Homerton has advised its students to decorate their rooms with cinnamon, cloves, and cucumber after multiple students have been moved following silverfish infestations.

The College has assured its students that silverfish are “primitive wingless insects” which have “been around for over 400 years” and are “no cause for concern,” in an email from Homerton’s Tutorial Office Manager, Beverly Watts.

Homerton’s maintenance team has sprayed accommodation with cedar oil to “deter a new population” of silverfish from “re-colonising” the College.

Multiple rooms in the College’s South Court accommodation block have been treated after reports of silverfish infestations.

The College has now informed students that they will have to remain in their rooms even if they become infested with silverfish, as no more accommodation is available.

One student had to spend the night in a spare room due to an infestation, with their mattress also being replaced by the college, they told Varsity.

“Silverfish are not a danger to health and there is no need to move,” Watts’ email added.

After confirming that no more room swaps are available, Watts assured students that silverfish have “shared spaces with us for thousands of years but like dust mites and other small invertebrates, mostly go unnoticed.”

Watts proceeded to provide a list of “things that silverfish don’t like the smell of,” implying that students stock their room with these to self-medicate any infestations.

Silverfish are small, nocturnal insects. They prefer a diet filled with sugar and carbohydrates and can be found in paper, soap residues and dust. If left untreated, silverfish can cause damage to belongings.

“Small numbers of silverfish are not unusual in a home and are not a cause for concern: they do not mean that a building is unsanitary or unsuitable for people to live in,” the email continued.

Students have taken to the Homerton Confessions page on Facebook to voice their concerns about alleged silverfish infestations.

One post declared: “Anyone else in SC got silverfish? I’ve found 2-3 per week since term started, sick of it.”

Another post stated: “At least 6 people have had to leave SC cuz of silverfish infestation…. Come on hom, sort it out!”

The College has confirmed that South Court will be treated at the start of the Christmas Vacation, once rooms have been vacated.

Other tips on how to prevent silverfish infestations given by the College included using essential oils and keeping orange peel in a dish.

Homerton College gave the following comment: “We have received a handful of reports of harmless silverfish insects in South Court Rooms. These rooms have been swiftly treated and the whole building will be further treated at the start of the Christmas Vacation, when all the rooms are empty.”

“Small numbers of silverfish are not uncommon, and they do not mean that a building is insanitary. Although unsightly to some, Silverfish are not harmful to people as they do not bite, sting nor carry disease,” they added.

A Homerton College spokesperson told Varsity: “We have received a handful of reports of harmless silverfish insects in South Court Rooms. These rooms have been swiftly treated and the whole building will be further treated at the start of the Christmas Vacation, when all the rooms are empty.”

“Small numbers of silverfish are not uncommon, and they do not mean that a building is insanitary. Although unsightly to some, Silverfish are not harmful to people as they do not bite, sting nor carry disease,” the spokesperson continued.