Silverfish (Nymph/Young)
Scientific Name: Lepisma saccharina
Order & Family: Order: Zygentoma; Family: Lepismatidae
Size: Typically 0.5 to 1.0 inches (12-25 mm) when full grown, though nymphs like the one pictured are significantly smaller and more translucent.
Natural Habitat
Dark, damp environments such as basements, attics, kitchens, bathrooms, and garages; often found under boxes, near pipes, or in old books.
Diet & Feeding
Carbohydrates such as sugars and starches. They feed on paper, book bindings, glue, wallpaper paste, clothing (cotton, linen, silk), and dry food products.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and elusive; they move in a quick, wiggling motion resembling a fish. They undergo simple metamorphosis (egg to nymph to adult), shedding their skin throughout their lives.
Risks & Benefits
They pose no direct threat to human health (do not bite or spread disease) but are considered household pests because they can damage property like books, wallpaper, and clothing. They also indicate high humidity levels.
Identified on: 2/14/2026