Welcome To Our Silverfish Learning Center

Habits & Behavior

Silverfish are known to be elusive creatures. They are nocturnal, so you may not see them lurking around the home. They move swiftly to escape detection but are unable to climb smooth surfaces. Silverfish live in dark, moist environments with high humidity.

They primarily live indoors, but can be found outdoors as well. When outside, they live primarily under rocks, leaves, and tree bark. When indoors in buildings, silverfish can be found in bathrooms, kitchens, attics, and basements. These fast insects can also be found in the cracks and crevices of walls and floors, as well as behind baseboards, windows, door frames, and bookcases.

Silverfish are shy creatures. They are scared of humans and try to avoid them whenever possible. They cannot fly or bite, but they can run quickly.

Food

Silverfish are generally scavengers that will eat virtually anything available. They love carbohydrates, such as flour and rolled oats, as well as coffee and sugar. They also enjoy eating non-traditional foods such as soap, hair, dandruff, dust, glue, clothing, silk, cotton, and linen. They may even eat other silverfish.

These insects, however, prefer to feed on carbohydrates and proteins. When outdoors, silverfish mainly consume vegetable matter. Silverfish living in homes among humans often eat common household items such as books, documents, photographs, and wallpaper. They are especially fond of sugar and starch and are known to raid kitchen pantries. Even though silverfish love to eat, they can survive without food for as long as one year.

Reproduction

The reproductive process for silverfish begins with an elaborate mating ritual performed between males and females. The insects touch their antennae together. The female then flees, with the two reuniting. The silverfish then stand side by side while the male vibrates his tail. At the end of the ritual, male silverfish deposit a sperm capsule that the female absorbs for fertilization.

Female silverfish lay their eggs, often in small groups, within tiny cracks and crevices. The eggs typically hatch in 3-6 weeks. Silverfish reproduce slowly, with the average female silverfish laying up to 100 eggs during her life. Silverfish have a lifespan ranging from 2-8 years.

The silverfish process from egg to adult usually takes about four months. Silverfish are hardy and can thrive in almost any environment, although humid conditions are preferable. Female silverfish tend to produce 1-3 eggs per day, although they can lay clusters of up to 20. They like to deposit eggs in cracks around the inside of a home or attic. They can produce eggs all year long, which is rare for insects.

Silverfish eggs develop through three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Newly hatched silverfish look like miniature adult silverfish and acquire the distinctive shiny appearance of adults within 40 days. It can take two years for silverfish to mature into adults and they can live roughly three years.