silverfish problem in apartment

Hello,

I found your website very helpful, especially the videos since they were very explanatory.

I am having a silverfish problem in my apartment. I see them in every room, but I'm not sure where they are coming in. The rental office keeps sending an exterminator and he sprays Border around, but they don't go away. I see all sizes, from tiny ones to 3/4" adults.

I just bought some DE Plus Ant & Crawling Insect Killer and sprinkled it around my baseboards, and put some Dekko silverfish packs behind bookcases, etc… How long should that take to work? Is Drione Dust a better product than diatramaceous earth? I have a cat and want to be very careful what I use, but I also need these silverfish gone because I'm not able to relax with them around! Thanks for your help in advance.

Silverfish can be a persistent problem in apartment buildings. I'm not sure why this is true; I just know that during my 30 years (plus) in this industry, silverfish and apartments go together like roaches and apartments. The two just seem to a "natural fit".

Since it's not likely you'll be able to kill all the silverfish in the building, the best approach is that which is detailed in our SILVERFISH CONTROL article. Using a combination of the products we have listed, you should be able to keep them out of your apartment. Any that make their way inside would be reigned in by either our SILVERFISH TRAPS or NIBAN BAIT. In this grand scheme, the DRIONE DUST is used to keep them out as the "first line of defense". This line of defense is a type of border over which silverfish (and other insects) don't like to cross. Though you can use DE Dust to create this border, it won't work as well as Drione. This is mostly due to subtle differences between the two. Drione contains pyrethrin, a naturally occurring repellent, which silverfish don't like and can detect from great distances. Their ability to detect it is what makes Drione so effective compared to DE. Though the DE will stop them from crossing it, silverfish will many times walk over treated surface and will not pay it any attention. This means an incomplete or "depleted" border will let them in. If Drione is used instead to treat wall voids, electric power outlets, light fixtures and other ports of entry, no insect will find their way into your living area even as it wears thin. In other words, Drione is effective long after most any other chemical applied would fail. If DE or some other dust is used, this level of repellency is not nearly as easy to achieve.

In summary, I suggest you use Drione to treat all borders of the apartment. Traps should be set up along this border as well; if you don't see the traps you currently have catch any silverfish, get some of ours. Lastly, some Niban should be set out in living areas which are currently showing silverfish activity. Since they are constantly looking for food, the Niban will be found and consumed by them leading to their demise.