Identification
Wingless, teardrop-shaped, silver-grey, 12–20mm, with three long tail filaments and a distinctive wriggling run. Nocturnal, and drawn to damp, dark, still places: the bottom of a linen cupboard, behind the skirting, inside a stored box of paperwork.
Damage
Silverfish feed on carbohydrates and protein: the starch in book bindings and wallpaper paste, the sizing in paper, and natural fibres in stored clothing. The damage is irregular grazing and small holes, and it's usually well advanced before anyone notices.
Control
- Dust to wall cavities, roof void and the backs of built-in cupboards
- Residual treatment to skirtings, shelving and storage areas
- Reducing humidity, the single most effective long-term measure
