Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark, and cool environments such as bathrooms, basements, attics, and kitchens.

Diet & Feeding

Starchy substances and polysaccharides including book bindings, wallpaper paste, cereal, glue, paper, and clothing made of cotton or silk.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, fast-running, and avoid light. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis (gradual development) and can live for several years.

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite humans and are not known to transmit diseases, but they are considered pests because they can damage property like books, photos, and textiles. They are a food source for spiders and centipedes.

Identified on: 3/18/2026