Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Warm, humid environments indoors, such as bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and attics; they prefer dark, damp cracks and crevices.

Diet & Feeding

Polyphagous scavengers consuming polysaccharides like starches and dextrin found in adhesives, paper, photos, book bindings, sugar, hair, and dandruff.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and elusive; they move in a characteristic wiggling motion resembling a fish swimming. They are long-lived (up to 3 years) and can survive long periods without food.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Household pests that can cause damage to books, wallpaper, clothing, and stored food items; they do not bite or spread disease but can trigger allergies in some people. Benefits: act as decomposers in nature.

Identified on: 2/22/2026