Does Dinotefuran Kill Silverfish?

How Do Silverfish Get into the House?

Silverfish enter homes through multiple pathways. Knowing how they get in helps with prevention.

Hitched a Ride (Most Common)

Silverfish have flat bodies and can squeeze into extremely narrow gaps. They're easily carried into the home with various items:

1. Old books and cardboard boxes — Secondhand books from used bookstores, delivery boxes, boxes brought out from storage — all can harbor silverfish or their eggs. Their bodies are so flat they can squeeze into gaps under 1mm, so even seemingly sealed cardboard layers can hide them.
2. Secondhand furniture — Used bookcases, wardrobes, and nightstands. The crevices in wooden furniture can contain silverfish.
3. Moving boxes — During a move, boxes and luggage pile up, and silverfish can crawl in and travel along.
4. Renovation materials — Lumber, cardboard, and packaging materials used during renovations can carry silverfish.

Crawled In on Their Own

If silverfish live in the environment around your house, they may actively crawl inside:

5. Outdoor habitats — Leaf litter, under tree bark, stone crevices, and bird nests all harbor silverfish outdoors.
6. Entry points — Gaps under doors, window gaps, AC pipe holes, wall cracks.
7. Ground-floor risk — Homes on the ground floor are more susceptible to silverfish crawling in from outside.

What Makes Them Stay

Even if silverfish enter your home, they need the right conditions to survive. These factors make them stay:

4. Dampness — Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and other humid areas are silverfish favorites.
5. Food — Old cardboard boxes, books, wallpaper, spilled flour and crumbs.
6. Hiding spots — Clutter piles and spaces behind long-untouched furniture.

Prevention Tips

4. Inspect old books and secondhand items carefully before bringing them inside. Open packaging outdoors if possible.
5. Don't let delivery boxes pile up indoors. Dispose of them promptly.
6. Seal door and window gaps with weatherstripping to prevent outdoor silverfish from crawling in.
7. Clear leaf litter and debris from against the exterior walls of the house.
8. Keep the indoors dry. Don't create conditions where silverfish can thrive.