Bug Identifier
Silverfish (likely firebrat)
Community identification

Silverfish (likely firebrat)

Ctenolepisma longicaudata (likely; image is not definitive)

Order & Family
Zygentoma; Lepismatidae
Size
About 10–18 mm long, excluding the antennae and three tail filaments.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Warm, humid indoor areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, basements, wall voids, and storage spaces; also occurs in buildings worldwide.

Diet & Feeding

Feeds on starches, sugars, paper, book bindings, cardboard, glue, textiles, and other carbohydrate-rich materials; it scavenges rather than bites people.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, fast-running, and secretive; it hides in cracks by day. Nymphs resemble adults, and development occurs gradually without a pupal stage.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans and not known to transmit disease, but infestations can damage paper, wallpaper, books, and stored materials. It contributes modestly to indoor scavenging and decomposition.