Facts Silverfish 

What Is Silverfish 

Silverfish are about 1/2 inch long, with a uniform silver color over its upper surface. Silverfish go through only a three stage life cycle called gradual metamorphosis, while many insects have a four stage life cycle (full metamorphosis). Silverfish may lay eggs at any time during the year, and take 19-43 days to emerge. silverfish life cycle

Silverfish are found in basements, kitchens, sinks, bathtubs, in bookcases, on closet shelves, behind baseboards, wallpaper, window or door frames, wall voids, and sub-floor areas. Silverfish are active at night in dark spaces found throughout structures. Silverfish diets are high in protein, sugar, or starch, counting cereals, moist wheat flour, starch in book bindings, and paper on which there is glue or paste. Silverfish can damage book bindings, wallpaper, paper supplies and dry foods. Silverfish may also bite very small holes in assorted fabrics, including cotton, linen, and silk, even while they cannot digest either linen or cotton.

Silverfish and firebrats eat a broad array of foods, including glue,wallpaper paste, bookbindings, paper, photographs, starch inclothing, cotton, linen, rayon fabrics, wheat flour, cereals, driedmeats, leather and even deceased insects. Silverfish have level, extended bodies 1/3 to 3/4 inchlong and broad near the head, tapering toward the rear-somewhat"carrot" shaped. Silverfish are active at night and hide during the day.

Silverfish females may lay over 100 eggs during her existence. Silverfish depending on the species, may reach adulthood in three to twenty-four months. Silverfish belong to a very ancient group of soft wingless insects, evolving on earth even before the cockroach.