If you’ve spotted a silverfish or lots of silverfish, it’s time to go into extermination mode. But eating silverfish could give your dog or cat an upset stomach, especially if you have an influx of them. They won’t poison your pet if they eat them. Just as they can’t bite humans, silverfish can’t bite pets. They don’t eat blood and are more interested in your paper products than anything on your body. Silverfish are essentially very shy to humans and are really trying to avoid you at all costs. This question stems from a rather unpleasant rumor that silverfish crawl into your ear and eat your brains or lay eggs in your ear canal. Silverfish aren’t known to carry pathogens or other potentially damaging diseases. These skins can collect and attract dust, which can trigger allergic reactions in some people.Īn older 2008 laboratory study found that silverfish may cause allergic-type breathing problems in people who were allergic to common indoor allergens, but there aren’t enough additional studies to confirm this. Silverfish do leave behind their skin as they age - a process known as molting. They tend to leave a yellow residue (fecal matter) in their wake.īecause silverfish are nocturnal and actually rather elusive, seeing these yellow markings or damage on paper or fabric in your house is usually the first sign that you have these insects. They can scrape their teeth against things like wallpaper, fabric, books, and other paper items. That’s where silverfish can damage your house. Because their jaws are weak, it’s really more like a long drag or scrape. Silverfish do bite into their food sources, though. Some people may mistake an insect called an earwig for a silverfish - earwigs can pinch your skin. They aren’t really strong enough to pierce a human’s skin. Scientists don’t believe silverfish bite people, as the insects have very weak jaws. They like to live in humid conditions and usually only come out at night.They’re usually white, silver, brown, or some combination of these colors.They’re very small, usually about 12 to 19 millimeters in length.Other names people may use for silverfish include fish moths and bristletails because of the three long appendages at the end of their bodies.Īdditional key aspects to know about silverfish include: Entomologists believe silverfish are the descendants of insects that date back millions and millions of years. Silverfish belong to the species Lepisma saccharina.
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