Silverfish are small, wingless insects with shiny, silver-grey scales, a tapered body and three tails. They avoid light, move with a wriggle and feed on starchy things like paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, cotton and linen. In New Farm, where river humidity hangs around for much of the year, they are common in wardrobes, bookshelves, bathrooms and roof spaces.
Many people only notice silverfish when they find damage. Look for irregular holes or thin, grazed patches on paper, photos, cardboard and clothes, yellowish marks on fabric, and tiny pepper-like droppings. Silverfish can live for several years and go a long time without food, so a small group can build slowly in a quiet cupboard. Older art deco units and Queenslanders with built-in cupboards are frequent spots.
- A check of wardrobes, linen cupboards, bookshelves and stored boxes
- Dust in the roof space and wall voids where silverfish breed
- Treatment of cupboard corners, skirting gaps and bathroom edges
- Advice on airflow, damp and storing paper and fabric
After the visit, keep wardrobes and cupboards aired, run the bathroom exhaust fan, and move old papers, magazines and photos into sealed plastic containers. A dehumidifier can help in closed rooms during the wet season. The crew we book will point out the damp spots that matter most in your home. Silverfish often turn up alongside cockroaches in damp bathrooms and laundries, so many people book both treatments on the same visit. Linen cupboards next to a bathroom wall are a common hotspot, as warm, moist air seeps through.
Silverfish treatment can be booked by itself or added to a cockroach control visit. Call 07 3543 7765 to book silverfish treatment in New Farm with an upfront price.
