Silverfish Facts & Information

They’re tiny, but once you’ve had one zip past your foot in the bathroom at 2 a.m., you won’t forget what they look like. They measure around ½ to ¾ inch in length, but this does not include their antennae. They’ve got teardrop-shaped bodies coated in a dusty, metallic shimmer that glints just enough to gross you out. They move in a twitchy and fish-like manner, hence the appellation.

Moreover, they feature 3 long bristles at the tail end and prefer to stay hidden during the day. If you have ever lifted a damp towel or cracked open a box in the garage only to see something wriggle away, chances are you have just met a silverfish.

Silverfish are survivors; they can go weeks without relying on food, thrive in moist and dark spaces, and squeeze into gaps that are thinner than the edge of a coin. They slowly reproduce but steadily, laying eggs in hidden cracks, which makes silverfish infestations drag on longer than expected.

The diet of these pests includes some truly strange menu items: flour, dead insects, book bindings, dandruff, and cardboard. Such feeding habits allow them to thrive unnoticed. They do not create nests or leave trails like ants, which indicates they can exist under your radar while discreetly damaging your belongings.

If there’s moisture, there’s a high chance silverfish are close. They crave humidity like plants crave sunlight. Laundry zones, bathrooms, basements, and attics are all silverfish hotspots. They wriggle behind baseboards, under linoleum floors, and curl up within cardboard boxes that are stored on concrete flooring. Any space that’s humid, dark, and peaceful becomes their ideal hiding location.

Adding another dimension, silverfish are most active during the night and vanish the moment the lights switch on. Paper dust, crumbs, and any other starchy materials left out in the open are fair game. Once they are inside, they can be challenging to notice and even more difficult to get rid of without proper pest control treatment.