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Quick answer
Silverfish thrive in damp, dark areas — bathrooms, basements, closets, and behind baseboards — feeding on paper, starches, and fabrics. New York Exterminating treats their harborage, applies residual products to cracks and voids, and addresses the moisture that sustains them. Service is dependable, with a free estimate.
Those shiny, fast, carrot-shaped insects wriggling in the bathroom or bookshelf are silverfish — harmless to you, but quietly destructive to paper, books, wallpaper, and fabrics, and a clear sign your space holds too much moisture. New York Exterminating clears silverfish and fixes the dampness behind them. The work is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) licensed in structural pest control.
Damp-loving insects get confused, so the ID matters. Silverfish are silvery-gray, teardrop- or carrot-shaped, about a half-inch, wingless, with three long tail bristles and a fish-like wriggle. Firebrats look similar but mottled and prefer hot, humid spots (near boilers and pipes). Booklice are tiny pinhead specks, pale and translucent, found on damp walls. All three point to a moisture problem, but silverfish are the ones that graze paper and fabric for starch. We confirm the species so the treatment and the moisture fix are right.
Silverfish in your bathroom or basement? We clear them out.
Harborage treatment and moisture advice across NYC. Dependable. Free estimate.
City living gives silverfish exactly what they want: humid pre-war bathrooms, damp basements and ground-floor units, old plumbing and condensation, and tight storage where paper and cardboard sit in still, moist air. They hide in cracks and baseboards by day and feed at night on book bindings, wallpaper paste, stored documents, and natural-fiber clothing. Because they depend on humidity, lasting control means treating their harborage and reducing the dampness — not just spraying the open room.
1. Identify. We confirm silverfish (vs. firebrat or booklice) and locate the damp harborage.
2. Treat harborage. We treat the cracks, baseboards, and voids in bathrooms, basements, and storage areas where they hide.
3. Moisture correction. We address the humidity, ventilation, and damp materials sustaining them.
4. Protect & prevent. We advise on sealing stored paper and fabrics and sealing entry points so they do not return.
Related services: Centipede Control, Mite Control, and General Pest Control.
Yes — we identify the insect, find the moisture source, and quote before any treatment.
Usually yes — the three tails and silvery wriggle make silverfish easy to confirm.
Yes — clearing the population and correcting the dampness stops the grazing damage to paper and fabric.
No. Silverfish do not bite people or pets and carry no disease. They are a nuisance pest whose harm is to your belongings, not your health — they feed on starches and graze on paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, cardboard, and natural fabrics. The concern is the damage to stored items and what their presence says about humidity.
Both like damp, but they look different. Silverfish are silvery-gray, teardrop-shaped, about a half-inch long, wingless, with three long tail bristles, and they move with a fish-like wriggle. Booklice are tiny (pinhead-sized), pale, and translucent. If you see a larger, shiny, fast, carrot-shaped insect with three tails, it is a silverfish; pinhead specks on damp walls are booklice. We confirm from a photo at no charge.
Humidity, almost always. Silverfish need moisture and thrive in damp bathrooms, basements, kitchens, laundry areas, and around old plumbing — and they feed on the starch in paper, glue, and stored goods. A silverfish problem is a reliable signal that an area of your home holds more moisture than it should, which is why control pairs treatment with addressing the dampness.
They graze surfaces for starch, leaving irregular holes, notches, and yellow stains on paper, books, photographs, wallpaper, cardboard boxes, and natural-fiber clothing and linens. In a home library, archive, or storage area a population can quietly damage valued items over time. They are slow to build up, so catching them early limits the loss.
By drying out their harborage and treating where they hide, not just spraying open rooms. We treat the cracks, baseboards, and voids in damp bathrooms, basements, and storage areas, address the moisture and humidity sustaining them, and advise on protecting stored paper and fabrics in sealed containers. Removing the dampness is what makes it last.
Often a moisture one, yes. Because they depend on humidity, a silverfish population can point to poor ventilation, a slow leak, or condensation you have not noticed. Treating them is also a prompt to find and correct the dampness — which protects the building as well as your belongings.
New York Exterminating, Inc.
1115 E 13th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230
ACE-Certified · Licensed in Structural & Food-Establishment Pest Control · Serving all five boroughs
Every job is led by an Associate Certified Entomologist. Meet Jorge Bedoya, ACE — the NYC Exterminator »
New York Exterminating is Brooklyn-based and covers the whole city — the same Associate Certified Entomologist–led service in every borough:
Brooklyn · Manhattan · Queens · The Bronx · Staten Island · Yonkers · White Plains · Nassau County
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Our expertise goes beyond simple extermination. Backed by certified specialists and proven methods, we combine science, precision, and care to deliver pest solutions that last. Every treatment is designed with your safety, comfort, and environment in mind.
Many of our clients have remained with us since 2010, demonstrating strong trust and long-term satisfaction.
Licensed by NYSDEC – Reg. #15140
Serving property managers, senior facilities, shelters, affordable-housing programs, and businesses across NYC since 2010 — many long-term clients trust our work.
Botanical/reduced-risk options, German-cockroach control and rodent-exclusion programs, full bilingual support (EN/ES), plus a client portal with reports, photos, and chemical logs for total transparency.
NYSDEC Registered — Reg. #15140 — with fully licensed technicians (Jorge Bedoya, Tomas Cusati, Jason Mendoza). We follow all regulations for safe, legal treatments.
Led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (Jorge Bedoya) and technicians trained in urban entomology, we use IPM and proven methods for lasting results.
From first inspection to final follow-up, our science-based process ensures every pest problem is solved with precision, safety, and lasting protection
Find quick answers to common questions about our services, safety practices, and customer support
Yes. We use eco-friendly and low-toxicity treatments designed to protect your family, pets, and the environment.
Yes. We offer bilingual services in English and Spanish to ensure clear communication and support for all our clients across New York City.
We proudly serve all five boroughs of New York City — Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island — as well as surrounding areas.
You can access all your service reports, invoices, and treatment details through our secure online Client Portal. Simply log in anytime to view records, photos, and chemical logs for full transparenc
We specialize in removing rodents, insects, raccoons, and other common pests, providing thorough inspections and effective solutions to keep your home or business pest-free.
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Providing reliable pest control solutions for homes, businesses, and institutions across the NYC metro area
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Silverfish extermination in NYC — we treat the damp, dark hiding spots and cut the humidity that draws them. Dependable.
