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Personally I've had great difficulty getting rid of Silverfishes. Despite plugging all crevices with diatomaceous sand, making sure indoor temperature does not

Personally I've had great difficulty getting rid of Silverfishes. Despite plugging all crevices with diatomaceous sand, making sure indoor temperature does not exceed 18°C, removing any specimen on sight, I still encounter one every now and then just chilling on the wall or floor. They've eaten my underfloor isolation (the floor sags at those spots now), but other than that they're harmless - I can't imagine the horror if they snuck into my bed and bit me in my sleep. I would seriously consider throwing everything away and starting anew.

generic92034 3y ago
I believe humans are not part of their diet. ;) But they can process cellulose, starch and even mold, can survive months without any food, so it is next to impossible to starve them. Low room temperature and low humidity might help a bit.
- andrewl 3y ago
  bruce343434 isn’t saying he’s worried the silverfish will sneak into his bed and bite him in his sleep. He’s saying it would be horrifying to live with insects as stealthy and difficult to eradicate as silverfish, but which were also bloodsuckers, like bedbugs. In short, he’s saying bedbugs are horrifying.
roncesvalles 3y ago
Just spray permethrin and be done with it. It's the only thing that works and if you spray in all the right places, one round of spraying fixes it forever. Source: about 15 years of fighting silverfish, until someone suggested permethrin on Reddit
- roncesvalles 3y ago
  NOTE: Wikipedia says it's toxic to cats
ProllyInfamous 3y ago
You need (perhaps multiple) dehumidifiers. Keep at 40-45% rel.hum. and silverfish will disappear. Don't keep food unsealed (looking at you: unwashed dishwear) and cockroaches will disappear. Have neither and centipedes will disappear. ---- No advice for bedbugs other than Diatomacious Earth and not bringing in used furniture / houseguests.

generic92034 3y ago

I believe humans are not part of their diet. ;) But they can process cellulose, starch and even mold, can survive months without any food, so it is next to impossible to starve them. Low room temperature and low humidity might help a bit.

andrewl 3y ago
bruce343434 isn’t saying he’s worried the silverfish will sneak into his bed and bite him in his sleep. He’s saying it would be horrifying to live with insects as stealthy and difficult to eradicate as silverfish, but which were also bloodsuckers, like bedbugs. In short, he’s saying bedbugs are horrifying.

roncesvalles 3y ago

Just spray permethrin and be done with it. It's the only thing that works and if you spray in all the right places, one round of spraying fixes it forever. Source: about 15 years of fighting silverfish, until someone suggested permethrin on Reddit

roncesvalles 3y ago
NOTE: Wikipedia says it's toxic to cats

ProllyInfamous 3y ago

You need (perhaps multiple) dehumidifiers. Keep at 40-45% rel.hum. and silverfish will disappear. Don't keep food unsealed (looking at you: unwashed dishwear) and cockroaches will disappear. Have neither and centipedes will disappear. ---- No advice for bedbugs other than Diatomacious Earth and not bringing in used furniture / houseguests.