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Insects and Spiders · entry 39 of 52
Silverfish are small wingless insects that prefer damp and dark corners indoors.
The longer version
Damp corners attract silverfish because they lose water readily through thin bodies and need humid air to stay stable. Being wingless and soft, they hide during daylight and move quickly along baseboards, books, and stored paper when left undisturbed.
A flattened shape lets them slip into cracks too narrow for most insects, which partly explains their dislike of open ground. They feed mainly on starches and proteins found in paper, glue, textiles, and crumbs, so damp rooms offer both shelter and supply. Unlike most insects they keep moulting long after reaching adulthood. That appetite for starches makes them a familiar sight wherever books and boxes sit undisturbed.
Where this entry sits
This collection gathers small wonders from the world of ants, bees, butterflies, beetles, and spiders. Expect surprising details about swarms, silk, and metamorphosis, plus the strange everyday abilities of creatures small enough to fit on a fingertip. The full list sits on the Insects and Spiders page, where every entry is listed in order.
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Read 47An insect's skeleton sits on the outside of its body rather than inside.
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