What Do Silverfish Eat?

What do silverfish eat? If we can figure this out then maybe we can starve these pests and drive them to look elsewhere for food?

Carbohydrates

The latin name for silverfish is Lepisma saccharina. The last part of the name refers to their food source, carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are sugars and starches - basically they are energy providing foods.

Silverfish are not really interested in protein so your T-bone steak is probably safe. However, if you've served it up with a honey glaze and you spill or drip it somewhere in your home then silverfish won't be very far behind!

Here are some common sources of carbohydrates. Remember, there may be many things that you don't consider food but a silverfish does.

Paper

Silverfish love paper. One of the most common food sources is peeled back wallpaper. This is like a neverending feast for these pests. If you have any wallpaper peeling back then you must glue it back in place.

Do not leave documents and other pieces of paper lying around. I suggest keeping them out of sight, they will also be less likely to gather dust.

Silverfish like cardboard too and this material can be found in many traps.

Sticky Spills

Did you accidentally spill some ketchup on your dining table? Are you usually messy with your cooking and end up splashing sauce on the table top? Do you often leave soft drink containers open and around when you have finished them.

If so, your home is like paradise for silverfish.

Crumbs And Hair

Things fall onto the floor and this is a normal part of daily living. We shed 50 to 100 hairs every day. We drop crumbs when we eat. Unfortunately, this is a prime source of food for silverfish. I suggest doing a quick daily sweep with the vacuum cleaner.

A year

Silverfish can go for up to a year without eating. This is why you have to be extremely clean and tidy to get rid of them. One lazy day and you might have fed an entire colony for a whole year and it would not matter how clean you are otherwise.

Moisture

Food is not the only thing that silverfish need. They also need moisture. If you remove either of these things then you can beat them.

Make sure that you don't have any leaks in your house that are causing damp spots. Use a dehumidifier or your air conditioning to keep your home dry. Insecticide powder is also useful for killing silverfish or keeping them away from, for example, your bed. Powder kills on contact by absorbing moisture.

Are silverfish eating you out of house and home? Are the kids telling their teachers that the silverfish ate the homework? Get rid of silverfish in less than one week. Click here now to find out exactly how.