Don’t let silverfish outlive your pest control efforts.
By Clay Scherer, Technical Services Manager, Syngenta Professional Pest Management
Despite their status as one of the oldest and most primitive insect species, silverfish are alive and well and can cause damage on your customers’ properties. These pests are able to consume textiles, paper and other materials containing starch, such as books, wallpaper or other dried and stored goods.
Biology and background
Silverfish are one of the most commonly encountered species within the order of Thysanura. They are generally half an inch long with a wide head, tapered abdomen and long antennae. Their grey-colored bodies are slightly flattened and covered in scales, providing a slippery sensation when grasped by a human hand.
Adult female silverfish lay one to three eggs per day that hatch after about 30 days and molt as nymphs over several months before becoming adults. Adults continue to molt and can live for up to three years.
Look closely, treat residually
Silverfish are often found in infrequently opened drawers and cabinets in bathroom and kitchens, attics and other areas with little disturbance. They can crawl very quickly and hide in small spaces when disturbed, surviving without food or water for as many as several weeks. A close and careful inspection of suspected silverfish harborage areas, including the use of sticky traps, should be conducted prior to implementing any control methods. Sealing cracks and holes around windows and doors, and placing interior screens over vents can help exclude silverfish from structures.
If silverfish are discovered, applying a residual spray indoors can help control these insects for an extended period of time. Demand® CS insecticide and Tandem® insecticide from Syngenta Professional Pest Management can be applied indoors as a coarse, low-pressure spray to cracks and crevices where silverfish may be hiding, such as in drawers, cabinets or in attics. Demand CS and Tandem are formulated with proprietary iCAP™ technology, in which microcaps of multiple sizes help provide immediate and residual control for up to three months.
Don’t let your customers’ possessions suffer the effects of silverfish. Use the above insect knowledge and essential control techniques to retire the threat of silverfish for good. For more information, please contact your local Syngenta sales representative or visit www.SyngentaPMP.com.
In the State of New York, Tandem may only be applied for indoor uses.
©2015 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your state or local Extension Service to ensure registration status. Demand®, For Life Uninterrupted™, iCAP™, Tandem® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Syngenta Customer Center: 1-866-SYNGENT(A) (796-4368). |