Rentokil issues pest warning as five counties with…

Rentokil issues pest warning as five counties with most callouts revealed

Rentokil is warning the public to be on the lookout for silverfish.

Pest control company, Rentokil, has today revealed the top five Irish counties accounting for silverfish callouts.

Rentokil, Ireland’s leading pest control provider, is warning the Irish public to keep an eye out for signs of silverfish.

It comes after Rentokil confirmed the counties that had the most callouts for silverfish infestations over the past five months.

The nocturnal pests are typically more prevalent during colder periods.

Silverfish can lay up to 60 eggs per day, so a few insects can quickly become a much larger infestation.

The five counties which accounted for the most silverfish callouts over the past five months were Dublin, which accounted for 57 per cent of all of Rentokil’s silverfish callouts, Cork (15 per cent), Kildare (5 per cent), Clare (4 per cent) and Waterford (2 per cent).

A common sign of the presence of silverfish to watch out for is finding unexplained holes in books or items of clothing.

Rentokil Pest Control (Rentokil Ireland)

Home and business owners are most likely to find silverfish in dark, damp and humid areas such as bathrooms or washrooms, basements, and attics.

Silverfish are nocturnal insects that are silver or grey in colour, measuring approximately 10-12mm in length with tiny scales, two antennae, and they have a tapered, tail-like appearance.

Dr Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager for Rentokil said: "Like many pests during colder periods of the year, silverfish move indoors to seek shelter and warmth inside homes and businesses.

"While silverfish aren’t dangerous, they can become a major inconvenience because of their appetite for starch and cellulose, which can lead to them damaging valuable items by feeding on them.

"Members of the public can find out more about silverfish on the Rentokil website."

Silverfish eggs are usually difficult to locate, as they are often hidden in tiny cracks or crevices.

An infestation can result in damage to books, photographs, paintings, plaster and other household items as they feed on both starch and cellulose.

They also feed on human debris such as dead skin and hair.

Rentokil advises following these tips to reduce the likelihood of a silverfish infestation in your premises:

Deny them food by vacuuming and keeping dust and debris to a minimum
Store food in containers with tightly sealed lids
Homes and businesses should also dehumidify their premises through the use of fans, dehumidifiers, or by opening windows to air them out
Make sure all cracks in walls and skirting boards are filled

It is important to identify silverfish in order to establish the degree of infestation that is taking place in your house.