Silverfish
Shy, silvery night feeders that live in damp rooms and eat paper, glue and cardboard.
Where they come from
An ancient wingless insect line, about 400 million years old. Older than the dinosaurs.
Where they thrive
Damp, dark places above 75% humidity: basements, bathrooms, archives and storage.
How they behave
Night feeders on starch: paper, book bindings, glue and cardboard. Can go a year without food.
In New York City
Older buildings with damp basements and stored paper records are prime territory.
Did you know?
They can live up to 8 years and keep molting their whole adult life.
Related pests
German Cockroaches
The roach that lives indoors, breeds fastest, and causes most commercial kitchen infestations.
Read more →American Roaches
The big reddish roach New Yorkers call a palmetto bug, coming up from drains and basements on hot nights.
Read more →Waterbugs
What New Yorkers call a waterbug is almost always the Oriental cockroach, a dark roach that loves damp basements.
Read more →Think you have Silverfish?
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