What Are Silverfish?

If you have ever flipped on the bathroom light in the middle of the night and watched a small, shimmery insect dart across the floor, you have probably encountered a silverfish. These teardrop-shaped pests are about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch long, covered in silvery-gray scales, and move with a distinctive wriggling motion that resembles a fish swimming — which is exactly how they got their name.

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) are ancient insects that have been crawling around on Earth for more than 400 million years. They are wingless, fast-moving, and remarkably resilient. While they are not dangerous to humans — they do not bite, sting, or transmit disease — they can cause real damage to your belongings and are a sign of underlying moisture problems in your home.

In the Midwest, homeowners across Des Moines, Omaha, and Kansas City deal with silverfish infestations more often than they realize. Here is what you need to know about these pests and how to get rid of them for good.

Why Do Silverfish Invade Homes?

Silverfish are drawn indoors by three things: moisture, warmth, and food. They thrive in humid environments with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit — conditions that are easy to find in Midwest homes during our humid summers and when heating systems run all winter.

What Do Silverfish Eat?

Silverfish are not picky eaters. Their diet includes carbohydrates and starches found in common household materials, including:

  • Paper and cardboard (books, magazines, boxes)
  • Wallpaper and wallpaper paste
  • Natural fabric fibers like cotton, linen, and silk
  • Glue found in book bindings
  • Pantry items like flour, cereal, and rolled oats
  • Dead skin cells (yes, really)

This wide-ranging diet is part of what makes silverfish so persistent. As long as your home offers humidity and organic materials — which every home does — silverfish have everything they need to survive and reproduce.

Signs You Have a Silverfish Infestation

Because silverfish are nocturnal and prefer dark, undisturbed areas, many homeowners do not realize they have an infestation until it has grown significantly. Watch for these telltale signs:

Physical Damage

  • Irregular holes or notches chewed into the edges of books, magazines, and wallpaper
  • Yellow staining on paper or fabric where silverfish have fed
  • Surface etchings on papers or photos where they have scraped away material
  • Damage to clothing, especially cotton or linen items stored in closets or drawers

Other Evidence

  • Shed skins — silverfish molt throughout their entire lives and leave behind papery, scale-like skins
  • Tiny pepper-like droppings near feeding areas
  • Live silverfish spotted in sinks, bathtubs, or on floors at night

If you are spotting these signs in your Des Moines, Omaha, or Kansas City home, it is time to take action. A single female silverfish can lay up to 60 eggs at a time, and these pests can live for three to six years — meaning a small problem can become a large one quickly.

Where Do Silverfish Hide?

Knowing where silverfish hide is key to finding and eliminating them. In Midwest homes, they are most commonly found in:

  • Basements and crawl spaces — especially if there is any moisture intrusion or condensation on pipes
  • Bathrooms — under sinks, around tubs, and near any leaking fixtures
  • Attics — where stored cardboard boxes and insulation provide both food and shelter
  • Kitchens — behind appliances and under sinks where humidity is higher
  • Laundry rooms — near washers and dryers where steam and moisture accumulate
  • Closets and storage areas — particularly where old books, papers, or natural-fiber clothing are stored

DIY Silverfish Control: What Works and What Doesn’t

There are some steps homeowners can take to reduce silverfish activity, but it is important to understand their limitations.

What You Can Do

  • Reduce humidity: Use dehumidifiers in basements and crawl spaces. Keep indoor humidity below 50%.
  • Fix leaks promptly: Dripping faucets, leaking pipes, and condensation issues all attract silverfish.
  • Seal cracks and gaps: Caulk gaps around pipes, baseboards, and window frames to limit entry points.
  • Declutter storage areas: Replace cardboard boxes with plastic bins and regularly go through stored items in attics and basements.
  • Store pantry items properly: Keep dry goods in sealed containers.
  • Ventilate: Improve airflow in bathrooms, attics, and crawl spaces.

The Limits of DIY Treatment

Over-the-counter sprays and silverfish traps can kill individual insects, but they rarely address the root cause or the full scope of an infestation. Silverfish are excellent at hiding in wall voids, behind insulation, and in other hard-to-reach spaces. Without treating these harborage areas, the population will quickly rebound.

Additionally, DIY treatments often do not include the residual effects needed to break the reproductive cycle. You may kill the silverfish you can see while dozens more are reproducing out of sight.

Professional Silverfish Control in the Midwest

When DIY methods are not cutting it, professional pest control is the most effective solution. At Miller Pest Solutions, we have been helping Midwest homeowners eliminate silverfish and other household pests since 2001. As a family-owned company, we understand the unique pest pressures that come with living in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri/Kansas.

Our approach to silverfish control includes:

  • A thorough assessment to identify all harborage areas and contributing moisture sources
  • Targeted treatments in wall voids, crawl spaces, attics, and other hiding spots
  • Residual products that continue working long after the initial treatment
  • Practical recommendations to reduce the conditions that attract silverfish

We can also assess whether silverfish activity is a symptom of a larger moisture or structural issue that needs to be addressed. Our team takes the time to understand your specific situation rather than offering a one-size-fits-all spray and pray approach.

Visit our Learning Center to read more about common Midwest pests, or check out our Pest ID guide to help identify what you are dealing with.

How Much Does Silverfish Treatment Cost?

The cost of professional silverfish treatment depends on several factors, including the size of your home, the severity of the infestation, and whether ongoing service is recommended. At Miller Pest Solutions, we offer competitive pricing and transparent quotes — no surprise fees.

The best way to get an accurate estimate is to give us a call for a FREE phone bid. We will ask a few questions about your home and the activity you have noticed, and we will give you honest, upfront pricing before any work begins.

When to Call Miller Pest Solutions

Do not wait until silverfish have damaged your books, clothing, or wallpaper. Call us as soon as you notice any of the warning signs mentioned above. The sooner you act, the easier and less costly treatment will be.

Our silverfish control services are available throughout our Midwest service area. Reach out today for your free phone bid:

You can also request a quote online and one of our friendly team members will be in touch promptly.

Do not let silverfish take over your home. Miller Pest Solutions has the experience, the tools, and the local knowledge to eliminate these pests and help keep them from coming back. See what our customers are saying and find out why Midwest homeowners have trusted us for over two decades.