Help silverfish?

Question

Pest control came to my flat and put down traps so they no were the nests are, they came back a few days later and sprayed pesticide, wil the silverfish die on contact or wil they go back to the holes and die

Answer 1

I think they will go back to their hole and die.

Answer 2

Impossible to know without knowing the type of pesticide used.  Most likely it is a contact poison, as silverfish aren't as organized as ants.

Additional silverfish info:

Silverfish prefer a dark, moist environment and require a large supply of starchy foods or molds.

Silverfish are considered to be nuisance pests that can feed on wallpaper pastes, natural textiles, books, and papers.

Silverfish also feed on mold or fungi that can grow on various surfaces.

They are fast-moving and can travel throughout buildings.

Once silverfish find a good source of food, however, they stay close to it.

Silverfish go through only a three stage life cycle called gradual metamorphosis, while many insects have a four stage life cycle (complete metamorphosis).

Silverfish may lay eggs at any time during the year, and take 19-43 days to hatch.

The life cycle from silverfish egg to adult is three to four months.

They prefer humid areas (75 to 97% humidity), like bathrooms and moderate temperatures (70o to 80o F).

Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas.

Silverfish are active at night or are active in dark places found throughout the structure.



Silverfish can be a problem year round.

Attics are a favorite place for silverfish due to the abundant food sources due to the recycled blown in paper insulation and storage boxes.

You may see silverfish trapped in sinks and bathtubs because they enter seeking moisture and are unable to climb a slick vertical surface to escape.

RECOMMENDED MEASURES FOR SILVERFISH CONTROL: How to Get Rid of and Kill Silverfish

Sources of any undue moisture, such as faulty plumbing or condensation that provide the humidity favored by these pests should be eliminated.

Dehumidifying reduces the moisture content of the air that these insects find essential. Some methods for dehumidifying include:

Mend leaking pipes.

Ventilate closed rooms and attics.

Eliminate standing water.

Use a dehumidifier an air conditioner.

Use silica gel which acts like a desiccant

Regularly vacuuming cracks and crevices with a narrow vacuum tip also can be a good method to physically remove these insects from their harborages.

Removal of food sources , stored in tight containers.

However if you have a more severe problem with silverfish , look into stored boxes and the insulation in your attic. It is best to dust or bait these areas for greater control.

When you use baits or dusts, you do want to get it as close as possible to their habitats to be effective.

You never want to bait and dust in areas that are visible.

Dust needs to be in hidden areas such as :

Attics-Insulation

Behind Refrigerators and Ovens

Boxes

Light fixtures

Electrical outlets

Under siding

Answer 3

1. Are they silverfish or firebrats?

The first thing to determine is whether you have silverfish or firebrats.

Silverfish are gray to green in color and prefer temperatures around 80°F while firebrats have a mottled black and white appearance and like it hotter at a toasty 100°F.

2. Eliminate the sources of the infestation

Preferred environments

Silverfish thrive anywhere moisture is high - under sinks, around leaks, bathrooms, kitchens, attics, piles of leaves and mulch, and anywhere there is standing water. Firebrats also like humidity but are usually found in warmer areas - laundry rooms, in and around stoves, water heaters, bookshelves, and books. Silverfish control begins by reducing excess moisture as much as possible by fixing any leaky plumbing, setting up dehumidifiers or strategically deploying a desiccant such as Drione dust. Excessive dryness will kill silverfish and firebrats.

These insects always stay close to their food source, so if you see one you know food isn’t far off.

Food sources

Both silverfish and firebrats eat protein, sugars and starches but they greatly prefer starches. They will eat pastes, glues, book bindings, paper that contains glues, wallpaper pastes, starched fabrics, silk, cereals, and certain synthetic fibers. Clean any areas that you believe to be infested and use silicone caulk to seal up any cracks or crevices in which lint accumulates.

Characteristic feeding marks are tiny, irregularly-shaped scrapings, holes and notches. They will often eat their way through wallpaper to get at the paste, and leave yellow stains on fabrics.

Points and methods of entry

These insects are usually brought into the house in packaged goods, boxes and bags that were previously stored in a moist or humid environment.

3. Silverfish extermination

If you are having trouble figuring out where your infestation is centered, you can find out by deploying some home made bait. Gather together a bowl, some index cards, flour, water and a soft brush then follow these steps:

Fill the bowl with a cup of water and begin mixing in flour until you have a paste with a consistency similar to thin paint.

Coat both sides of several index cards with the mixture and allow them to dry.

Place the dried index cards in areas believed to be frequented by the silverfish or firebrats.

If they’re around, they will be attracted by the starchy coating on the cards and will feed on them. Leave the cards in place for a week and then examine them for signs of feeding; small, irregularly shaped scrapings and notched edges. Dark food coloring can be added to the mix to make scrapings more visible.

Books

Infested books can be sealed in a plastic bag along with some desiccant and placed inside of the freezer for three days to kill any resident silverfish and firebrats. If your book case has become infested, consider spreading some diatomaceous earth behind the books on the shelves to keep the moisure levels down and kill any paper-eating insects that may be hiding out.

Traps

Home made jar trap

A very simple trap can be made by taking some canning jars, scrubbing them absolutely clean and then covering the outside with masking tape to make them easy to climb. These traps are then placed out in areas of infestation. The bugs will climb up and fall into the jars and then will not be able to climb the smooth interior walls to escape. Moist cotton or starchy foods work as bait but are not needed.

Sticky roach traps

Sticky roach traps can be used to catch both silverfish and firebrats. These can be found online and at your local hardware store.

Poisons

The only poisons recommended for killing silverfish and firebrats are insecticidal dusts such as diatomaceous earth and Borax. These should be used in cracks, under and behind furniture and appliances, and inside walls and crawlspaces. Keep these out of your breathing air and inaccessible to both children and pets.