Silverfish

Scientific Name: Lepisma saccharinum

Order & Family: Order: Zygentoma; Family: Lepismatidae

Size: 12 to 19 mm (0.5 to 0.75 inches) in length.

Damp, dark, and cool environments like basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and attics.

Starchy substances, sugars, cellulose, and proteins; including book bindings, wallpaper paste, silk, and dried foods.

Nocturnal, fast-moving, and avoids light. They undergo hemimetabolous metamorphosis and can live for several years.

They are nuisance pests that can damage household items like books and clothing, but they do not transmit diseases to humans.

Identified on: 3/12/2026