How long do silverfish bugs live

This makes them easy to spot with the naked eye which is why they are nocturnal. An adult silverfish will typically lay hidden throughout the day and go looking for food in the small hours of the night.

If you have a truly severe silverfish infestation in your home or property, you can be sure that the little insects have been there for years, slowly building up in numbers. Their nocturnal lifestyle and their ability to hide are what helps them continue on. Keep in mind, however, that their slow spread is not a good reason to ignore silverfish presence. Even just a few silverfish can deal damage to your property or contaminate your food storage so if you spot a silverfish on your property, the sooner you act, the better.

Contrasting their slow development process is the long silverfish lifespan. Where most other insects have an average lifespan of about a year, most silverfish can live up to 8 years in ideal conditions and at least 2 -3 years in harsh climates. Such harsh climates can significantly hinder the development and spread of silverfish as most adult silverfish will often die after laying just one batch of eggs. Learning about silverfish — or any insect for that matter — will not only help make them less scary, but also help you keep them out of your home.

Knowing why they act the way they do takes some of the mystery out of the equation. Silverfish are one of the most ancient insects on the planet. They make up for this lack of flight with their extreme speed. Their speed helps them dart for cover when exposed, keeping them safe from predators like spiders or even your shoe.

They stay even safer by being most active at night. When silverfish run, their bodies wiggle, resembling the swimming motion of a fish. This is poisonous, toxic and can be harmful to children, pets and adult lungs if inhaled.

It is commonly found in household cleaning products. It can be made into a diluted solution with water and sprayed into infected areas.

Silverfish hate the smell of citrus, cinnamon and lavender. If you are looking to repel them naturally, a great idea is to use essential oils to clean your home or as a home fragrance such as candles and diffusers to keep them away. Fixing damp problems can help prevent silverfish returning long-term.

That means sealing leaky pipes, increasing ventilation think extractor fans in bathrooms , installing dehumidifiers and regularly opening windows.

Silverfish tend to feed on dust and debris, so regularly hoovering carpets, clearing away clutter like magazines and papers, and dusting can make all the difference to eradicating and preventing a silverfish infestation.

Ensure dried foods like pasta, pulses and cereal are also stored in airtight containers. Follow Country Living on Instagram. Type keyword s to search. What are silverfish? Is it bad to have silverfish? Leonid Eremeychuk Getty Images. With the holiday season upon us, the National Pest Management Association NPMA is educating homeowners about certain insects that can infest and contaminate food in pantries. Pantry pests like Indian meal moths and merchant grain beetles can become difficult to control once they get inside.

Advanced Search International Search. Silverfish Lespisma sacchrina Linnaeus. What Are Silverfish? Silverfish Identification. Color Silver to brown. Legs 6. Shape Oval, elongated. Antennae Yes. Region Found throughout U. What Do Silverfish Look Like? Sign of a Silverfish Infestation Keep an eye out for feeding marks, although they may be irregular whether they are holes, notches along an edge, or surface etchings. Silverfish Photos Photo of a silverfish next to a nickel Side angle view of a silverfish Snapshot of the appearance and distribution of silverfish.

Silverfish Prevention Silverfish Prevention and Control Looking to prevent or get rid of a silverfish infestation? Find a Pest Control Professional.

Are silverfish harmful?