Mr. Saccharina

          While few know him by name, most people know of and probably have seen/dealt with Silverfish. The Lepisma Saccharina which entomologists refer to it as can be found all across the country. Like most things, the Silverfish was named by its characteristics. A full adult is a gray blue blend with a shimmer to it that very closely reflects the color silver. And as for the second part of its name, if you have ever watched one make its way across the bathroom floor or a book shelf, you know that its movement mimic closely to that of a fish, just on land of course.

            Being born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri my whole life, I never had to experience the amount of insect pressure that I have become accustomed to down here in Houston. As matter of fact I can never remember a time when my parents had to hire a pest control company or even spray our home themselves. I guess bugs up there just know to keep to themselves. But there was one time in particular that I do recall having a slight problem with bugs getting into one of our bathrooms. Yes, it was Mr. Lepisma Saccharina and he came with quite a few friends. That is beside the point; what we needed to know was what they were looking for and how to get rid of them.

            Silverfish exist on food sources that are high in starch or carbohydrates. Paper items are usually their number one food choice. Areas such as the bathroom provide items like toilet paper or tissues that can attract this insect. Still bookshelves can be highly inviting as well seeing as they also provide a great place to hang out during the day since this insect also happens to be nocturnal. If not attended to, Silverfish can be very damaging to books; an average population can destroy several books in just a few short weeks.

            Controlling Silverfish is relatively easy and is best obtained by using some preventative measures. One of the first steps is to determine areas where they are likely to be. Areas to focus on are: kitchen, bathroom, bookshelves, attics and various cracks and crevices. In all these areas there is a good mix of food sources and harborage areas that can be highly inviting to Mr. Saccharina and his friends. Using a product called D-Fense Dust, treat cracks, crevices, light switch and electrical outlets, and other dark areas that could potentially house a Silverfish. Attics can also be very inviting since the chance of human contact or disturbance is very low. We recommend taking D-Fense Dust and lightly dusting all surfaces in the attic to help prevent a population from establishing. In areas where a dust might not work well such as on bookshelves or in drawers and cabinets, we recommend Dekko Silverfish Packs which are small square pieces of cardboard that has been infused with Boric Acid. This product offers an alternative food source that will help eliminate a Silverfish population once consumed.