Silverfish
Lepisma saccharina · Insect, invertebrate, cold-blooded, wild
Animal Family
Lepismatidae, order Zygentoma, class Insecta
Animal Category
Invasive Species / Household Pest
Breed / Variety
Common silverfish
Conservation Status
Least Concern, highly abundant and often considered a minor household pest
About This Creature
Small, wingless insect typically 1/2 to 3/4 inch long with a flattened, carrot-shaped body covered in silvery-grey scales, featuring three prominent appendages on the rear
Physical Characteristics
Three long caudal filaments on the posterior end, two long antennae on the head, compound eyes are small and widely separated, agile running legs, shiny metallic grey to slate blue coloration
Behavior & Temperament
Nocturnal, secretive, fast-moving with a distinctive fish-like slithering motion, avoids light, solitary but gathers where moisture and food are abundant
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Originally native to the tropics of Europe and Asia, now cosmopolitan across temperate and tropical regions worldwide
Habitat
Urban/Suburban indoor environments, damp areas such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens; terrestrial and slightly fossorial
Diet & Nutrition
Omnivorous/detritivore feeding on carbohydrates, starches, sugars, paper, glue, book bindings, dead skin, and clothing fibers
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan ranges from 2 to 8 years, preyed upon by spiders, centipedes, and earwigs, high reproductive capacity under humid conditions
Special Characteristics
Capable of surviving for several months without food, ancient lineage predating dinosaurs, no danger to humans as they do not bite or transmit diseases
Ecological Information
Acts as a detritivore helping to break down organic matter in natural settings, though primarily recognized as a scavenger in human dwellings