Silverfish Treatment

About This Service

Silverfish are one of Australia's oldest and most primitive insects - they have existed largely unchanged for over 400 million years - and are a surprisingly common pest in Melbourne homes. These small, wingless, silver-grey insects are fast-moving, nocturnal, and highly secretive, which means most homeowners are unaware of an infestation until they discover damage to their belongings. Silverfish thrive in humid, dark environments and are commonly found in bathrooms, laundries, roof voids, wall cavities, behind bookcases, and inside cardboard storage boxes. The damage caused by silverfish is often underestimated. They feed on anything containing starch, cellulose, sugars, or protein - including paper, books, magazines, photographs, wallpaper glue, cardboard, cotton, linen, silk, and even the starchy sizing in synthetic fabrics. In homes with large collections of books, important documents, vintage clothing, or family photographs, a silverfish infestation can cause irreplaceable damage. They also contaminate food in pantries, particularly flour, cereals, and dried pasta. Our silverfish treatment uses a combination of residual insecticide spray applied to skirting boards, wall junctions, and sheltered areas, and insecticidal dust injected into wall cavities, roof void areas, and sub-floor spaces where silverfish harbour and breed. Silverfish colonies can be large and well-established before they are noticed, so a thorough treatment covering the whole property - not just visible areas - is essential for lasting control.

Signs You Need Silverfish Treatment

• Small, fast-moving silver-grey insects found in bathrooms, laundries, or bookcases at night
• Irregular holes, notches, or yellow surface etching on books, magazines, or paper documents
• Yellow staining or small dark droppings on paper, book pages, or stored clothing
• Damage to wallpaper, particularly at seams or near the floor where paste is accessible
• Holes or surface grazing on cotton, linen, or silk clothing - particularly items in storage
• Contamination of pantry items such as flour, oats, cereal, or dried pasta
• Shed skins or small, pepper-like faecal pellets found in bookshelves, cupboards, or drawers

Prevention Tips

• Reduce humidity in bathrooms and laundries with proper ventilation - exhaust fans, dehumidifiers, or leaving windows open
• Store important books, documents, and photographs in sealed, airtight plastic containers or acid-free archival boxes
• Store clothing in sealed bags or containers rather than open wardrobe drawers, particularly for seasonal or vintage items
• Reduce cardboard storage boxes in roof voids and garages, as cardboard is both a food source and harborage for silverfish
• Fix leaking taps, pipes, and any sources of condensation to reduce the moisture levels silverfish need to survive
• Regularly vacuum skirting boards, shelving, and behind bookcases to disturb harbourage areas
• Keep pantry items in sealed glass or hard plastic containers
• Reduce paper clutter - stacks of newspapers, magazines, or cardboard in warm, humid areas are prime silverfish habitat