Bug Identifier
Common Silverfish
Community identification

Common Silverfish

Lepisma saccharinum

Order & Family
Zygentoma: Lepismatidae
Size
12-19 mm (0.5-0.75 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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