Silverfish

Silverfish are among earth's most primitive insects, having been around for more than 350 million years. At one time or another we have all seen one of these little pests skittering across a countertop or table. You're not alone, Silverfish are found throughout the United States and come with a hefty appetite. They eat a wide variety of foods, including stored grains such as cereal and flour. They also have a taste for starch and other paper products; this includes book bindings which causes a big problem for librarians and rare book collectors. In addition, Silverfish are known to damage wallpaper and stain clothing. The good news is that they do not sting or bite, nor do they carry any known disease.

Silverfish and their cousins, the firebrats, are resilient and hardy insects that have been known to go without food for more than a year. Their life expectancy is long. In captivity, some have been known to live as long as six years.

These insects are easily identifiable by their slender carrot shaped body, covered by silver to gray colored scales. The scales give their bodies a metallic sheen. They also have two long antennae on the head and three long, antennae-like structures on the tail. They do not have wings and their bodies are approximately ½-1 inch long.

Because of the extensive damage these pesky insects inflict on many household goods, many homeowners are eager to know how to get rid of them. As with many insect pests, prevention is the best control. To begin with, throw out old stacks of magazines, books, papers and fabrics. Store your important documents, books and stamps in plastic boxes or resealable plastic bags, and eliminate cardboard boxes. Also, be sure and clean up spilled foods and unused stored food products. And it's not a bad idea to reduce moisture in your home and lower humidity; dehumidifiers do the trick. Because Silverfish frequently nest and lay eggs in any cracks and crevices around the house, use your household vacuum on these areas and then seal with caulk. For severe infestations, residual insecticides may be necessary; apply behind baseboards and doorframes, between walls and inside insulation. A less toxic alternative is to sprinkle boric acid in and around an infested area. Boric acid can be purchased at any local drug store.