Silverfish Control Services

Silverfish Appearance

Silverfish are small, wingless insects with a distinctive teardrop-shaped body that tapers at the end. They are usually between ½ to ¾ inches long and have a silvery-gray or metallic appearance due to their fine, shiny scales. Their bodies are covered in tiny, overlapping scales that give them a fish-like shimmer, which is how they got their name.

Silverfish have long, thread-like antennae on their heads and three tail-like appendages (called cerci) extending from their rear, giving them a bristle-like appearance. They move quickly in a wriggling, fish-like motion. Their bodies are soft, flat, and somewhat segmented, allowing them to squeeze into tiny cracks and crevices.

Because they are nocturnal and prefer dark, damp environments, silverfish are often found in basements, bathrooms, attics, and areas with high humidity. They are known for feeding on starches, paper, glue, fabrics, and other organic materials, which can make them a nuisance in homes.

Learn more: What Do Silverfish Look Like?

Where Are Silverfish Found?

Silverfish thrive in dark, damp, and humid environments, so you're most likely to encounter them in areas with high moisture and limited airflow. Common places where silverfish are found include:

• Attics & Storage Areas: Inside cardboard boxes or old books, among stored clothing, wallpaper, or fabric, and near insulation materials.
• Basements & Crawl Spaces: Dark corners and crevices, near stored boxes, books, or old newspapers, and along baseboards and behind furniture.
• Bathrooms: around sinks, bathtubs, and showers, inside cabinets and under baseboards, and near leaky pipes or drains.
• Laundry Rooms: behind washing machines and dryers, and in lint buildup and fabric piles.
• Kitchens & Pantries: Inside cabinets, especially those with flour, cereal, or paper packaging, around plumbing and under sinks, and near stored dry goods, as silverfish feed on starches.
• Closets & Bedrooms: inside drawers with clothing or fabric items, behind wallpaper or peeling paint, and near stored documents or photo albums.

Since silverfish are nocturnal, they often go unnoticed until you find signs of their presence, such as small holes in paper, fabrics, or books, along with tiny pepper-like droppings. If you’re dealing with a silverfish problem, controlling humidity levels and sealing cracks can help prevent infestations.

Silverfish Diet

Silverfish are omnivorous and primarily feed on materials that contain starch and carbohydrates. Their diet includes a variety of organic substances, particularly those found in homes and other indoor environments. Common things silverfish eat include:

• Books: Paper, bindings, and glue
• Magazines: Pages and ink
• Newspapers: The paper and any adhesive used in the print
• Wallpaper: The paste used to apply wallpaper and sometimes the paper itself
• Cardboard: Particularly when it’s used to package food or other items
• Clothing: Particularly natural fibers like cotton, linen, or wool, though they may also feed on synthetics like rayon if they are stained with food or other organic matter
• Bedding: Like sheets or blankets, especially if they have traces of food or other organic material
• Dry Food: Cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, and other dry food items, often found in pantries
• Pet Food: Especially dry kibble or grain-based products
• Starchy Substances: Items like potatoes or other organic starches left unattended
• Glue in Books or Wallpaper: Silverfish are attracted to the starches in adhesives used in book bindings, wallpaper paste, and other items
• Dead Skin Cells: Silverfish are known to scavenge on the skin flakes that humans shed, which can accumulate in dust.
• Mold: If there’s a damp, moldy area, silverfish may also consume the mold itself, as it can contain organic matter that they can digest.
• While silverfish prefer plant-based materials, they may also feed on dead insects, particularly other small pests.

To prevent silverfish infestations, it’s important to reduce food sources by sealing food packages, cleaning up crumbs, and storing items properly.

Learn more: What Do Silverfish Eat?

Silverfish Life Cycle

The life cycle of silverfish consists of three main stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Silverfish undergo incomplete metamorphosis, meaning they don’t have a pupal stage like some insects (such as butterflies). Instead, silverfish develop through gradual changes as they grow.

Egg Stage

• Duration: A few days to several weeks, depending on environmental conditions
• Eggs are laid by the female in secluded, dark areas where moisture is present. The eggs are typically laid in cracks, crevices, or hidden spaces such as behind baseboards, under furniture, or in attics.
• Silverfish eggs are small, white, and oval-shaped, and they are often laid in groups. They are coated with a protective layer that helps shield them from environmental threats.

Nymph Stage (Immature Stage)

• Duration: Several months to 3 years, depending on the availability of food and environmental conditions.
• Once the eggs hatch, nymphs (the immature form) emerge. Nymphs resemble small adults but are pale and underdeveloped. They are wingless, soft-bodied, and usually translucent or white.
• As they grow, nymphs will molt (shed their exoskeleton) several times. The number of molts varies, but silverfish typically molt 20-30 times before reaching adulthood. Each molt brings the nymph closer to the size and appearance of a mature silverfish.

Adult Stage

• Duration: Silverfish can live for 2 to 8 years as adults, depending on environmental conditions.
• Once silverfish reach adulthood, they can reproduce, completing the cycle. Adults retain their fish-like, silvery appearance and continue to molt, but at a reduced rate.
• Adult silverfish are not capable of flight but are extremely fast and capable of darting around their environment, particularly in dark, damp spaces.
• Reproduction: Silverfish are known to be prolific breeders. Mating occurs through a process called "sperm transfer", where the male silverfish deposits a sperm packet, which the female picks up. The female may then lay several eggs, starting the cycle again.

The life cycle of silverfish is closely tied to their environment, with higher humidity and abundant food sources facilitating faster development. In ideal conditions, silverfish can reproduce year-round, leading to rapid infestations.