Do Silverfish Eat Money?

I left some money in a drawer in my desk safekeeping for a few weeks but when I went to use it there were holes in it. I thought someone was playing tricks on me but I quickly noticed some Silverfish scurrying around. So we started wondering if silverfish eat money. So we did some research and here is what we found out.

So, do silverfish eat Money? Silverfish will feed on paper money as they prefer a diet of starch, carbohydrates, and sugar. As most paper money these days is made of a complex blend of cotton, plastic and film fibers it has a composition that contains cellulose and starch, which silverfish will eat.

To help, we have outlined some more information on why silverfish eat money, what are the signs of silverfish and how to protect your money and how to get rid of Silverfish when found.

Do silverfish eat money

Silverfish Glue Traps | Remove Silverfish From Your Home

Why Do Silverfish Eat Money?

As some money is made from a blend of cotton, plastic and film fibers it has a composition that contains cellulose and starch.

Silverfish have a basic diet that is focused on food sources made up of carbohydrates such as starches and sugar so some paper money is an ideal food source for them as they contain components of cellulose and starch.

The reason you will see Silverfish feeding on paper money is that they require these sources of nutrients to develop and grow and are unable to reach and mature to there adult form and their reproductive state without these sources of food.

If you have a jar filled with coins don’t worry, Silverfish will not eat these.

What Are the Signs of Silverfish Damage to Your Money?

So, what are the signs of Silverfish damage to paper money? The damage that Silverfish will do to these items is easily distinguished as they will leave a bite or scratch like marking on your paper money that is similar to how an insect will eat a plant leaf.

The Signs of Silverfish Damage to Paper Money Includes:

  • yellow stains on your money notes
  • Silverfish droppings in your drawers and wardrobes where you keep your secret stash of cash.
  • Scratch-like markings on paper money
  • holes in your paper money
  • dead or alive silverfish near your paper money or in your drawers and wardrobes where you may have kept any cash for safekeeping.

Just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they are not there. They are good at hiding, although you will eventually see a few if they are hanging around your wardrobes and drawers.

So just be vigilant and know the signs for silverfish damage to your cash if you are storing any in your home for safe-keeping.

How to Prevent Silverfish from Eating Your Money

Your coins are safe, it’s just your paper money that you should look out for signs of Silverfish. To help protect your money from silverfish Infestations it is important to take precautionary measures. These steps include knowing the signs of a silverfish infestation, maintaining an environment in your home that deters silverfish, storing your money properly and how regular to take preventive measures to catch the early signs of damage and an infestation.

Below are our top tips on how to prevent silverfish from entering and damaging your home.

1. Know the signs of silverfish and the damage they cause to money

The main sign that Silverfish have found your stash of cash is the bite marks and damage to your paper money that look similar to how a bug would feed on a plant or leaf.

If you see this on quarantine any paper and other material that silverfish will eat in the area you found signs of silverfish damage.

Search the area and start getting rid of any silverfish or silverfish eggs you may find. Keep an eye out for dead silverfish, yellow stains, their scales, and any unhatched eggs.

As we have already discussed the signs of silverfish in a lot of details you may want to know what are any other signs of a silverfish infestation. If you do then check out our complete guide to getting rid of silverfish here.

2. How to protect your money from silverfish

If you are storing paper money in drawers or in secret places in your home that are dark it is always advisable to keep your money stashed in a sealed plastic zip-lock or container. Silverfish love paper, so don’t store it in an envelope as this is a great food source for Silverfish as well.

To protect your money from silverfish it is always a good practice to ensure your home doesn’t allow silverfish to thrive. This is a crucial factor in preventing them from growing in numbers. So here are a few pointers to help:

Below are our top tips on how to get rid of silverfish:

  • Make sure you aren’t storing any money in an envelope and that any paper or documents are kept in plastic parchments to ensure that silverfish can’t feed on them.
  • Keep humidity and temperature to a low level especially in rooms where you might be keeping your cash stashed. It’s also good to make sure you have vents in these rooms to reduce any moisture or damp building up.
  • Clean your house regularly or at least the room where you don’t want silverfish to do any damage to your valuables as this will reduce any sources of food that silverfish will thrive on.
  • Keep your house sealed and in good order. Make sure small insect entry points are sealed like around doors, windows, vents, and pipes – basically any openings to outside.

3. How to get rid of Silverfish if you find them

So know you’ve learned how to prevent silverfish infestations around clothes and fabrics as well as spot the signs of silverfish eating your clothes. But that is half the battle with these insects so how can you go about getting rid of them.

There are a few ways of getting rid of silverfish and for the best results make sure to use preventative measures like we have explained above as well as extermination methods.

Below are our top tips on how to get rid of silverfish:

  • Use Silverfish traps: Place them in and around the room you found signs of silverfish like the corners of these rooms and areas where there is an abundance of food that silverfish will be attracted to. Once you have caught any dispose of them according to the instructions on the package and don’t reuse.When buying silverfish traps make sure you know what they contain as some are natural, whereas others contain pesticides. Struggling to know the pros and cons of natural vs chemical traps, well we created a guide on the best traps for getting rid of silverfish here.
  • Use Diatomaceous Earth Powder. This is a natural substance and will cause any insect and its eggs that come into contact with it to pass away. The powder needs to be spread everywhere silverfish are likely to appear.
  • Use boric acid: This is a natural substance and will cause any insect and its eggs that come into contact with it to pass away. The powder needs to be spread everywhere silverfish are likely to appear. Make sure to wear a face mask when using it and be extra careful to make sure your pets or children do not come into contact with it. This powder is toxic and inhaling it will require immediate medical attention.
  • Use pesticides: These are also another option, just like boric acid and diatomaceous earth powder. When using a pesticide, make sure it contains liquid pyrethrin as this is great at getting rid of silverfish. Just be careful where you use these sprays though as it may not be suitable to be used in your kitchen and pantry, as well as anywhere children and pets can access because it is very toxic.Make sure to wear a face mask when using it and be extra careful to make sure your pets or children do not come into contact with it. This powder is toxic and inhaling it will require immediate medical attention.Not every insecticide spray is fit for all silverfish eradication purposes, which is why you should no which spray is best for your specific situation. That is why we have created a guide on the best sprays for getting rid of silverfish here.
  • If these methods don’t work and you just can’t seem to get a handle on your silverfish infestation you may feel you need professional help from a pest exterminator.If this is the case, be sure to check out our complete guide on how to choose a pest exterminator and make sure you are hiring the right professionals here.

If you’d like to understand how silverfish in a little more detail and how you can make sure they aren’t a problem for you at any point make sure you check out our complete guide here on how to get rid of silverfish in your home for more tips and suggestions.

Related Questions

Do Silverfish Eat Paper?
Do Silverfish Eat Paper? Yes, they eat paper and can be found scurrying around items made of paper in your home because paper and books are a great food source for them to grow. Silverfish feed on the carbohydrates and starches which are key components of most paper-based items in your home. They will consume items like documents, books, photos, money, and wallpaper.

Do Silverfish Make Noise? Silverfish are so small that it is hard for human ears to hear them make any noise. Yes, they will make noise to some degree but human ears aren’t able to pick up on any silverfish movements.

Can Silverfish Climb? Despite having six legs, Silverfish can’t use them to climb vertical surfaces like walls, doors or mirrors. Silverfish do not have the ability to climb up any surfaces and is why you may seem them trapped in a bath or sink.

Check out some of our other articles

Do Silverfish Eat Clothes?

Do Silverfish Eat Paper and Books?

How To Get Rid of Silverfish (The Complete Removal Guide)

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