Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Silverfish
open-in-new
<p>The silverfish (<i>Lepisma saccharinum</i>) is a species of small, <a href="/facts/Primitive_(phylogenetics)/PqDfhuWm">primitive</a>, wingless <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insect</a> in the <a href="/facts/Order_(biology)/GKLJvIpt">order</a> <a href="/facts/Zygentoma/lHmtCArH">Zygentoma</a> (formerly <a href="/facts/Thysanura/GMqSdYHQ">Thysanura</a>). Its <a href="/facts/Common_name/3KNNezEU">common name</a> derives from the insect's silvery light grey colour, combined with the fish-like appearance of its movements. The <a href="/facts/Scientific_name/jgBqAhPv">scientific name</a> (<i>L. saccharinum</i>) indicates that the silverfish's diet consists of <a href="/facts/Carbohydrate/Geuuzxsf">carbohydrates</a> such as <a href="/facts/Sugar/jb5KXRHT">sugar</a> or <a href="/facts/Starch/gHAqGfJb">starches</a>. While the common name <i>silverfish</i> is used throughout the global literature to refer to various species of Zygentoma, the <a href="/facts/Entomological_Society_of_America/8dC8Ftld">Entomological Society of America</a> restricts use of the term solely for <i>Lepisma saccharinum</i>. </p>