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Household Insects · Pest guide

Silverfish control

Moisture-loving insects that eat paper, glue and starch.

Start here: How to Get Rid of Silverfish (2026 Guide) When to call a pro

Silverfish at a glance

Scientific name
Lepisma saccharinum
Size
1/2 to 3/4 inch (12–19 mm)
Appearance
Wingless, carrot-shaped, silver scales; three tail bristles
Where found
Bathrooms, basements, attics, bookshelves, damp storage
  • Health riskLow
  • Property damageLow
  • Do it yourself?Usually DIY
When silverfish are active Peak: Jun–Aug
  1. Jan Active
  2. Feb Active
  3. Mar Active
  4. Apr Active
  5. May Active
  6. Jun Peak
  7. Jul Peak
  8. Aug Peak
  9. Sep Active (this month)
  10. Oct Active
  11. Nov Active
  12. Dec Active

Low Active Peak This month

Signs to look for

  • Irregular holes or scraped areas on paper and book bindings
  • Yellow stains or scales on stored items
  • Insects darting away when a light goes on

Call a professional when

  • Damage to documents, books or artwork
  • Numbers stay high after drying out the space
How to choose a pest control company

Quick prevention

  • Run a dehumidifier to keep humidity below about 50%
  • Store papers in sealed plastic bins
  • Seal cracks along baseboards

Silverfish: removal guides

1 guide

Step-by-step plans to get rid of a pest, from DIY methods to professional treatment.

Common silverfish, Lepisma saccharina

Silverfish · Removal

How to Get Rid of Silverfish (2026 Guide)

· 5 min read

Keep silverfish out

  1. Run a dehumidifier to keep humidity below about 50%
  2. Store papers in sealed plastic bins
  3. Seal cracks along baseboards

Often confused or found together

All household insects
Centipedes Fast house centipedes are a sign of damp and of other insects to eat. Cockroaches German, American and Oriental roaches: where they hide and the baits that end an infestation. Moths Pantry moths in the flour and clothes moths in the closet.
Photo credits

Thank you to Syrio, Aiwok, Oliver Ren and Mvuijlst for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.

Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0