silverfish - Diet

A tapering, primitively wingless insect covered with silvery white scales; tail 3-pronged; commonly found in houses; active at night, moves swiftly; feeds on a variety of plant and animal matter. (Order: Thysanura. Family: Lepismatidae.)

iLepisma saccharina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Thysanura Family: Lepismatidae Genus: Lepisma Species: L. saccharina
Binomial name
Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus, 1758

For the Eyewear, see Silverfish (Eyewear). For the band, see Silverfish (band). For the Girl Scout award, see Silver Fish.

Lepisma saccharina (commonly called the fishmoth, urban silverfish or just the silverfish) is a small, wingless insect.

Diet

The favorite food of silverfish is any matter that contains starch or polysaccharides, such as dextrin in adhesives. Other measures that may be taken to eliminate silverfish, at least temporarily, include the following:

A 1:1-ratio dispersion of borax or Boric acid and sugar is a reliable bait to kill silverfish (relatively non-toxic to non-insects). To capture silverfish, sprinkle plaster on a wet, white cotton cloth, put it in a corner overnight, near the silverfish's hideout.