High humidity: They love damp environments.
Darkness: You will not find them sunbathing.
Access to starchy/sugary material: Paper, glue, cardboard, fabric, and crumbs.
That’s right. These bugs love carbs. They’ll eat wallpaper glue, the bindings of your favorite book, old newspapers, and dandruff (yes, really).
Are Silverfish Harmful?
They don’t sting. They carry no diseases. And do not let their passiveness fool you.
Left unattended, silverfish can do serious damage. But what they might chase is this:
Books & paper – They’ll eat all the glue and pages.
Clothing & linens – Especially if they are kept for long.
Wallpaper – They chase the glue!
Food – Specifically pantry items like flour, oats, and cereal.
Worst of all, silverfish are very fast breeders. One or two could be a nightmare within a few months. So yes — they have to go.
