To reduce the risk of moving silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) from one place to another it is useful to prevent or eradicate silverfish from stored items. Silverfish are most likely to infest items stored in cardboard or wooden containers, so storing personal items and papers in sealable plastic or metal containers is preferable.
It may be possible to eliminate a silverfish infestation in boxes or containers using temperature. Heating a container to 120 degrees for an hour should kill most silverfish, however the closely related firebat (Thermobia domestica) is more resistant to high temperatures and may survive such treatment. All life stages of most insects can be killed by exposure to 0 degrees F cold for 7-10 days.
For more details on these insects read: Silverfish and Firebats
