Do LED lights attract silverfish? Why?

Did you see silverfish on the wall above your head or in the toilet when you woke up at night? Worried about how it enters a well-lit room with led lights? They appear to be frightening, unsightly, and unwelcome. One question came to mind when I was trying to get rid of them. Are silverfish attracted to LED lights? So I conducted some research and this is what I discovered!

This post will tell you if LED lights attract silverfish.

Do LED lights attract silverfish?

No, LED lights don’t attract silverfish. Silverfish are nocturnal and like dark environments like attics and basements. They actually fear the light. Silverfish are small silver insects that instinctively hide from human sight, and remain unnoticed. There is no evidence to support the claim that LED lights attract silverfish.

Facts about Silverfish

Silverfish are small, wingless insects that measure 7–10 mm in length. But they move quickly, and it is tough to catch them. They prefer warm, wet, and dark environments, so they are most commonly seen in restrooms.

During the winter months, silverfish frequently creep inside the home through the insulation to find warmer places to reside. They enjoy carbs and sweets.

They do not pose a direct threat to people and do not spread infections.

Why are silverfish attracted to LED lights?

LED lights do not attract silverfish. Silverfish prefer dark, moist environments. Some insects, like the moth, are drawn to light sources. But not with silverfish.

Most bugs prefer light sources emitting shorter wavelengths of light, while longer wavelengths are less noticeable. Bugs seeking warmth might be attracted by the heat provided by a light source.

LED lights provide less UV light and heat, making them unattractive to bugs.

What attracts silverfish to homes?

Things that may attract silverfish to your home include:

  • High moisture – Silverfish require more than 75% humidity to survive, which is why they are drawn to moist, damp places of the house. As a result, silverfish are frequently found in kitchens, baths, garages, laundry rooms, and cabinets. They may crawl out of high humidity locations for a little period in search of food or warmth, but they normally prefer to remain in highly humid areas.
  • Dark and warm places –Silverfish are nocturnal insects that hide during the day and emerge at night in search of food. They hide in places that are dark and warm, such as the basement or attic. Cracks and gaps in your home are their common hiding places.
  • Carbohydrate and protein-containing foods – Silverfish enjoy complex carbohydrates such as flour, rolled oats, and starches that are found in cardboard boxes, paper, book bindings, glue, and insulation. Additionally, they consume protein sources such as dried beef and dead insects.
  • Organic table waste- Silverfish, in addition to enjoying warmth and moisture, also enjoy organic table waste, particularly sugary crumbs.
  • Silverfish eat the epidermis of human skin, which is why they prefer to live in bathrooms, which are humid and have a lot of epidermises that fall from towels and hair after washing.
  • Organic glues and dead insects are also their meal.
  • Silverfish can digest cellulose, which is why they eat paper. They have the ability to damage books by biting them. They also consume toilet paper and can’t seem to stay away from any type of paperwork.
  • Silverfish are attracted to the paper wallpaper and the adhesive used to adhere it.
  • Cotton and silk make them happy.
  • Mold is also a food source for them.

They have mastered the art of survival since they are as old as dinosaurs and are able to wait a long time for their favorite snacks.

Do LED Light strips attract Silverfish?

No, LED light strips also don’t attract silverfish like the LED lights. The LED strip light is just a flexible circuit board loaded with LEDs that can be attached anywhere to add intense lighting in a variety of colors and brightness levels.

What color LED Lights do not attract Silverfish?

Insects are usually drawn to UV light, shorter wavelengths, and the heat provided by light sources. Silverfish love dark, moist environments and are not particularly attracted to any color of light.

Does light keep Silverfish away?

Silverfish may be deterred by the light because they prefer to hide in dark locations. However, silverfish may still enter your home in search of food or warmth.

What Silverfish Don’t Like?

Silverfish will not be attracted to a dry, well-maintained flat with good airflow. As a result, air vents and ventilation system components must be cleaned on a regular basis.

Silverfish are nocturnal creatures that like gloomy environments. They are terrified of light. They also have natural enemies: spiders, which they avoid because they are possible food. Household pets, such as cats and dogs, pose a threat to them. Silverfish will not spread if the room temperature is around 17 degrees or lower.

How can you keep Silverfish out of your home?

The following tips will help you prevent the spread of silverfish in your home:

  1. Remove debris from the area around your property. Clean the gutters to prevent stagnant water from attracting silverfish.
  2. Moisture absorbers will be useful as well. Because silverfish are attracted to moisture, it is best to keep your home’s humidity levels low.
  3. Food scraps should not be left in the kitchen or dining room. All food items should be stored in sealed containers to prevent silverfish from being attracted to your home by available food sources.
  4. Vacuum your home’s furniture and floors on a regular basis to remove any garbage or debris that silverfish may feast on.
  5. You must completely air out the bathroom after showering or washing. To force further air circulation, it is a good idea to leave the entrance open and open the windows in the apartment.
  6. Inspect your home’s walls and doors for cracks and seams in the foundation. Caulk any crevices you discover to prevent silverfish from entering your home. The fewer holes and cracks there are, the fewer places for insects to hide.
  7. If the wallpaper is peeling away from the wall, it must be glued and any gaps in the wall must be filled, for example, using tape or silicone.
  8. Also, do not allow mold to grow on walls or other surfaces, as this will supply food for silverfish.
  9. You can use silica gel if there are no children or pets in the house. It’s popular since small packets of it come with a variety of things, such as shoes. They are, unfortunately, poisonous.
  10. Pesticides for insect control, such as sprays, are available for purchase. Silverfish sticky paper is also very popular.

How to get rid of Silverfish?

If you have a silverfish infestation, these strategies can help you get rid of them:

  1. Infested areas should be sprayed with insecticide or dusted with desiccant dust. Cover any ceiling cracks and fittings. Silverfish are commonly controlled with insecticides such as boric acid, diatomaceous earth, and pyrethrin.
  2. Construct a jar trap. Place starchy food in a glass container and tape the jar’s exterior. The silverfish will attempt to crawl into the jar but will become imprisoned. It will be unable to climb out again due to the interior glass surface being too smooth for climbing.
  3. Place a sticky trap around the perimeter of the house. Silverfish will become trapped in the traps.
  4. Construct a wet newspaper trap. Preserve a newspaper by moistening it and rolling it up. Now, place it in areas that you suspect are frequented by silverfish. Silverfish will enter and establish a home in the damp newspaper. After a few days, discard it.
  5. Natural silverfish repellents include spraying cedar oil or scattering dried bay leaves about the house. Silverfish despise the scent of oils and bay leaves and will avoid locations in your home where these substances are present.

Because these insects prefer to hide in dark places such as roof or wall cracks, they frequently go undiscovered.

However, if you see a significant silverfish infestation in your house, it is better to contact a professional pest control firm for assistance in eradicating the silverfish.

Most Effective & Least Expensive Method With No Pesticides Involved

Frequently Asked Questions

Silverfish are small silver insects that dwell at night and instinctively hide from human sight, allowing us to live with them for a long period without realizing they are there. We will, however, notice them sooner or later. Many people in this situation are in a state of terror.

We’ve gathered answers to a few questions people are asking about silverfish.

Where did the silverfish come from?

Silverfish can travel great distances in quest of suitable territory. It must be warm and humid for them to recognize a location as such. This is especially true in our warm bathrooms and kitchens, where moisture might go unnoticed. They benefit from poor ventilation as well.

Silverfish can enter a home or apartment through a variety of leaks, including holes in the walls. They’re especially frequent in flats, where they can easily spread between neighbors.

Bathrooms with no windows are more common in flats, as are kitchens that are near to bathrooms.

Many individuals worry if the presence of silverfish is due to a lack of housekeeping. It doesn’t have to be this.

Because the homeowners are unaware that there is dampness in some spots, silverfish can appear in even the cleanest homes and apartments.

Furthermore, even in areas with excellent sanitation, silverfish can find lots of food. Obviously, frequent cleaning is not beneficial for them; nonetheless, the objective is to reduce humidity and detect and remove sources of moisture.

My Room Is Infested With Silverfish! What Makes You Think That’s Possible?

Bathrooms and kitchens are the most common places where silverfish can be found. This is true, as this is where they may be discovered the most frequently.

Silverfish, on the other hand, are highly frequent in other rooms, and they can even be found in basements.

Silverfish eat silicone, which is used to fill the gaps, and wallpaper glue, among other things.

Rooms are comfortable and heated, so this crucial factor is met for them as well.

What food do Silverfish eat?

Sugar-containing foods are what silverfish prefer to eat. However, they eat practically everything that falls on our floors, including crumbs, hair, skin, various fibers, molts, and other insects.

They also devour paper and organic glue (which includes wallpaper, books, toilet paper, kitchen towels, and documents), as well as some fibers (they can damage carpets and clothes, not only those made of natural fibers like linen, cotton, or silk but even those made of synthetics and even leather).

Silverfish, as you can see, devour almost everything. This is why you’ll find them not only in bathrooms but also in rooms.

Can I get bitten by silverfish?

Humans are absolutely unaffected by silverfish. Because they are not interested in our blood like mosquitoes, they shun human contact and flee into the gaps as soon as the light turns on.

Silverfish do not bite or harm humans in any way.

Are Silverfish harmful to materials?

While silverfish do not pose a threat to humans, they can cause damage to your home, but this does not happen very often.

They will usually stay in the bathroom if they have already entered our flat or property. However, if they do not find enough food there, they will continue searching and wandering.

They are capable of destroying books, wallpaper, pipe insulation, clothing, and leather goods. It’s also possible that they’ll go after food in the kitchen. The food that has been touched is no longer edible and should be discarded.

They are also extremely resistant to hunger, surviving for up to a year without nourishment.

Do Silverfish Spread Diseases?

Silverfish, on the other hand, do not carry any infections. They have no desire to approach humans and do not do so; instead, they flee in the blink of an eye.