Houses provide a perfect habitat for silverfish. Preferring moderate temperatures between 70 and 80 °F, and a relative humidity of between 75 to 95%, they collect near sinks, bathtubs, and other plumbing fixtures in bathrooms, kitchens and basements, though they can be present throughout the house.

Silverfish are mostly nocturnal, foraging at night. They prefer vegetable matter with a high carbohydrate and protein content. Indoors however, they will feed on almost anything, including dried meat, other insects, starch, paper, glue, sugar, molds, cereals and fabric containing cotton, linen, rayon and silk. These insects are hardy and can live without food for up to one year.

Here are some tips to control silverfish:

1. Fabric and stacked paper products should not be stored for long periods.
2. Clean up all spilled food.
3. Reduce water availability by repairing leaky plumbing and installing adequate extraction fans for laundry and bathroom areas.
4. Lowering the home’s relative humidity can be accomplished with dehumidifiers.
5. Lighting a dark area forces the insects out of their shelter to new sites where they can be managed more easily.
6. Outdoors, mulch should not be placed touching the house.
7. In the case of a severe infestation, household formulations of boric acid may be helpful.

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