Silverfish (often confused with Firebrat)
Scientific Name: Lepisma saccharina
Order & Family: Order: Zygentoma (formerly Thysanura); Family: Lepismatidae
Size: Typically 12–19 mm (0.5–0.75 in) in length, excluding appendages.
Natural Habitat
Identifying this as a silverfish based on outline and sheen, they prefer dark, damp, and humid environments. Common indoors in bathrooms, basements, attics, and kitchens.
Diet & Feeding
Carbohydrates such as sugars and starches. They consume paper, photos, book bindings, wallpaper glue, clothing (cotton, linen, silk), and pantry items like flour or oats.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and moves with a distinct wiggling motion resembling a fish. They are fast runners and avoid light. They undergo simple metamorphosis (ametabolous), shedding their skin throughout their adult lives.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Consider household pests; they can contaminate food and damage property like books, wallpaper, and clothing. They do not bite or spread disease to humans but can induce allergic reactions in some people. Benefits: Minimal, though they act as decomposers in nature.
Identified on: 2/23/2026