Silverfish are also called silverfish or herring. The explanation probably lies in the insect's silvery "clothing", the shape of the "fish" and its swimming movements, which can easily lead one's thoughts to smaller fish.

There are approximately 300 million years since the first silverfish-like insects saw the light of day. It is assumed that at that time there were all kinds of variations of the insect, and they are guaranteed to have been widespread and in large numbers. Many believe that all of today's insects are more or less descended from these primordial insects.

The silverfish can rightly be perceived as a living petrification. In countries such as Spain, France and other countries in Southern Europe as well as large parts of Asia, silverfish live under stones, in caves and similar damp places.

In Denmark, they are rarely found outside inhabited areas, stables and the like. Here at home there are three species:

Lepisma saccharina (also known as the common silverfish), as they are most often found indoors. This is the type of silverfish that you will most often encounter. This species can grow up to 1cm long and is characterized by a visible silver sheen.

Thermobia Domestica (also known as the "firebrat") can grow up to 2cm long. Unlike the common silverfish, it is not silvery - but rather greyish with dark spots.

Ctenolepisma longicaudata (grey silverfish). Grey silverfish is a relatively new species in most of europe. It has come here from Norway, where they have known about it for many years. Contrary to the common silverfish, grey silverfish can crawl on vertical surfaces such as walls. You typically get them in your home from cardboard boxes when you receive a package or, for example, buy a new television.

BIOLOGY AND INJURY

Grey silverfish can live up to 6-7 years old, while ordinary silverfish are thrifty animals that live a little shorter than grey silverfish. Silverfish can live up to 4-5 years old,

Unlike grey silverfish, silverfish are not particularly fertile. A female silverfish lays only a few eggs during her lifetime. The eggs are laid in cracks and crevices. The young look like their parents - only their size differs. The young become sexually mature in 5-7 months.

Silverfish are very sensitive to light and therefore often hide in cracks and crevices until they can look for food later at night. It is therefore frequent that they appear when the light is switched on. They are therefore often experienced during nightly visits to the bathroom, where the silverfish have good conditions for living.

Silverfish require humidity to live, so it is especially in these areas in the bathroom or kitchen that you can see the silverfish - sometimes also during the day. Silverfish are unable to climb up vertical surfaces, so they are easily caught in bathtubs, basins, bowls, closed sinks and the like.

Silverfish can live on a few different things. Typically, they are very fond of sugar and other starches. That is why they are also particularly fond of wallpaper paste. The silverfish's need for protein is mostly covered by eating dead insects. They can do significant damage to paper, especially when it is damp.

EFFECTIVE COMBAT OF GREY SILVERFISH AND ORDINARY SILVERFISH

Silverfish are only found in large numbers in locations where there is high humidity. Here they can cause great damage to stored books and other paper. In larger infestations, the key to effective control is to limit or, if possible, eliminate moisture. It is therefore important to identify the source of the moisture if you want to get rid of silverfish. 

Conversely, Grey silverfish are not to the same extent of moist environments. Grey silverfish can therefore be seen in places where the common silverfish does not stay. Grey silverfish can crawl into your bed. Therefore, use glue traps or double-sided tape for mounting bed legs. Feel free to move the bed away from the wall so that the insects cannot climb into your bed, without having to go past glue traps or tape.

TIP: Thorough vacuuming has a significantly greater effect than floor washing.

Grey silverfish and normal silverfish are sensitive to the vast majority of insecticides. Insect powder for the purpose of combating "creeping and crawling" insects can be used where the animals hide - for example in cracks, holes and crevices along skirting boards and pipes. In places where it is not obvious to use powder, a flying insecticide can be used as an alternative , which is precisely intended to reach the places where the powder cannot.

Note that even if you are diligent with traps, insect products, vacuum cleaners and other effective means, you should be aware that grey silverfish and ordinary silverfish can be difficult to eliminate 100%, as its hiding places are countless and often not visible to humans.

What do I do when silver critters do not enter the traps?

If you are not successful with glue traps and one type of bait, it is recommended to change the bait and possibly change the position of the traps. The insects, just like humans, have different taste preferences, therefore switching to a different type of lure in the glue trap can often increase the catch.

Do you still find that the insects do not enter the traps? Not after you have changed the bait, the reason is very likely that the silver crabs can find food elsewhere in the area, for example starch, sugar or dead insects. Typically, thorough vacuuming and cleaning of the area will remove the insects' sources of food.

If you can't locate the food sources, it's because they can find food behind baseboards, cracks and other places you can't get to. In those cases, we recommend that you use insecticide, eg Universal Insect Spray (water-based) or Trinol 810 (oil-based).

You spray the insecticide along cracks and crevices in the areas where you most often see grey silverfish and ordinary silverfish. When the insects crawl over the sprayed areas, they will subsequently die from the poison. Do you have CVR no. can use professional control in the form of food poison , from which silverfish and grey silverfish die after they have consumed it.

If you follow the above, in the vast majority of cases you will be able to reduce the number of grey silverfish and ordinary silverfish to an acceptable level.

 

FAQ ABOUT GREY SILVERFISH AND ORDINARY SILVERFISH

Are barbel and silverfish dangerous?
No, silverfish are not dangerous to humans, but can cause great damage to furniture etc.

Are Grey silverfish and ordinary silverfish poisonous?
No, grey silverfish and ordinary silverfish are not poisonous.

What are silverfish signs of?
Silverfish are typically signs of a lack of cleaning and rooms and rooms with high humidity. Note that grey silverfish are not deprived of moisture, unlike the silverfish.

How many eggs do grey silverfish lay?
Grey silverfish can lay up to 200 eggs in their lifetime. Grey silverfish start laying eggs when they become sexually mature after 2 years. After this, they are sexually mature for a three-year period. Grey silverfish can live up to 7 years.

Ordinary Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) (Click on the picture to see it in large format)	Grey silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata) (Click on the picture to see it in large format)	Firebrat (Thermobia domestica) (Click on the picture to see it in large format)

What is the difference between Grey silverfish, Ordinary silverfish and firebrat?
Grey silverfish is a new species in central europe. Grey silverfish originate from Norway, where they are much better known than in rest of europe. In many ways, bearded bream is a cross between a silverfish and a baked fish. Grey silverfish grow approximately between 1.5 and 2 cm. long. Contrary to common silverfish and firebrat, grey silverfish have more "beard" and hair.

Ordinary silverfish is the typical species that we have in most of europe. It will be about 1 cm. It is characterized by a silvery surface. Lives in places with humidity and typical temperatures between 22-32 ° C.

Firebrat is almost twice as large as silverfish - and has a typical length of approx. 2 cm. Firebrat do not need humidity, and stay in areas with a temperature of between 24-40 ° C. The firebrat is darker than the silverfish, it is brown/dark with light spots. May look like it has stripes - seen from a distance.

See the table on this page and see the typical differences between barbel, silverfish and firebrat. Please note that the table is indicative and not a conclusion.