Silverfish
Silvery, fish-shaped insects that damage books, paper and starchy items in dark, humid areas.
Silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) is a Florida pest we rate as a low concern. Rhino Pest Management is a licensed (#JB242881) and insured general pest control company serving Florida's Treasure & Space Coast, rated 5.0★ by 16 Google reviewers. The estimate is always free — (772) 589-6842.
Photo: Mirko Schoenitz (CC0) · Wikimedia Commons
About 12–19 mm, flat, elongated, tapered at the tail with three long tail bristles and two long antennae. Covered in silver-gray scales and moves in a rapid, fish-like wriggling motion. Wingless.
Dark, humid areas: attics, closets, wall voids, bathrooms, basements and behind water heaters. They need high humidity (above 75%) and gravitate toward paper, books, cardboard and natural-fiber clothing.
- Silver-gray insects running when a closet or cabinet is opened
- Irregular holes or notched edges in book spines, wallpaper and cardboard
- Small black pepper-like droppings and yellow staining on paper materials
- A shed skin (molted exoskeleton) in infested areas
Silverfish don't bite or spread disease but damage books, paper files, wallpaper, clothing, and anything containing starch or cellulose. They can go undetected for years in Florida's humid environments.
Is this urgent?
No. Silverfish is a nuisance, not a threat to your health or your house. Most people fold it into a regular service visit rather than booking a special trip. If the numbers keep climbing after you've dealt with the moisture and food sources, that's when it's worth a call.
Rhino treats harborage areas with appropriate products and advises on reducing the humidity (the root cause in Florida homes) via ventilation and dehumidification.
Our General Pest Control serviceSilverfish guides
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ViewScientific source
For the biology behind this page, the University of Florida's IFAS Extension publishes a detailed Featured Creatures profile of this species — free to read, and written by entomologists in this state:
Silverfish Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus — UF/IFAS Extension