Building a home library and painstakingly filling it with rows upon rows of books can be exhausting — both mentally and financially (book math, anyone?). Sadly, finding one (or a few) of your precious paperbacks or hardcovers damaged can be downright heartbreaking, especially if it’s a first edition or signed copy. Now, you can’t do much for such novels, but to ensure the others don’t face a similar fate, solve your silverfish problem with a common household essential: a plain glass jar. Use it in conjunction with some masking tape and drop in a bit of their favorite foods to trap these nuisances and reduce their numbers in your home.
建立一個家庭圖書館，並辛苦地把書排成一排排的，這在心理上和經濟上都可能讓人感到疲憊（書本數學，誰在乎呢？）。遺憾的是，一本（或幾本）你珍貴的平裝本或精裝本受損，尤其是首版或簽名本，可能會讓人心碎。現在，對這些小說你也無法做太多，但為了確保其他書籍不面臨同樣的命運，可以用家中常見的必需品來解決銀魚問題：一個普通玻璃罐。把它與膠帶一起使用，放入一些它們喜歡的食物，來困住這些討厭的害蟲，並減少家中的銀魚數量。
This simple solution works since these pests prioritize food over everything and they won’t be able to resist carb-rich food just sitting around in an unguarded jar. So, the bait may encourage silverfish to wiggle out of their hiding spots and climb inside the trap to satiate their hunger. And this is when they’ll get ensnared, as they can’t climb over slippery surfaces, so they won’t be able to climb out of a glass jar. Besides being easy, it’s a relatively low-effort way to trap these nocturnal creatures without immediately killing them.
這個簡單的解決方案之所以有效，是因為這些害蟲把食物放在第一位，牠們無法抗拒放在無人看管的罐子裡的高碳水化合物食物。因此，誘餌可能會促使銀魚從藏身處蠕動出來，爬入陷阱以滿足牠們的飢餓。就在這時牠們會被困，因為牠們無法跨過光滑的表面，無法從玻璃罐中爬出。除了容易之外，這也是一種相對低成本、低努力的方式，捕捉這些夜行生物，而不是立即對它們下死手。
However, placement is key. Though they’ll come looking for food no matter where they’re camped around your house, placing the jar in known hotspots will increase your chances of getting rid of as many silverfish as possible. To pinpoint areas of activity, look for damage as well as dark, damp places where silverfish tend to hide. Are black or brown spots on your books and documents in the home office your main concern? Or, do you dread dirty yellow stains or holes on your expensive silk dresses and cotton shirts? Pick the right spot based on your findings.
然而，放置位置是關鍵。雖然它們會在家中各處尋找食物，但把罐子放在已知的熱點，能提高你清除盡可能多的銀魚的機會。要找出活躍區域，留意書籍與文件的損壞，以及銀魚傾向藏身的黑暗潮濕角落。你在家庭辦公室的書籍與文件上看到的黑色或棕色斑點，是你主要關注的嗎？或者你是否害怕昂貴的絲綢禮服和棉質襯衫上出現髒黃的污漬或洞？根據你的發現選擇正確的位置。
How to trap silverfish using a plain glass jar
Any old glass jar (think salsa, pasta sauce, and olives) you have lying around your house will work for this DIY trap. Just ensure it’s not too shallow (like the one your favorite face cream comes in), or adult silverfish might just crawl out. You’ll also need a roll of masking tape and a bit of carb-rich food, such as bread, raw flour, or oats. Stick with a starchy bait rather than soapy-water, since the food is what helps attract silverfish to the trap. When you have everything, carefully wrap the exterior of your glass jar in masking tape. Don’t leave any spot uncovered, not even the grooved neck.
家中任何舊玻璃罐（想像番茄醬罐、義大利麵醬罐和橄欖罐等）都適用於這個自製陷阱。只要確保罐子不要太淺（不要像你最喜歡的面霜罐那樣），否則成年的銀魚可能會爬出來。你還需要一卷膠帶以及一些高碳水化合物的食物，例如麵包、未煮的麵粉或燕麥。選擇澱粉餌而不是肥皂水，因為食物才是吸引銀魚到陷阱的原因。當你準備好一切後，小心地把玻璃罐的外部用膠帶包覆起來。不要留下任何部位裸露，連有溝紋的瓶頸也不要。
Afterward, put in the food item such that it covers about ½-inch of the bottom of the jar. Now, place it in areas where you’ve noticed silverfish activity, such as near a bookcase or in shadowy corners to entice them to come out of hiding. If they encounter the trap, they’ll easily climb the taped exterior of the jar but will get stuck trying to get out. And this is where you come in. When you see a silverfish trapped inside, take the jar outside and release it away from your home. Also, replenish the food if required. Then, place the jar back in its original spot to serve as a trap again for another hungry silverfish. Continue this process till you’re sure you’ve eliminated all of them from your home. With that said, traps alone may not be enough if you’re dealing with a significant infestation. Reducing humidity, repairing leaks, eliminating food sources and clutter, sealing cracks and crevices, and vacuuming regularly can all help control silverfish; persistent infestations may require additional pest-control measures, like using diatomaceous earth to help eliminate them entirely.
接著，放入食物使其覆蓋罐底大約 ½ 英吋。現在，將其放在你已注意到銀魚活躍的區域，例如書櫃附近或陰影角落，以引誘牠們出來。若牠們遇到陷阱，牠們會輕易沿著罐外包覆的膠帶爬上去，但會在試圖爬出時卡住。這就是你出場的時候。當你看到銀魚被困在罐內時，將罐子帶到室外，在家以外放生。若需要，補充食物。然後將罐子放回原位，讓它再次成為對另一隻飢餓銀魚的陷阱。持續這個過程，直到你確定已經將牠們全部從家中消除。話雖如此，僅靠陷阱若遇上大規模侵擾可能不夠。降低濕度、修補漏水、消除食物來源與雜物、封堵裂縫與縫隙、定期吸塵，這些都能幫助控制銀魚；若侵害持續，可能需要額外的害蟲控制措施，例如使用矽藻土以幫助徹底消除它們。
