Is it a silverfish?

The silverfish is a small, wingless insect commonly found in damp, dark areas of homes such as bathrooms and basements.

CC0 photograph via iNaturalist (research-grade identification)

whichbug identifies insects from what you can see. It does not identify bites and has no health information.

What to look for

Size	10-20 mm
Colour	silvery-grey to bronze with a metallic sheen
Shape	carrot-shaped, tapering towards the tail with three long tail-like appendages
Wings	absent
Antennae	long, thread-like, and prominent
Movement	rapid, fish-like wriggling motion

Where you'll find them

bathroomskitchensbasementsatticsbookshelves

fabric pest feeds on starchy materials, glues, and paper products causing cosmetic damage to books and textiles.

Season: year-round in heated homes, most active in humid conditions

Signs it's around

small yellowish stains on paper or fabric
irregular feeding marks on book bindings
tiny black pepper-like droppings
shed exoskeletons (casings)

Not sure? The lookalikes

vs firebrat	firebrats have a mottled, darker pattern and prefer warmer, drier locations like near heaters
vs earwig	earwigs have prominent pincers (cerci) at the rear and a flatter, more segmented body
vs house centipede	house centipedes have many long, spindly legs and a distinctly segmented body, unlike the smooth silverfish

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