
Community identification
Common Silverfish
Lepisma saccharinum
- Order & Family
- Zygentoma: Lepismatidae
- Size
- 12-19 mm (0.5-0.75 inches)
Natural Habitat
Humid, dark environments such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens
Diet & Feeding
Starches, sugars, and dextrin in adhesives; they consume paper, book bindings, and household flour
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and fast-moving; they undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis and are known for their shimmying, fish-like movement
Risks & Benefits
A nuisance pest that can damage property such as books and wallpaper, but harmless to humans as they do not transmit diseases