Fauna
Insect

Common Silverfish

Lepisma saccharinum

Also 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
Common Silverfish reference1 / 7
(c) Christian Fischer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyBookbinding 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
Classification
  1. OrderZygentoma
  2. FamilyLepismatidae
  3. GenusLepisma
  4. SpeciesLepisma saccharinum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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