Few people know, but there is a tiny shiny silver insect 1-2 cm long, its body is elongated and covered with scales, known as silverfish.
It is active at night and occurs mainly in damp, dark places such as bathrooms, basements or kitchens. It likes high humidity and warm environments, so it often appears in homes with poor ventilation or water leakage.
It feeds on organic matter such as paper, glue, mold and in some cases has access to food.
Their presence can often warn of mold problems, as they like moisture, which is also a favorable condition for mold to form. Although they are not harmful to health, their presence can be an aesthetic problem and lead to damage to the materials of the house in the long run.
To prevent them, reducing humidity, regular ventilation and proper storage of food and paper-based items is recommended.
A very ancient insect
Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) have been around the world for over 400 million years and remain much the same as in pre-dinosaur days.
They are impressive survivors, which may explain why they didn’t need much to evolve. Some sources claim they can live up to 6 months without food or water, as long as they have one or the other, explains a decontamination expert at a decontamination company.
Anatomy of a Silverfish
Silverfish have a prehistoric appearance. These shiny and gray animals have tiny scales all over their bodies, which makes them appear silver.
The common name “silverfish” comes from the fact that they are gray to silver in color and wiggle as they run in a way that resembles a swimming fish, Webb says. They shed their skin well into adulthood (you may have seen their scales hiding around your house).
