Do you have silverfish in your house or apartment and want to get rid of them? We explain everything to fight the little "sugar guest".
The nimble silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) with their shiny metallic bodies cannot stand bright light, hide in cracks and crevices and eat just about anything from dander to bread crumbs and mold , which is not part of the building structure in your apartment. We explain what needs to be considered when fighting it - in particular, everyone affected should take a close look at the causes of a silverfish plague.
Silverfish are not harmful and you rarely see the light-shy little creatures. If you still want to get rid of the unwanted subtenants, you should deal with the causes and then with chemical pesticides or household remedies.
Causes of silverfish in the house or apartment
Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are ancestral species, which is due to their preference for humid and warm habitats. It is only under these conditions that eggs are laid at all and the development of the shiny silver housemates succeeds. The presence of silverfish in the living area can be taken as a warning signal: Apparently there are places in your home that are very warm and humid. Since these conditions also promote the development of mold, you should get to the bottom of the causes as soon as possible. In fact, the little pests can also be described as beneficial in this case: they like to eat the mold in hidden cracks and crevices and thus contain the problem. Therefore, when fighting silverfish, do not forget to eliminate the reason for their presence! In this article on home remedies for silverfish, we have already looked in detail at the causes of a silverfish infestation and what you can do to ensure that your home does not offer the perfect nesting conditions.
Fighting Silverfish
Once the reasons for their presence have been clarified and corrective measures have been taken, you understandably still want the nimble, nocturnal silverfish to disappear. Since the prehistoric insects can survive for a long time on very little food and eat everything that we carelessly put around our homes, it can take a long time to starve them out. We explain how to get rid of your unwanted housemates chemically, biologically or with home remedies.
Tackle silverfish biologically
Some products are advertised as being biodegradable. However, this applies to most products and should not be confused with a biological effect or a biological origin of the product. The substance cypermethhin, for example, is biodegradable, but also very toxic for aquatic organisms and a he alth hazard for humans. Impure or stretched kieselguhr (diatomaceous earth) is also available, the dust of which can lead to painful irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes. While these products are approved for use in organic farming and are harmless to other insects when used correctly, no one wants a product in their home that isn't 100% harmless to humans.
We developed our Plantura ant repellent in order to be able to offer a low-dust alternative that is not harmful to he alth. The included agent InsectoSec® is made from petrified diatoms - it is also kieselguhr. However, our diatomaceous earth is so pure that it does not cause any he alth problems when used. The fine powder can be sprinkled along the paths or hiding places of the silverfish or as a barrier - for example around the refrigerator, where silverfish always feel extremely comfortable. The effect is purely physical: the kieselguhr blocks the respiratory openings of insects and also deprives them of a lot of moisture. After four days, almost 100% of the silverfish that came into contact with our ant remedy are history.
Fighting silverfish with chemical agents
If you are looking for a chemical remedy against silverfish, you will find a variety of products. As a rule, however, the same substances are always responsible for the effectiveness.
Permethrin is found in many silverfish remedies. It works against insects and arachnids and thatacross the board: the broad spectrum of activity does not spare bees and other beneficial insects. But humans can also experience skin irritation or itching when they come into contact with the skin. If the vapors of such substances are inhaled or ingested, headaches, irritation of the respiratory tract and breathing difficulties as well as dizziness, nausea, sore throat and stomach and vomiting are possible consequences.
Bioallethrin sounds like a biological substance, but it is just a brand name under which several compounds from the allethrin group of substances are grouped together. The components are mildly toxic to humans and birds, but highly toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Insects and also bees are paralyzed on contact and then die. In addition, the active ingredient is very toxic for cats: they can hardly or not at all produce an enzyme to break down the agent.
Pyrethrum is poisonous for all kinds of insects - including bees and beneficial insects. It is even very toxic to fish and aquatic life. It hardly harms mammals and humans. On the other hand, it breaks down quickly in daylight and loses its effect.
Conclusion on chemical agents against silverfish:
Chemical biocides should always be treated with caution. They are capable of harming us, our children and pets if used incorrectly. So unless you can be sure that your children or pets will be snooping around in the corners of the house and accidentally come into contact with the substances, you should definitely not reach for these toxins. Mainly because there are effective alternatives like our Plantura ant remedy. Therefore, there is no good reason to resort to harmful chemicals in the home.
Fighting silverfish with home remedies
Silver fish - also known as sugar guests - can be tricked with various lures: A trap made of potatoes and paper, some honey or an adhesive strip sprinkled with sugar: You already have the fish in the trap and can dispose of them. You can also keep the pests out of certain areas of your home by using natural repellents like lavender or vinegar - two smells silverfish dislike. You can find everything about using effective home remedies for silverfish and the causes of an infestation in this article.