Fun Facts About Silverfish

Image
silverfish on piece of wood

Fun Facts About Silverfish from the Terminix Experts

Silverfish are one of the most ancient insects on the planet. They even predate the dinosaurs by 100 million years, meaning they’ve been crawling around for more than 400 million years. Despite the name, silverfish are not fish. They have a fish-like shape and movements. Basically, when they move, they resemble the swimming motion of a fish.  They are also silvery and a slightly metallic in appearance.  Unlike most insects, silverfish continue to shed their skin well into adult life. This is why you can find their metallic-looking, silver scales in areas where they are most active. The scales are very thin, making them almost opaque. They stick to just about any surface, a great secondary sign of a silverfish problem – provided you know what you are looking for. Did you know that Silverfish are also known as bristletails because of their three long bristle-like appendages on the read end of their body.

Where Do Silverfish Like To Live?

They are found throughout the United States. They prefer moist, humid areas of the home like bathrooms, basements and attics. So, if you are looking for them, some of the most common places will bein your bathroom or sink. These places attract silverfish who are looking for a water source. These insects don’t require much water, but do need proteins, sugars and starches, which are mostly derived from things like newspapers, books, wallpaper, fabrics and even dead insects.

How Long Do Silverfish Live?

While it can take up to two years for a juvenile silverfish to become an adult, the insect has a relatively long lifespan when compared to other insects. Typically, silverfish live between three and six years, but can live up to eight if conditions are right. Once a female silverfish reaches her adult stage, she can produce between two and 20 eggs every day for the rest of her life. These eggs are typically laid in protected areas, such as crevices, cracks and under carpeting or rugs.

Getting Rid Of Silverfish

There are lots of fun facts about silverfish, but the fact that they are resistant to many insecticides, is not so fun. However, you can count on Terminix NOLA and Terminix Northshore to solve your silverfish pest problem. 

Get a Free Estimate
Name
Contact Info
Address
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to the privacy policy.
Validation
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Submission