Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Found worldwide, primarily in dark, damp, and humid environments. Common in bathrooms, basements, attics, and kitchens, often hiding in cracks, crevices, or under objects.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous feeders that consume starches and sugars. Their diet includes paper, glue (book bindings), wallpaper paste, photos, fabric (cotton, linen, silk), dried foods like flour or oats, and dead insects.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive, they move quickly with a wiggling motion similar to a swimming fish. They are long-lived (up to 3 years) and go through ametabolous metamorphosis (young look like small adults).

Risks & Benefits

While harmless to human health (they do not bite or spread disease), they are considered household pests because they can cause significant damage to books, documents, clothing, and pantry goods. In nature, they act as decomposers.

Identified on: 2/21/2026