Although silverfish have a creepy appearance and are occasionally mistaken for venomous centipedes, silverfish are not known to bite humans and do not carry diseases. In most cases, a silverfish will instantly flee to safety when it is disturbed. This insect is quite fast over short distances and is capable of hiding in cracks and crevices that humans cannot access. There is a greater chance of your hurting yourself attempting to chase one down than of the silverfish hurting you if you catch it. They hide during the day and forage at night. When they find a food supply, they try to make their nest as close to it as possible.
While silverfish are harmless to the human body, they are considered a household pest due to their consumption and destruction of property, causing damage to clothing, books, papers, food in pantries and wallpaper. Silverfish leave small holes in materials they bite and may also cause yellow staining. Although they are responsible for the contamination of food and other types of damage, they do not transmit disease. They are medically harmless.