Silverfish

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark places such as basements, bathrooms, attics, kitchens, and sometimes in books, papers, or clothing. They prefer areas with high humidity.

Diet & Feeding

Starches and polysaccharides, including adhesives in books, paper, photographs, sugar, hair, dandruff, and sometimes cotton, linen, silk, or synthetic fibers. They can also feed on protein-rich materials like dead insects.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and reclusive, silverfish are fast-moving insects that avoid light. They undergo ametabolous metamorphosis, meaning they hatch from eggs as smaller versions of the adults and continue to molt throughout their lives. They are known for their distinctive wiggling, fish-like movement.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include property damage by feeding on books, paper, wallpaper, and clothing. They do not bite or sting humans, and are not known to transmit diseases. They offer no significant benefits to human environments, though in natural ecosystems, they might contribute to decomposition.

Identified on: 9/27/2025