One silverfish can lay up to 20 eggs each day.
There’s been a significant increase in the number of infestations of silverfish in Irish homes over the past few months.
Rentokil reported an increase of 32% in the number of callouts regarding silverfish in December 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.
The most affected counties include Dublin, which accounted for 53% of all call outs (not surprising when you take population into account), Kildare (9%), Meath (5%) and Galway (4%).
Silverfish 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. They’re also known to frequent kitchens.
They’re about the length of a one euro coin and are silvery-blue in colour, with tiny scales and 3 bristles at the end of their abdomen.
Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager for Rentokil said: “Silverfish 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 feed on starch, cellulose, and sugar, so they can damage a variety of common items such as books, paper, wallpaper, and paintings. 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.”
Tips for avoiding silverfish infestations:
- Deny them food by vacuuming and keeping dust and debris to a minimum.
- Store food in containers with tightly sealed lids.
- Homes and businesses should also dehumidify their premises through the use of fans, dehumidifiers, or by opening windows to air them out.
- Make sure all cracks in walls and skirting boards are filled.
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