Fears over huge rise in flesh-eating night crawlers silverfish invading Irish homes

Ireland has seen a worrying spike in infestations of a skin-eating bug known as silverfish.

Irish pest control company Rentokil has reported a massive 32% increase in the number of callouts last year to get rid of the creepy-crawlies.

Dublin saw a scary jump of 53% in visits to homes in December 2018 to deal with the flesh-eating night crawlers.

Silverfish are the oldest known pests on earth and they love to feast off dead skin cells and hair.

The little bugs, which can jump up to two feet and live for eight years, have also been known to eat through wallpaper, books, curtains and cereal boxes.

Approximately the same length as the diameter of a one euro coin, the insects come out at night and they've been thriving in bathrooms and kitchens around the country as homeowners sleep.

The most affected counties include Dublin (53%), Kildare (9%), Meath (5%), and Galway (4%).

These ugly, wingless, torpedo shaped insects are characterised by a silvery-blue colour, tiny scales and three bristles at the end of their abdomen.

Once silverfish access a property, they lay up to twenty eggs every day, so a small problem can quickly become a large one with this disgusting insect species.

Rentokil's Colm Moore said homeowners should act to proof their homes to prevent the bugs from settling in.

He explained: "Silverfish require damp and humid conditions and thrive in kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms and other dark, isolated areas.

"Fixing leaks in pipework, improving ventilation and using dehumidifiers can help discourage silverfish.

"They feed on starch, cellulose, and sugar, so they can damage a variety of common items such as books, paper, wallpaper, and paintings.

"In small numbers silverfish are not really a problem and you can easily get rid of them, but a large infestation can be a serious issue for your home or business.”

Eggs are hidden in tiny cracks or crevices, making them extremely difficult to find.

Silverfish thrive in cool, moist and damp areas and can feed on human debris such as dead skin and hair.

A leading property maintenance expert in the UK, Ranjen Gohri, from 24/7 Home Rescue said of the bugs: "Silverfish are actually the oldest known pests on earth.

"And if you're spotting tiny holes in your clothes or curtains, you might have an infestation without even realising it.

"They'll eat anything. But skin cells are a delicacy to silverfish.

"And they like to leave their calling card - in the shape of tiny yellow stains wherever they've been."

As we don't tend to open windows and doors during the colder months, moisture from cooking, showering and drying clothes indoors can't escape.

Thankfully, the good people at Rentokil have some good tips on how to keep your home free of the disgusting little critters.

Top spring-cleaning tips to banish silverfish :

• 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.