What is the main food source for silverfish in residential settings?

In residential settings, silverfish primarily feed on materials that contain starches and carbohydrates. They have a particular affinity for substances that are high in these components, which include wallpaper glue. This is because wallpaper glue often contains starch, which silverfish find to be an ideal food source.

Silverfish are also known to consume other organic materials like paper, book bindings, and textiles; however, wallpaper glue is a specific example of a food source that is particularly attractive to them due to its composition. Their diet can extend to items like dead insects and grains as well, but in the context of typical household items, the glue used in wallpaper provides a direct nutrient source that they actively seek out.

The other options do not serve as the primary food source. For instance, while dust contains some organic debris, it is less specifically appealing compared to wallpaper glue. Wood can be a food source for various pests but is not a primary food for silverfish. Textiles, though they may contain some edible fibers or starches, do not typically attract silverfish in the same way that wallpaper glue does in a residential environment.