Insect · GBIF taxon 1421091
Common Silverfish
Lepisma saccharinumAlso known as Sugar Louse, Fishmoth, Urban Silverfish
Silverfish navigate dark, humid indoor crevices using long, sensitive antennae and a fluid, undulating stride reminiscent of a swimming fish. Primitive insects that predated flying bugs by millions of years, they retain ancient traits including simple eyes and a requirement to molt throughout their multi-year adult lives. They feed silently on starch-rich household items like bookbindings, wallpaper glue, and cotton textiles.
NocturnalSynanthropicPrimitive Insect
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Bookbinding Glue
- Paper Cellulose
- Starch Crumbs
Predators
- House Centipede
- Cellar Spider
- European Earwig
ThreatsPesticides, low humidity, indoor predators
HabitatsHuman dwellings, damp basements, bathrooms, leaf litter
Life span2–8 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderZygentoma
- FamilyLepismatidae
- GenusLepisma
- SpeciesLepisma saccharinum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans and pets, though destructive to paper and fabrics.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Search damp basements, bathrooms, or old book stacks at night using a dim light.
- Prevention: Maintain indoor humidity levels below 50 percent to discourage populations naturally.
Predator (c) Kyle Elshoff, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kyle Elshoff · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Arden Hoover, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Gianni Del Bufalo bygdb, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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