Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Damp, cool environments with high humidity like basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and attics.

Diet & Feeding

Known for consuming matter containing polysaccharides, such as starches and dextrin in adhesives. This includes book bindings, carpet, clothing, coffee, dandruff, glue, hair, some paints, paper, photos, plaster, and sugar.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and highly agile insects. They avoid light and are known for their fish-like wiggling motion when moving. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis, meaning they look like miniature adults throughout their life cycle.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite humans or spread disease. However, they are considered major household pests because they can cause significant damage to books, paper products, wallpaper, and certain fabrics. In the ecosystem, they are decomposers.

Identified on: 2/17/2026