| Silverfish and Firebrats Information |
The silverfish and the firebrat are present-day members of a very old and primitive insect group. The adults are wingless, about 1/2 inch (10-12mm) long and have three long bristles at the tail end of the body. The silverfish is covered with shiny grayish-white scales. It prefers damp places in basements, bathrooms and porches. The firebrat is mottled with brownish and blackish scales and prefers much higher temperatures, breeding rapidly at temperatures around 100 degrees F. They are common around furnaces, trash incinerators, fireplaces, and in insulation around hot water or heat pipes. Both silverfish and firebrats feed on vegetable matter with a high protein, starch or sugar content; they are active at night and hide during the day. They can cause damage to book bindings, starched fabrics, wallpaper paste and stocks of paper on which paste or glue is present. New houses may become infested with them before the plaster and woodwork are thoroughly dry. Basement food incinerators attract them and provide a constant source of food, often making their control more difficult. They take from 3 to 24 months to mature, and may live as long as 3 years.
Integrated Silverfish and Firebrat Management Control requires preventative measures (strict sanitation, sealing cracks and crevices, removing food and moisture, etc.) in conjunction with insecticide treatments.
If you choose to use an insecticide a ready to use formulation of propoxur, or chlorphyrifos is suggested. Do not contaminate food or utensils with insecticide.
For a complete listing of suggested control options for all home, yard and garden insect pests contact your local Extension Service, found under local government in the phone book.
Read and follow instructions on the pesticide label. Heed all warnings. Check with your physician if you have any concerns regarding your personal health risk. Revised by Tom Ellis, M.S., Department of Entomology
MSU 2003
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