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Quick answer: Silverfish are small, wingless, silvery-gray insects shaped like a teardrop or carrot, with three long tail bristles. They love humidity and feed on starches — paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, and starched fabrics. They are harmless to people but can damage belongings. Because they are moisture-driven, the key to getting rid of silverfish is reducing humidity and moisture, along with exclusion and targeted treatment.
What do silverfish look like?
Silverfish are wingless insects about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, silvery-gray and metallic, with a flattened, carrot- or teardrop-shaped body that tapers toward the rear. They have two long antennae and three long bristle-like appendages at the tail, and they move with a quick, fish-like wriggle — the source of their name. Firebrats are a close relative that prefer hot areas such as near boilers.
Signs of silverfish
You may see the insects themselves in bathrooms, basements, or closets, especially at night. Other signs include irregular feeding damage to paper, book bindings, wallpaper, and starched fabrics; small yellowish stains; and tiny pepper-like droppings. Damage to stored paper and cardboard is a common tip-off.
Are silverfish harmful?
Silverfish are a nuisance rather than a health threat: they do not bite, sting, or transmit disease. Their significance is the damage they cause to paper, books, wallpaper, and stored or starched fabrics as they feed on starches and cellulose.
Biology and behavior
Silverfish are primitive, ametabolous insects — they change little in appearance as they grow and continue molting throughout their long lives. They require humidity to thrive, which is why they concentrate in damp, humid areas and why their presence points to a moisture problem.
How to get rid of silverfish
Because silverfish are moisture-driven, the most effective control is reducing humidity and moisture: fix leaks, add ventilation or a dehumidifier, and dry out basements, bathrooms, and closets. Support this with removing food sources (declutter stored paper and cardboard, store books and documents in sealed containers), sealing entry points and harborage cracks, and targeted treatment of harborage where needed. Correcting the moisture is what makes control last.
When to call a professional
If silverfish persist despite moisture control, or if you are seeing damage to books, documents, or fabrics, a professional can locate the harborage and moisture sources and apply targeted treatment to clear them.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Silverfish FAQ
What do silverfish look like?
Silverfish are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, silvery-gray, wingless, and carrot- or teardrop-shaped, with two long antennae and three long bristle-like tails. Their wriggling, fish-like movement gives them their name.
Are silverfish harmful?
Silverfish do not bite, sting, or transmit disease. They can, however, damage paper, books, wallpaper, and starched or stored fabrics as they feed on starches.
What causes silverfish?
Silverfish thrive in humid, damp conditions. Their presence usually signals excess moisture — leaks, poor ventilation, or high humidity in basements, bathrooms, and attics.
How do you get rid of silverfish?
The key is reducing moisture and humidity (fixing leaks, using dehumidifiers, improving ventilation). Combine this with removing food sources like stored paper, sealing entry points, and targeted treatment of harborage where needed.
Where do silverfish hide?
They favor dark, damp, humid areas: basements, bathrooms, closets, attics, and around plumbing, as well as in stored books, paper, and cardboard.
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