
Community identification
Silverfish
Lepisma saccharina
- Order & Family
- Zygentoma: Lepismatidae
- Size
- 12–19 mm (0.5–0.75 in)
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