There’s a specific kind of heartbreak only book lovers will understand
— tiny, uneven, delicate holes nibbled in the pages of your favorite book.

Or worse, the heartache of opening a box of memories forgotten for ages and finding treasured photographs looking like some sort of paper doily!

If that sounds familiar, the likelihood is that you are also hosting one of London’s quietest home invaders — silverfish.

Here at Pestpatrol, we’ve seen the damage silverfish can do.

They don’t bite people or spread disease, but these elusive pests can quietly destroy everything from treasured old books to important documentation.

They are very good at hiding!

Anyway, let us dive into the reasons why these tiny silvery insects are attracted to paper in the first place, how to notice them early, and more importantly, how to get rid of them.

What Is A Silverfish?

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) are quite possibly among the oldest groups of insects — really old as a matter of fact.
They have existed for over 400 million years, pre-dating dinosaurs!

Named after their shiny silvery-grey coloring and fish-like wriggling movement, silverfish are nocturnal, shy, and privacy-loving insects that thrive in dark, damp environments.

You will most commonly find silverfish in bathrooms, lofts, basements or cupboards (anywhere that retains moisture and is consequently disturbed less than others).

So what are they doing there in the first place?
Obviously, they’ve discovered the joy of paper enjoyment.

The Paper Obsession, why is silverfish “crazy” about paper?

Before you can explore why silverfish enjoy paper, you should first understand what silverfish eat.

Silverfish feed on carbohydrates — and not the ones in your food storage cupboard, but starchy polysaccharides that are found in glue, wallpaper paste, book bindings, and most importantly — paper.

Especially older paper.

That dusty old book that you’ve somehow kept since you were a university student?
Mmm, delicious.

Your childhood photo albums with glue-bound pages?
Complete buffet.

Receipts, wallpaper, magazines, cardboard boxes etc — silverfish are going through all of it given time.

But it isn’t just the paper, it is the combination of cellulose, starch, and, under damp conditions, growth of mould or fungi that make these items more desirable.

What Damages do They Cause

The biggest pain with silverfish is that they don’t cause cataclysmic destruction immediately.
They just nibble, quietly, over time.

What occurs is a gradual build-up of damage that when identified, is usually permanent.

What you may see:

• Irregular holes along the edges of paper
• Yellow stains or faecal spots
• Scales ( tiny shiny flakes shed from silverfish)
• Pages curled or brittle (from too much moisture & infestation)

Even worse, while silverfish love books and paper documents,
they won’t stop at books and moves on to wallpaper, paintings, photographs, and even your stored clothing, most importantly anything with starchy or natural fibers.

Why London Homes are Ideal for Silverfish

London homes – especially older ones – are the perfect breeding ground for silverfish.

They love moist environments and many, especially Victorian and Edwardian homes which have the type of slow ventilation and aged pipes which create damp.

Lofts and basements typically aren’t cleaned regularly making great breeding grounds.

Flats that use communal plumbing or have shared storage space are also at risk.

Having silverfish establish a foothold is notorious for being impossible to mitigate.

How to Get the Early Signs

Silverfish are stealthy.

They don’t make noise, they don’t show up for food scraps, and they are nocturnal.

So signs can easily be missed all together.
But the sooner you act, the better chance you have of saving your possessions.

Look out for:

• Sightings during the night (a quick, silver movement across your floor and/or up a wall)
• Unexplained holes in paper or cardboard
• Shiny cast-off scales (the skins that they leave during growth) next to books or skirting boards
• New humidity or condensation, particularly in select rooms

Don’t disregard a sighting of one or two — it could mean dozens more are looming.

DIY Prevention: What to do first

Before you call, there are things that you can do to discourage silverfish.

Dehumidify:
Silverfish need moisture – either by using a dehumidifier, or more ventilation in naturally damp areas: bathrooms, basements, or kitchens.

Decluttering:
Duty papers, cardboard boxes, or stacked magazines can form perfect hiding places.
If you can, keep documents in sealed plastic containers.

Vacuuming regularly:
Particularly in corners, behind furniture, and along baseboards.
With a vacuum, you can remove eggs, skin sheds, and food sources.

Seal Off Entry Points:
With caulking or filler, block up gaps between skirting boards, gaps around pipes, and gaps in wall seams.

Use natural deterrents:
Lavender, citrus peels, or cloves are known silverfish natural-type deterrents. While not perfect, they can help to deter new arrivals.

These steps may help delay the infestation but once silverfish are established they are unlikely to fix it entirely.

Professional Help Makes Sense

As small as they are, the extent of the damage silverfish can do is considerable as long as they are thriving, undeterred and unfixed.

Most over-the-counter sprays generally only kill the insects that you can see leaving eggs, and undetected colonies unaffected.

At Pestpatrol we don’t just fix the issue we follow it back to its origins,
identify hidden colonies and work to ensure they won’t be back.

Our unique silverfish treatments are discreet, effective and safe for use across London for homes and businesses.

We’ve worked for clients in anywhere from archiving units in Camden to noted libraries in Kensington to safeguard priceless collections, family heirlooms and important paper records.

Why Pestpatrol?

We’re not just another pest controller.
We’re Londoners that know the buildings quirks of the city and the pests that live in them.

Our technicians are professionally trained and demonstrate a firm knowledge about the process we use while causing the least disruption to your day-to-day life whilst tackling silverfish infestations in homes and businesses.

You will receive:

• A full inspection of your home or premises
• A bespoke treatment plan, designed for both infestation and property
• Useful aftercare advice to avoid reinfestation
• Follow-up visits if required

If you suspect that silverfish are quietly munching their way through your books and/or documents, don’t wait.
The longer you leave them, the more damage they will do.

Final Notes: To Save your Paper, Act Fast

Silverfish might not bite or sting, their quiet destruction can nevertheless hit where it hurts – your history, your records, your irreplaceable memories.

Spotting the signs early and seeking professional help is the best way to avoid heartache.

If you feel uncertain about the cause of the problem or just want a second pair of professional eyes, Pestpatrol can help.

Call Pestpatrol today, if you want to book an inspection or learn about our silverfish pest control services across London.

Are you really worried you have more than just silverfish?

Check out our full range of pest control services in order to how Pestpatrol can help protect your home from every creepy crawler in London.