Silverfish or paperfish – what is crawling there?
Almost everyone knows silverfish – they scurry through bathrooms or kitchens at night and are considered rather harmless. But a similar species is appearing more and more often: the paperfish. Both belong to the family of silverfish but differ in lifestyle and damage potential.
Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) prefer moist, warm rooms, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, or basements. They feed on skin flakes, hair, or sugar residues and are not dangerous to humans.
Paperfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata), on the other hand, like it dry and warm. They infest paper, books, wallpaper, or cardboard – causing damage especially in living rooms, offices, and archives.
| Feature | Silverfish | Paperfish |
| Habitat | humid, warm (bathroom, basement) | dry, warm (living rooms, offices) |
| Food | Sugar, skin flakes | Paper, wallpaper, glue |
| Color | silvery shiny | grayish to matte |
| Damage pattern | harmless | Material damage to paper and books |
| Activity | nocturnal | nocturnal |
Conclusion:
Silverfish are annoying but harmless. Paperfish, on the other hand, are considered material pests and should be targeted – we recommend the Advion Paperfish Gel, which works effectively in hiding places.
