Silverfish fight costs

Silverfish are found in almost all Dutch homes. Fortunately, they are not dangerous or harmful. Of course that makes a difference. It is very annoying to have pests in your home and the idea of all those small insects wandering around in your house is not really fun either. The animals do have bacteria and fungi on their legs and you obviously don't want this on food.

Recognizing silverfish

Silverfish are mainly active in the evenings and when you turn on the light you can see them clearly. They are not very big. About 7 to 12 millimeters in size and can be recognized by their silver scales. They also have two antennae on their heads and blades on the rest of their bodies.

Silverfish reproduce quickly

All types of pests can reproduce quite quickly and this is why you almost always suffer from an infestation with pests. Silverfish can also reproduce quickly and a female can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime. The male occasionally releases a capsule of sperm that releases biochemical signals that attract the attention of the females. Such a female will then take the capsule and can lay up to 3 eggs at a time. These hatch after 6 weeks. The animals that are born are often sexually mature after 3 months, so they can continue to reproduce. Ultimately, a silverfish can live between 2 and 8 years.

Breeding grounds

The eggs of silverfish are very small and are always laid in hidden places. They hide the eggs so that you cannot simply remove the eggs with a vacuum cleaner. These places are seams and cracks, but also crevices. Anything with an opening, actually.

Silverfish and paperfish

Silverfish and paperfish look alike and often do not know the difference. This actually doesn't matter, because combating paperfish is actually the same as combating silverfish. Paperfish especially like paper and have body hair. They grow slightly and live longer.

What do silverfish eat?

Silverfish especially like starch and carbohydrates and this is why you usually encounter the creatures in the kitchen. There they snack on food such as breadcrumbs and potatoes. Cotton is also a favorite and that is why you sometimes encounter them in bed. They also like paper, cardboard boxes and wallpaper. Fighting silverfish is difficult because the creatures can easily go for months without food. Certainly up to a year.

Destroy silverfish yourself

There are home, garden and kitchen remedies to combat silverfish yourself. These are less effective than professional pesticides, but may still be worth a try. We are happy to give you some tips.

Seal all holes

Silverfish live in almost all the small holes in your home. It is therefore important to immediately close all holes. You can use polyurethane foam for this, but make sure you don't miss any holes, otherwise it will be of no use. In this case, they will find the other holes and unfortunately you will not be able to get rid of your problem.

Ventilation is important!

Silverfish like moist places. If you encounter many silverfish, you already know that there is high humidity in your home. That is why it is important to ventilate, because silverfish will die naturally at low humidity.

Try out moisture absorbers

Doesn't ventilation help to reduce the humidity in your home? Then purchasing a moisture absorber is worth considering. As you have read before, they cannot tolerate low humidity and this will cause them to die.

Store food neatly

Silverfish not only like a moist environment, but they also like anything you have in your pantry. That is why it is extra important to properly store all food in sealable packaging. Fortunately, silverfish are not dangerous.

Setting silverfish traps

Just like for other pests, there are also special traps on the market for silverfish. The silverfish are attracted to the smell of the trap and will not be able to get out.

Use environmentally friendly essential oils

Silverfish cannot tolerate persistent odors because they lose their sense of smell. When they come into contact with essential oil they will not die immediately, but it certainly helps. Because the oil no longer allows them to smell, they will no longer be able to find their partner and they will no longer be able to reproduce.

Red pepper or a potato

Silverfish cannot tolerate pepper. If you put half a pepper down, the animals will think it is a fruit or vegetable and will literally eat themselves to death. You can also place half a potato in a plastic bag so that the silverfish are attracted to the starch. This way you can then throw away the plastic bag the next day.

There is always poison

Poison is a less environmentally friendly method, but it is always an option. It is quite aggressive and when using poison it is important that you continue to do so regularly, otherwise the silverfish will reappear in no time. It is certainly one of the most effective methods.

Can you prevent silverfish?

Silverfish are a common problem in Dutch homes and combating silverfish is therefore quite difficult. Especially when it concerns a silverfish plague. Preventing pests is of course better than fighting silverfish. We understand that no one wants a pest problem, so we have put together some tips for you.

• Ventilate your home every day.
• Seal all seams and cracks.
• If you want wallpaper, it is important to apply it carefully and tightly.
• Do you suffer from leaks? Then take immediate action.
• Store food in sealed containers.

Professional pest controller

Because eradicating silverfish is a difficult task, it may be better to leave it to a professional pest controller. Own products and bait boxes can be useful if you occasionally encounter a silverfish, but when it concerns a pest, combating so many silverfish is something for the experts.

Find the best fighter

You can now easily find the best pest controller in your region via our website. It is important that you intervene quickly with these insects, as they can reproduce quite quickly and before you know it you will also have to deal with these creatures in other places in your home. That is why we would like to help you so that you do not have to deal with any more inconvenience. We always work with the best professional exterminators in the Netherlands, so you can always be sure that you will receive the best service.

Free contact form

Finding the right exterminator can sometimes be difficult, because you probably don't have much experience with it and you have no idea who to contact. Do you have silverfish in your home now? Then you don't have to worry or panic. We can easily help you with this.

The contact form on our website is completely free and allows you to get in touch with the 3 best exterminators from your region. Your application will be submitted and they will contact you as soon as possible without obligation. This will be a non-binding intake interview where everything will be discussed. This way you can think at your leisure and choose the company that suits you best.