Bug Identifier
Silverfish
Community identification

Silverfish

Lepisma saccharina

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

Natural Habitat

Dark, damp, or humid areas such as basements, bathrooms, and attics

Diet & Feeding

Starches and polysaccharides; consumes paper, book bindings, adhesive, and certain fabrics

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and extremely fast runners; they undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis and can live up to eight years

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans but considered a pest due to their destruction of books, wallpaper, and household items