Silverfish (or related species like Firebrat)
Scientific Name: Lepisma saccharina
Order & Family: Zygentoma (formerly Thysanura); Lepismatidae
Size: Typically 12 to 19 mm (0.5 to 0.75 inches) in length, not including their tails/antennae.
Natural Habitat
Found indoors in dark, humid environments such as bathrooms, basements, attics, and kitchens. They also live outdoors under rocks, leaf litter, and bark.
Diet & Feeding
Scavengers that feed on carbohydrates such as sugars and starches. Their diet includes paper, glue, book bindings, clothing (cotton, linen, silk), cereals, and dead insects.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and move with a wiggling motion resembling a swimming fish. They are very fast runners and tend to hide in cracks and crevices during the day. They have a primitive metamorphosis (ametabolous), simply growing larger as they shed their skin.
Risks & Benefits
They do not bite or sting humans and do not carry known diseases. However, they are considered household pests because they can cause damage to books, wallpaper, documents, and clothing by eating the starch or sizing. They can also contaminate food sources.
Identified on: 3/2/2026