SILVERFISH

Identification, Facts, & Control

Latin Name

Lepisma saccharina

Appearance

1/4"-1/2" long silver in color with three cerci on the tail end

Introduction

Silverfish, aka mothfish get there name from their appearance. They have a silver sheen and are shaped thicker near the head and tamper down to the rear, much like a fish. Silverfish like the firebrat belongs to the bristle tail order of insects. They feature three bristle like appendages on their abdomen called cerci, two annae and six legs. When fully developed they are 1/4"-1/2" long. They can run very quick and are commonly seen in kitchens and bathrooms.

The Signs of an infestation

Silverfish are nocturnal and normally can't be seen during the day. They will normally reside in cracks and crevices until they need to forage for food, water, or mating. Silverfish prefer moist areas with high humidity so the key way to find them is to follow the water. You will typically find them most often in bathrooms, kitchens, crawl spaces, or closets upon turning the lights on. They tend to move in abrupt fashion of full speed dashes, then pause for a second or two and then take off again. Silverfish can be quite quick to catch or look at up close at times.