
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.
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.