Silverfish in Cooksville, MD – Some Interesting Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

Some scientists describe silverfish as a primitive insect. This is because they have existed for millions of years. You’d wish they could speak, so maybe we would have historical accounts of how their ancestors experienced the world. While they can’t divulge such interesting information, some factual tidbits about them are available.

You’ll be surprised to learn how these insects reproduce. Find out how they do it.

How do silverfish breed?

The breeding process of silverfish involves a mating ritual that’s very rarely seen among other insects. It can take up to 30 minutes or sometimes even an hour, and it involves three stages:

1. The male and female silverfish stand face to face and touch their antennae into one another.
2. The male silverfish starts running and the female chases him.
3. Once the female catches up to the male, he deposits his genetic material through a contact of their tails. After that, the female is ready to lay her fertilized eggs. Read more at Insect Cop…

You could say their way of saying “hi” is by touching antennas. It very well might be.

So what happens when the female’s eggs go through fertilization? What stages are necessary before adult silverfish form?

The female lays the tiny eggs in any cracks and crevices that she can find. The eggs are white, oval, and about one millimeter long. They may hatch in weeks or months, depending on the environmental conditions. The nymph that is released from an egg looks like a smaller version of the adult, except it’s lighter in color and isn’t shiny. The nymph periodically molts (sheds its old body covering) as it grows. It eventually develops the dark and metallic shine that is a characteristic of the adult.

Silverfish are long-lived insects. They may live for two to eight years, depending on their environment. They continue to molt even when they are adults, which is unusual for an insect. Read more at Dengarden

Once the eggs hatch, baby silverfish appear. These are nymphs. They develop through three different nymph stages into adult silverfish. They grow best when the weather is not so cold. This is why spring and summer are their best times for reproduction in Howard County.

Silverfish lay eggs in the hundreds. In fact, the female silverfish can lay upto 20 eggs on a daily basis. Moreover, they reach their adulthood or breeding stage after 4 months of hatching. Within a short time, you may be facing an infestation. That’s why you need to aware of the threats they pose to you or your property.

While silverfish can infest any home, residents with book collections or vintage clothing and antiques are at high risk. The silverfish diet includes paper, glue, silk, and other textiles. When eating these items, the insects cause damage in the following ways:

• Feeding – Any material within the silverfish diet is at risk. The pests leave dark stains and small holes in the items they eat.
• Grazing – The insects often leave light gray spots when their jaws scrape across surfaces.
• Mold – Fungal growth often leaves dark brown stains on objects with silverfish damage.
• Debris – While feeding, the pests leave scales and waste inside books and fabric folds. Read more at Orkin…

The best approach to dealing with silverfish is to act promptly rather than try to figure out where they came from. You’d do well to clear your home of old unused clothing or any trace of moisture. Dehumidifiers will help with the latter. These are also the best approaches for preventing them from making your home theirs.

If you’ve got a serious silverfish problem or want to prevent an existing one from worsening, consider calling in the experts. Backyard Bug Patrol is sure to deliver the best results. Call us today for a green, 100% organic indoor pest control program.