Silverfish Breeding And Behavior
Their breeding is prolific and clever. After their eggs are fertilized, females hide them in dark crevices, making the eggs difficult to remove. It takes three to six weeks for an egg to hatch, but a single one can lay up to three eggs a day over several weeks. Without treatment and prevention, you could have babies popping out of your walls and floors every single day.
You won’t find them hanging out on your countertops or in your window seals. These nocturnal speedsters hate the sun. That is why you will find them hiding in the dark and darting from hiding spot to hiding spot as they move around your home.
Signs Of a Silverfish Infestation
Often, the
first signs of an infestation is irregular bite marks and black speckles of feces along the sides of boxes and paper materials. If the infestation is severe, you may see the husks that remain after the insects molt their scales. However, it takes a keen eye to spot some of the signs, which can make them difficult to eradicate without professional help.
Are Silverfish Really That Bad?
Silverfish can be incredibly damaging to your home. An untreated silverfish infestation can lead to the degradation of your carpet, wallpaper, furniture, paper goods, and food supply. Not only do they cause damage that is difficult and expensive to repair, but they also have the power to damage roofing materials and other parts of your home if left untreated.
What is really worrisome about an infestation is the implication that if silverfish are in your home, so are any number of other invasive pests. They enter your home through cracks in the structure, damaged pipes, or improperly sealed doors and windows, which are prime entry methods for
spiders,
roaches,
small rodents, and
ants.
