silverfish

     

Lepisma saccharina (commonly calle the fishmoth, urban silverfish or just the silverfish) is a small, wingless insect typically measuring from a half to one inch (12–25 mm). Its common name derives from the animal's silvery blue color, combined with the fish-like appearance of its movements, while the scientific name indicates the silverfish's diet of carbohydrates such as sugar or starches. It belongs to the basal insect order Thysanura, and the species is estimated to have existed for over 300 million years, originating in the Paleozoic Era. Often misidentified as a silverfish is the house centipede, another house-dwelling arthropod that exhibits rapid, fluid movement.

Trivia about silverfish

  • This wingless household pest with 3 appendages at its tail eats anything containing paste, glue or starch
  • You'll find this wingless pest with a metallic name in many books; not as an entry, but as a feeder
  • This "colorful" bristle-tailed insect, Lepisma saccharina, feeds on starchy items such as books & wallpaper