Silverfish (molting)

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark, and secluded places; often found in bathrooms, basements, attics, and kitchens. They prefer areas with high humidity.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of starchy materials, including paper (books, wallpaper, cardboard), glue, textiles (cotton, linen, silk), dried foods (sugar, flour, oats), and other organic matter. They can also feed on their ownmolted exoskeletons.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and reclusive, silverfish are fast-moving insects that avoid light. They undergo ametabolous metamorphosis, meaning they continue to molt throughout their lives, even as adults. The image provided appears to show a silverfish in the process of molting, which is why part of its body looks pale and somewhat translucent.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include damage to household items such as books, documents, clothing, and food products. They are not known to spread diseases or bite humans. From an ecological perspective, they are detritivores, playing a minor role in breaking down organic matter, but their presence is generally considered a pest in human dwellings due to the damage they can cause.

Identified on: 10/16/2025