Silverfish

About Silverfish

Silverfish, known scientifically as Lepisma saccharinum, are among the most common insects found in homes. Despite the name, they have nothing to do with fish; they earned it from their silvery, fish-like appearance and quick, wriggling movements. They are also one of the oldest insect groups on the planet, with fossils dating back nearly 400 million years. While silverfish are not harmful to people, they can quietly infest a home, damage belongings, and trigger allergies in sensitive individuals.

What Silverfish Look Like

Adult silverfish are small, usually around three-quarters of an inch long, with a flattened, tapering body that is silver or grayish. Fine, scale-like covering gives them a shiny, almost metallic sheen. They have long, slender antennae, sometimes nearly twice their body length, and three bristle-like appendages projecting from the rear. Their fast, darting motion makes them elusive and tricky to catch.

Life Cycle of Silverfish

Silverfish develop through a process with no true metamorphosis, passing through just three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The full journey from egg to adult can take anywhere from three months to four years. Females tuck their soft, oval, white eggs into any suitable crack, where they may take weeks or months to hatch. The emerging nymph is simply a smaller, paler version of the adult that grows through repeated molts. Adults reach half an inch to three-quarters of an inch and can live about three years.

Do Silverfish Bite?

Silverfish do not bite and are not harmful to humans. When startled, they tend to dart away and hide rather than confront anything, so bites are essentially unheard of. That said, they can still cause trouble: their shed scales and droppings may trigger allergic reactions or respiratory irritation in some people, and they can spread throughout a home, ruin belongings, and contaminate stored food.

What Silverfish Eat

Few belongings are truly safe from silverfish, which need starch, protein, and carbohydrates to survive. They feed on fabric, paper, glue, wallpaper, and plaster, and they are fond of dried pasta, oats, coffee, and sugar. Starched clothing and items made from natural fibers like cotton, silk, rayon, and leather are at risk, as are books and wallpaper, all of which contain the starches these insects crave.

What Attracts Silverfish and Signs of Infestation

Silverfish are nocturnal and prefer damp, humid spaces, thriving in temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. They are drawn indoors by moisture and food, sometimes arriving from outside, from neighboring apartment units, or hidden in a box or book brought home. Bathrooms, basements, attics, laundry rooms, and kitchens are favorite haunts. Telltale signs of an infestation include droppings, shed scales, yellow stains on cardboard or clothing, and chewed holes in books, wallpaper, or fabric, along with live insects crawling on walls or hiding among bookshelves.

How Aegis Prevents and Controls Silverfish

Making a home unwelcoming is the first line of defense. Address moisture and humidity with a dehumidifier and fix leaks that let water pool, clean regularly to remove the dust these insects feed on, reduce clutter that offers hiding spots, and store cereal, flour, pet food, and similar items in airtight containers. When silverfish do find their way inside, the participating providers in our network can eliminate them and help keep them from coming back. Call (855) 560-1396 to schedule your service.