, Spiders, Rodents, Crickets, Stinging Insects, Bed Bugs, Flies & Gnats, Mosquitoes, Ticks & Fleas, Beetles, Centipedes & Millipedes, Pillbugs & Sowbugs. See the full pest library.