The silver fish species is typically 12-19mm length wingless with a flattened body. Sometimes known as a bristle tail due to the 3 long bristle like appendages on the end of their body. The silver fish is silver to steel grey in colour. Silver fish eat proteins such as dried beef and dead or injured of their kind. The majority live about 3 years and lay 1-3 eggs per day placing them in cracks, under objects or left exposed.
Many infestations are localised and environmental modification can greatly enhance control.
Controlling or eliminating moisture, reducing the humidity, sealing up easily accessible cracks and crevices and removal of any potential food source will enhance control. Migrate from birds nests into buildings, bedrooms, airvents etc in search of a blood meal. The red poultry mite has a soft shelled oval body. They are nearly white when unfed, bright red when recently fed and grey to black with a partially digested blood meal. When found in properties they are generally unfed in search of food and almost appear like moving specs of dust to the naked eye.