Silverfish live in moist areas, with a high humidity. In buildings they are commonly found in roof voids, sub-floors, bathrooms and laundries. They are commonly found in stored cardboard boxes.
Silverfish have a strong preference for materials containing complex sugars such as starch. Complex sugars are found in many materials including paper, glue, carpet and clothing. Silverfish will also eat other plant and animal materials such as cotton and leather.
Silverfish can cause significant damage to clothing as well as spoil food. However, it is their damage to books, photos and documents that is often irreplaceable.