Common Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Humid, dark environments such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens

Diet & Feeding

Starches, sugars, and dextrin in adhesives; they consume paper, book bindings, and household flour

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and fast-moving; they undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis and are known for their shimmying, fish-like movement

Risks & Benefits

A nuisance pest that can damage property such as books and wallpaper, but harmless to humans as they do not transmit diseases

Identified on: 5/18/2026