Householders urged to act following huge increase in silverfish and firebrat infestations in Ireland

The terrible weather had led to a massive increase in the number of pests in Ireland.

Irish householders and business owners have been advised to take measures to protect against silverfish, which have been thriving in Ireland due to damp weather conditions throughout the country since the turn of the year. Rentokil has reported an increase of 171% in the number of callouts regarding silverfish in January 2018 compared to the same period last year. The pest control provider is attributing the increase to the damp weather conditions; the Met Éireann Station at Dublin Airport, for example, recorded 93.1 millimetres of total rainfall last month compared to 21.9 millimetres in January 2017. Silverfish and firebrats are wingless insects that commonly inhabit bathrooms due to their cool and moist conditions as well as their appetite for hair, dead skin and even shampoo. Silverfish also consume clothing, carpet, book bindings, paper and photographs and while small numbers of them pose few problems for householders and business owners, a large infestation can be a serious issue. Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager for Rentokil said: “Silverfish (and firebrats) are believed to be one of the most primitive of living insect orders in the world. They are carrot shape in profile and possess long tail-like appendages from the tip of their abdomen and their bodies are nearly always covered in scales (almost like plate armour). Silverfish consume a wide range of food types e.g. oats, beef, paper, textiles etc. They are long-lived and can live up to about three years and possibly even longer. “Some species can also survive long periods of starvation e.g. one individual has been recorded surviving as long as 300 days without feeding. They require damp and humid conditions and thrive in kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms and other dark, isolated areas. Fixing leaks in pipework, improving ventilation and using dehumidifiers can help discourage silverfish. They can be found in a variety of common items in households and businesses such as books, wallpaper, paintings, fabrics, carpets, coffee, sugar, pasta and other food debris. “In small numbers, silverfish are not really a problem and you can easily get rid of them, but a large infestation can be a serious issue for your home or business.” To prevent the presence of silverfish, Rentokil is advising homes and businesses to take the following steps:

• Keep dust and debris to a minimum
• Vacuum thoroughly and store food in containers with tightly sealed lids
• Dehumidify premises through the use of fans, dehumidifiers, or by opening windows to air them out