Silverfish (often confused with Firebrat)

Natural Habitat

Found in dark, damp environments with high humidity. Common household locations include bathrooms, basements, attics, and kitchens, often hiding in cracks and crevices.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous scavengers that consume matter containing polysaccharides, such as starches and dextrin in adhesives. They eat paper, cardboard, book bindings, glue, clothing, sugar, coffee, dandruff, and microscopic molds.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive. They move very quickly with a fish-like wiggling motion when disturbed. They are long-lived (up to 8 years) and molt throughout their lives, even as adults.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Considered household pests because they damage property (books, wallpaper, clothing) and contaminate food. They do not bite or sting humans and are not known to transmit diseases. Benefits: Limited, though they do act as decomposers in the natural environment.

Identified on: 3/4/2026