Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Silverfish prefer dark, damp, and cool places. Common habitats include basements, attics, bathrooms, and kitchens. They can also be found in wardrobes, behind baseboards, under floorboards, and in stored boxes of books or papers. They are common household pests.

Diet & Feeding

Silverfish primarily feed on carbohydrates, especially polysaccharides. This includes starches and dextrin found in adhesives, book bindings, paper, photos, sugar, hair, and dandruff. They can also damage clothing, carpets, and other textiles, and can survive for long periods without food.

Behavior Patterns

Silverfish are primarily nocturnal and very secretive. They move quickly and have a distinctive wiggling motion, resembling a fish. They are long-lived for an insect, sometimes living up to 2-8 years. They undergo ametabolous metamorphosis, meaning they continue to molt throughout their lives, even as adults.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include property damage to books, papers, textiles, and food items due to their feeding habits. They do not bite, spread disease, or pose a direct health threat to humans. They offer no significant benefits to humans or the ecosystem as household pests.

Identified on: 9/4/2025