Bug Identifier
Silverfish (likely firebrat)
Community identification

Silverfish (likely firebrat)

Thermobia domestica

Order & Family
Zygentoma; Lepismatidae
Size
About 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, excluding the antennae and tail filaments.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Warm, humid indoor areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, furnaces, ovens, and boiler rooms; often found around pipes and appliances.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on carbohydrates and starchy materials, including flour, cereals, paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, and some fabrics.

Behavior Patterns

Fast-running, wingless, nocturnal insects with flattened, scale-covered bodies and three tail filaments. They hide in cracks by day and develop gradually through repeated molts, with juveniles resembling adults.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to people and animals and not known to transmit disease. They can damage stored food, paper, glue, and textiles, while also contributing modestly to decomposition.