Named after their silvery body color, the silverfish are wingless insects that are as swift-moving as the fishes. These insects are mostly found in the areas that are moist. You can spot them quite commonly in areas such as sinks, gutters, attics and the like. Here are 5 interesting facts about these insects that you should be aware of.
Most of you may wonder why the silverfish is named thus despite belonging to the insect family. This is because of two reasons. Firstly, the movement of the silverfish is very quick. They move on their sides, which resemble the way fishes swim in water.
Secondly, silverfish are usually silvery grey in color – a shade that is mostly symbolic to the scales found on the body of a fish. Though they are wingless, they are very swift, thanks to the 6 legs that run through the middle of their bodies. They have long antennae and a couple of compound eyes, which sets them apart from their contemporaries and allows these nocturnal insects to be active at night.
1. Diet pattern
If you thought silverfish eat other insects, you are mistaken. These small, wingless insects have the strangest diet pattern that you can ever imagine. They need a very high dose of carbohydrates and protein to survive; therefore, they eat things such as paper, glue, cardboard and other things that have a lot of starch. They can also live without food for many days. So, next time when you see your books with holes on them, you know who the culprit is!
2. Immunity to poisons
Silverfish infestations are quite hard to get rid of. This is because these insects are highly immune to all types of bug poisons. You cannot kill them with your usual insect repellents! The only way to get rid of silverfish infestations is to hire a professional pest control expert. They have been living on Earth for the past 400million years, making them one of the most ancient insect species in the world. So, it is not a surprise that they have mastered the art of handling bug poisons with ease.
3. Long lifespan
Silverfish love to live in moist areas and when the external conditions favor them well, they can live up to 8 years, which makes them insects with some of the longest lifespans ever! The common cockroaches that we find in our kitchens can live only up to 2 years; therefore, when you spot silverfish infestations, you should be warned that you might have to put up with them for a long time before you get rid of them.
4. Very swift
Silverfish are known for their swift movement, thanks to the many appendages found on their small bodies. They are so tiny that they can fit into the tiny holes on your walls. They can jump to a height of 2 feet with great speed and precision, which makes them faster than spiders and centipedes! They climb high walls and ceilings with a speed that can shock you.
Now that you have known about silverfish, we are sure you handle them better when you spot them next in your homes.
