Silverfish are the wriggling, silvery insects found in damp bathrooms, basements, and attics, where they feed on paper, starch, and glue and quietly damage stored items.

How to identify the Silverfish

Teardrop-shaped, silvery-gray, wingless, with three long tail filaments and a fish-like wriggling motion. About half an inch long.

Behavior & biology

They thrive in humid, dark spaces and feed on starches — book bindings, wallpaper paste, paper, cardboard, and dry goods — and reproduce slowly but persistently.

Why Silverfishs are a problem

They damage books, documents, wallpaper, and stored paper and fabric, and their presence signals excess moisture that invites other pests.

Signs of an infestation

Silvery insects in sinks, tubs, and boxes, yellowish stains and tiny scale-like debris, and feeding damage on paper and wallpaper.

How we handle Silverfishs in the CSRA

Lowering humidity and treating harborage clears them. Our pest control program addresses silverfish and the moisture behind them. Call 803-226-3155 to schedule. Browse the full pest library.