{"id":31390,"date":"2026-11-10T09:45:58","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T08:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/non-classifiee\/poissons-argent-en-hiver\/"},"modified":"2026-11-10T09:59:10","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T08:59:10","slug":"silverfish-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sereni-d.com\/en\/news\/silverfish-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Silver fish in winter: why are they reappearing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you turned your heating back on? Watch out for silverfish! These tiny silvery insects love heated, poorly ventilated homes and rooms where damp builds up. Are they dangerous? Where do they hide and how can you get rid of them? Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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In summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u27a1\ufe0f The common silverfish, Lepisma saccharinum, particularly favours very damp areas, whilst some species of the genus Ctenolepisma can tolerate drier, heated homes
\u27a1\ufe0f In winter, condensation and poor ventilation can create suitable hiding places;
\u27a1\ufe0f Bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms and basements are the rooms most commonly affected;
\u27a1\ufe0f They are harmless to humans but can damage paper, cardboard, adhesives and certain textiles;
\u27a1\ufe0f Reducing humidity and applying a suitable treatment are essential to prevent them from returning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

An introduction to the silver fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"poisson<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"gros<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The silverfish<\/a>, or Lepisma saccharinum<\/em>, is a small nocturnal insect recognisable by its elongated body covered in silvery scales<\/strong>. It is usually around one centimetre long and moves very quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It prefers places<\/strong> that are dark, warm and damp<\/strong>, such as bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms or basements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rest assured: silverfish do not bite and do not transmit any known diseases to humans<\/strong>. However, they can become a nuisance when they multiply and may damage paper, cardboard, adhesives or certain textiles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why do we see more silverfish in winter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heat and humidity: the ideal conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lepisma saccharinum<\/em> thrives in warm and very damp environments<\/strong>. When relative humidity exceeds around 75 per cent, conditions become particularly favourable for its growth [1].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heating alone is therefore not necessarily to its advantage<\/strong>. On the contrary, it can dry out the air and limit the number of favourable areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem is that certain parts of the home remain damp despite the heating: the bathroom, under the bath, cold corners, pipework or under furniture<\/strong>. These small spaces can retain a damp microclimate which silverfish thrive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The common silverfish, Lepisma saccharinum<\/em>, is mainly found in very damp rooms<\/strong>. Other silverfish species, such as Ctenolepisma longicaudatum<\/em> and Ctenolepisma calvum<\/em>, can, however, tolerate drier conditions and may be found in homes heated to room temperature [2,3].<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Condensation creates small damp pockets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In winter, the air indoors is warmer than the walls, windows or some floors. When this warm, damp air comes into contact with a cold surface, condensation can form<\/strong> on various surfaces:<\/p>\n\n\n\n