Kill Silverfish Insects

September 19th, 2008 Posted in Pantry & Linen Pests, Silverfish & Firebrats


I had never seen a silverfish in my life before I began researching for this article. Then, two nights in a row, they were introducing themselves to me! One of them was in my living room, and I immediately started taking pictures of the little creature once my roommate told me what it was. My silverfish just sat and looked pretty, mostly because they are not big fans of light in any form. Next, when I went to sleep, there was one hiding in my room, which popped out when I came in! I guess, when you search, they will come, right?





This article will teach you:

  • Silverfish stats

  • What silverfish eat and where they live

  • How to tell if you have an infestation of silverfish

  • How to get rid of silverfish



Silverfish Stats:

Though they do not bite, silverfish are seen as pests because of the psychological distress they cause humans (people get scared or put off by them). When outside, they live inside army ants’ nests, which is called an interdependent relationship in the insect world.

  • Size: 1/2-1 inches long

  • Name origin comes from their silvery bodies and fish-like movements

  • Lifetime: 2-8 years

  • Can live up to a year without food

  • Have 6 appendages (legs) and antennae

  • Are probably crawling around in your house



What They Eat and Where They Live

Silverfish prey on books, newspapers, and common food found in household pantries. Basically, they’ll eat anything if it’s in a warm, damp environment around 80°. They love anything high in polysaccharides and starch.

Silverfish are often found in sinks and bathtubs where they go for moisture, but are unable to climb out. They are also commonly found in basements, where there is humidity in the air and food nearby, behind baseboards and walls, and under couches or other furniture.



How to Tell if Your House is Infested With Silverfish

Tell-tale signs of silverfish are oddly-shaped holes or notches in books, newspapers, and cardboard boxes lying around. They also leave their exoskeletons around their environment.

You might also see them squirming around your home in dark, moist places, like in a crack or crevice in the wall…yuck! But have no fear, there are ways to get rid of them!



Ways to Get and Keep Silverfish Out of Your Home

Boric Acid

Lethal to silverfish.

  1. Bait the silverfish with something high in starch, like crackers or bread.

  2. Let them step into the boric acid trap.

  3. The boric acid works as a stomach toxin, and the powder is hard on the silverfish’s exoskeleton.

Diatomaceous Earth

  • Soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is made to be crumbled into fine white powder.

  • Absorbs lipids from their exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate.

  • Causes them to die because of water pressure deficiency.

Jar Trap

  1. Clean out a household jar completely.

  2. Cover the jar in masking tape.

  3. Put some starchy food inside.

  4. Silverfish will be attracted to this and go inside.

  5. They will not be able to climb up the sides, so they will inevitably die.

Some Everyday Methods

Salt and cloves can also repel silverfish. Bait them with food. Next, they will be turned away from the scent of these household products.

They also run away from light; they are naturally nocturnal.

EcoSMART

EcoSMART is another helpful tool to use when trying to get rid of silverfish. Because EcoSMART is an organic insecticide, it is environmentally safe and is not hazardous to children or pets, like some of the repellents listed above. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not risk my health when in the process of killing pesky insects.

EcoSMART is a safe and environmentally-friendly product that is proven to work. Find out for yourself; Try EcoSMART products to kill silverfish.

chelsea roeser electronic pest control
Chelsea Roeser




  1. 28 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!

  2. By Michael K on Dec 17, 2008

    Silverfish have been the bane of my (home) existence! A few years back we had the Orkin Man visit – and the number of Silverfish dropped for a few months… but I dread the idea of having to leave my house for a few house… and have this horrific ’stuff’ being sprayed everywhere… if EcoSMART works I’ll be a customer for life… as will my neighbors (I live in a 20 unit condo building). Fingers are crossed!

  3. By Matt Y on Dec 23, 2008

    My wife hates all bugs (as do I), but to her, nothing is worse than seeing a silverfish in the house. We have bi-monthly Orkin treatments and I spray Home Defense in between visits, but these little pests keep coming in. I tried those little silverfish packs a few years ago, and hid them around my house, and they seem to work, but one day one of my dogs walked into the living room with a pack in his mouth! Thankfully nothing happened to him, but that was the last time I used them. I don’t want bugs in my house, but I also don’t want to risk my pets’ or my family’s lives. I really hope EcoSmart works!

  4. By Janet on Jan 5, 2009

    These things are a menace. And why is it they love to show themselves when you have guests? I was drawn to this site because it is okay to use around children. I really hope this works! I hate to think of spraying my house down with a bunch of chemicals that may be causing serious harm to my family.

  5. By Beth on Jan 8, 2009

    Hope this product works.Don’t want to get an infestation.I saw one on the kitchen ceiling a couple weeks ago and one in my bedroom a few days later.Thought okay… no big deal well,tonight I went to change clothes and grabbed a shirt and one was underneath ! Gross! I try to use natural products as much as possible for my family’s health,my dogs included.Anxious to try this.

  6. By Sarah on Apr 18, 2009

    Ugh. I had heard of silverfish, but had never really seen one in my own home until the other night. This is definitely a helpful post. I have pets and using poisons in my house and even outside my home is really a big no-no for me. Thanks for the tips! I’m definitely interested in EcoSmart!

  7. By karen on May 13, 2009

    I think these are worse than ants. I see them in my basement and I just hate those appendages and antennae. And they live up to a year without food? Gross! I’d love to try these remedies.

  8. By David on May 15, 2009

    I have seen silverfish sporadically in inconspicuous places. When I do see them they are only solo. I have not yet seen any firebrats only silverfish. They look a bit like land fish with legs, hence the name they are usually only on the floor. Using a bit of toilet tissue, I transmigrated one silverfish outside to become prey for another outdoor creature such as a spider or a bird.

  9. By Respect2Glory on Jun 11, 2009

    I use a bit of tissue to transmigrate unwanted pests to the trashcan or toilet – because they’re in my house… but that’s if I can catch them. I did loose track of a 4-inch centipede once in my bedroom when it disappeared behind an armoire. *eeriest shivers*

  10. By Elyse on Jun 25, 2009

    I’ve never come in contact with a silverfish, but I’ve seen a couple firebrats. They’re so speedy and really disgusting. It’s so hard to rid an apartment of firebrat food since they’ll eat cardboard too. How do they even get into a home? Can I spray Raid around doorways and corners to repel them?

  11. By Maggie on Jun 28, 2009

    Wow! This website is like heaven! I’ve seen silverfish in my bathroom, especially when i’m on the loo! That’s when they seem to come out and taunt me!!!! Bit concerned they might be in my cupboards having a party on my starchy food! I need some EcoSMART, and gosh I hope it works!!!

  12. By micky on Jul 1, 2009

    I’d never seen these things before until the missus screamed one day. I’ve been woken up in the middle of the night with her screaming for me to get rid of it. When she has her mates round, they seem to come out. They are driving me crazy!!!! And as for the insects they are driving me crazy aswell!!!! Definately going to try the jar which was mentioned. I’m very interested in this product, thanx for the advice!

  13. By Alea on Jul 10, 2009

    We have tons of bugs in our bathroom and would like find a way to get rid of them!!!!

  14. By Tracey on Jul 10, 2009

    I can’t STAND these things! I’ve seen them my whole life, usually in the bathroom or basement (something about damp places, right?)… anyway, I just squish them with toilet paper and throw them away because I didn’t know there was a way to kill them that wouldn’t be dangerous to my cat or myself… would be interested in trying something safe for us, but deadly for silverfish!

  15. By SARAH on Jul 11, 2009

    Thank you for your blog; it is certainly helpful. I lived in a top-floor suite in an older home for 15 months which was unfortunately infested with silverfish. I have a large collection of books (as well as papers and files) and didn’t realize that these little mites have been having fun feasting away at them. Finally, I decided to move to a new suite – but much to my dismay the silverfish decided to accompany me! Although the new suite is dry and free of leaks, and I keep my space meticulously clean, the silver fish still seem to be proliferating!! Arghhh!!

  16. By Matthew Laudie on Jul 12, 2009

    Spiders? No problem. I can deal with them. Wasps? Just kill them when it’s cold. They go away. Ants. Well, they’re not too bad (unless they’re fire ants.) But silverfish are CREEPY…. AND I’ve got ‘em. I’m hoping Ecosmart will help. If not, what next?

  17. By Amber on Jul 13, 2009

    I have these in my new home. I hate them, but someone recently told me that if you have Silverfish you don’t have cockroaches!

  18. By Jevack on Jul 14, 2009

    I spotted my first silverfish last year and that was when I realized where the name came from. The way they move, ick, it’s so fish-like. No offence to fish of course, but as a bug it really makes me sqweamish.
    I had no idea they live for 2-8 years, unbelievable.
    I’m glad my house hasn’t had an infestation, but if it did now I know how to get rid of them!

  19. By Staci on Sep 5, 2009

    I hate these nasty bugs. I hope this product works. I stay up late to kill so that I can kill at least two a night. I’m sick of them and loosing sleep so that I can kill them. I hope this product works for us!

  20. By Paul on Sep 26, 2009

    Can someone who used EcoSmart confirm whether this product really does kill Silverfish or not?

    Some people in posts have mentioned that this product does not really work. It would be great if it works as advertised.

    I would love to see it work, especially since I have 3 young toddlers in my home.

    Since I can not find it in my local store, I’m planning to buy Orange Guard from a local hardware store today to try to see if it will rid of my silverfish infestation. I hate these bugs!!

  21. By Paul on Sep 29, 2009

    Update. Silverfish is still lurking in my garage, 2nd floor, and 3rd floor in my house.

    Product Orange Guard that I bought and tried is not working!!

    Smashing them in the wee hours of the night when they come out of hiding with a wet napkin is not fun. I would love to try and see Ecosmart will do the trick! I hate these critters.

  22. By Walter Czekaj on Oct 7, 2009

    I just purchased a house that was vacant for 4 years and loaded with books and magazines. Because of that it is also loaded with silverfish. I am looking for a safe and effective way to get rid of them because simply removing all of the old materials has not done the job. I hope EcoSMART works.

  23. By norma on Oct 25, 2009

    See these all the time in my bathroom. Can’t get rid of them. Hope your product can help.

  24. By Sue on Oct 25, 2009

    I will see some of these creepy silverfish a few times a year. No matter how often I see them, they still creep me out! I would love to become a tester of this product so I never have to see another silverfish again!!!

    Sue

  25. By taylor on Dec 17, 2009

    I find these bugs in my pantry all the time which is really gross.My pantry of course is by my garage and I have two dogs so the silverfish like to hang around the dogfood.Then whenever someone opens the door they all run inside.Please help me!

  26. By Sarah on Dec 23, 2009

    Please send me an email if this product (EcoSmart) really does work.

  27. By Cindy Wong on Jan 29, 2010

    I love reading and sewing. Naturally, I have silverfish in the house. I would love to be a tester of EcoSmart. Thanks, Cindy

  28. By Kelsey on Mar 2, 2010

    I just moved into a basement apartment and I’ve seen a few silverfish around…help me!

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28 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers! (details)