Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Typically found in dark, damp, and humid areas such as bathrooms, basements, kitchens, attics, and laundry rooms. They often hide in cracks and crevices.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on carbohydrates, particularly starches and sugars. This includes paper, glue, book bindings, wallpaper paste, clothing (silk, cotton, linen), dandruff, and dead insects.

Behavior Patterns

Silverfish are nocturnal and move quickly with a wiggling motion that resembles swimming fish. They are long-lived insects that can survive for weeks without food and prefer environments with high humidity (75-95%).

Risks & Benefits

Risks: They are considered household pests because they can damage property like books, wallpaper, and clothing. They can contaminate food stores. Benefits: They do not bite or sting humans and do not carry known diseases, serving primarily as decomposers in nature.

Identified on: 2/20/2026