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Silverfish
Small land insect in the order Zygentoma

The silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum) is a species of small, primitive, wingless insect in the order Zygentoma (formerly Thysanura). Its common name derives from the insect's silvery light grey colour, combined with the fish-like appearance of its movements. The scientific name (L. saccharinum) indicates that the silverfish's diet consists of carbohydrates such as sugar or starches. While the common name silverfish is used throughout the global literature to refer to various species of Zygentoma, the Entomological Society of America restricts use of the term solely for Lepisma saccharinum.

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Description

The silverfish is a nocturnal insect typically 13–25 mm (0.5–1.0 in) long.3 Its abdomen tapers at the end, giving it a fish-like appearance.4 The newly hatched are whitish, but develop a greyish hue and metallic sheen as they get older.5 It has two long cerci and one terminal filament at the tip of the abdomen between the cerci. It also has two small compound eyes, although other members of Zygentoma are eyeless, such as the family Nicoletiidae.67

The silverfish, like other species in Apterygota, is wingless.89 It has long antennae, and moves in a wiggling motion that resembles the movement of a fish.10 This, coupled with its appearance and silvery scales, inspires its common name. Silverfish can regenerate lost terminal filaments and antennae within four weeks.11 Silverfish typically live for up to three years.12

The silverfish is an agile runner. It avoids light.13

Distribution

Silverfish are a cosmopolitan species, found in Africa, the Americas, Australia, Eurasia, and parts of the Pacific.14 They inhabit moist areas, requiring a relative humidity between 75% and 95%.15 In urban areas, they can be found in attics, basements, bathtubs, showers, kitchens, sinks, libraries, and classrooms. They can live in old books.16

Reproduction and life cycle

Before silverfish reproduce, they carry out a ritual involving three phases, which may last over half an hour. In the first phase, the male and female stand face to face, their vibrating antennae touching, then repeatedly back off and return to this position. In the second phase, the male runs away and the female chases him. In the third phase, the male and female stand side by side and head to tail, with the male vibrating his tail against the female.17 Finally, the male lays a spermatophore, a sperm capsule covered in gossamer, which the female takes into her body via her ovipositor to fertilize her eggs. The female lays groups of fewer than 60 eggs at once, deposited in small crevices.18 The eggs are oval-shaped, whitish, about 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long,19 and take between two weeks and two months to hatch. A silverfish usually lays fewer than 100 eggs in her lifetime.20

When the nymphs hatch, they are whitish in colour, and look like smaller adults.21 As they moult, young silverfish develop a greyish appearance and a metallic sheen, eventually becoming adults after three months to three years.22 They may go through 17 to 66 moults in their lifetimes, sometimes 30 in a single year—many more than most insects. Silverfish are among the few types of insect that continue to moult after reaching adulthood,23 with an estimated lifespan of around 2 to 8 years.24

Ecology

Silverfish are able to digest cellulose (a component of paper) by themselves, thanks to the cellulase produced by their midgut.25 They consume matter that contains polysaccharides, such as starches and dextrin in adhesives.26 These include book bindings, carpet, clothing, coffee, dandruff, glue, hair, some paints, paper, photos, plaster, and sugar. They will damage wallpaper in order to consume the paste.27 Silverfish can also cause damage to tapestries. Other substances they may eat include cotton, dead insects, linen, silk, leftover crumbs, or even their own exuviae (moulted exoskeleton). During famine, a silverfish may even consume leather and synthetic fabrics. Silverfish can live for a year or more without eating if water is available.282930

Silverfish are considered household pests, due to their consumption and destruction of property.31 However, although they are responsible for the contamination of food and other types of damage, they do not transmit disease.3233 House centipedes and spiders such as the spitting spider Scytodes thoracica are known to be predators of silverfish.343536

The essential oil of the Japanese cedar Cryptomeria japonica has been investigated as a repellent and insecticide against L. saccharinum, with promising results: filter paper impregnated with oil repelled 80% of silverfish at a gas concentration of 0.01 mg/cm3, and an exposure of 0.16 mg/cm3 for 10 hours caused a 100% mortality rate.37

Etymology and nomenclature

The scientific name for the species is Lepisma saccharinum38 (originally saccharina; Linnaeus' 1758 description here), due to its tendency to eat starchy foods high in carbohydrates and protein, such as dextrin.39 However, the insect's more common name comes from its distinctive metallic appearance and fish-like shape.40 While the scientific name was established by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae, the common name has been in use since at least 1855.4142 Most authors have historically treated the nomenclatural gender of Lepisma as feminine (also as specified in ICZN Direction 71 issued in 1957), but in 2018 the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature reversed this decision, issuing a new formal ruling (ICZN Opinion 2427) stating the gender of Lepisma (and all genera with that ending) is neuter, following ICZN Article 30, which resulted in changes to the spelling of several well-known species, including Lepisma saccharinum.43

Similar species

Other similar insect species are also known as silverfish. Two other silverfish are common in North America, Ctenolepisma longicaudatum and Ctenolepisma quadriseriatum.44 Ctenolepisma urbanum is known as the urban silverfish.45

The Australian species most commonly referred to as silverfish is a different lepismatid, Acrotelsella devriesiana.46 The firebrat (Thermobia domestica) is like a silverfish, but with a mottled gray and brown body.47

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepisma saccharina. Look up silverfish in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. Parkinson B. J. & Horne D. (2007). A photographic guide to insects of new zealand. New Holland. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-86966-151-9. 978-1-86966-151-9 ↩

  2. Phillips, Eleanor F.; Gillett-Kaufman, Jennifer L. (2018). "Silverfish - Lepisma saccharina". Featured Creatures - Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida. Retrieved 10 January 2021. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/URBAN/silverfish.HTM ↩

  3. Day, Eric (August 1996). "Silverfish factsheet, Department of Entomology". Virginia Cooperative Extension. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University. Retrieved 2008-12-25. http://sites.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/silverfi.html ↩

  4. "Thysanura – silverfish". CSIRO Entomology. Australia. Retrieved 2009-11-20. http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/thysanura.html ↩

  5. Jackman (1981). "Silverfish". AgriLife Extension. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-11-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001329/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg2.html ↩

  6. "Thysanura – silverfish". CSIRO Entomology. Australia. Retrieved 2009-11-20. http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/thysanura.html ↩

  7. "Thysanura Families". CSIRO Entomology. Australia. Retrieved 2009-11-20. http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/thysanura_families/thysanura_families.html ↩

  8. "Thysanura – silverfish". CSIRO Entomology. Australia. Retrieved 2009-11-20. http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/thysanura.html ↩

  9. Hoell, H. V., Doyen, J. T. & Purcell, A. H. (1998). Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. pp. 333–340. ISBN 0-19-510033-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) 0-19-510033-6 ↩

  10. "Silverfish and Firebrats". Iowa Insect Information Notes. Iowa State University. 2005-07-14. Retrieved 2009-11-26. http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/silverfi.html ↩

  11. Morita, H. (1926). "Some observations on the "silverfish" (Lepisma saccharina L.)". Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 2. pp. 271–273. ↩

  12. Sturm, H (2009). "Zygentoma". In Resh, V.H.; Cardé, R.T. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Insects (2nd edn.). Academic Press / Elsevier. pp. 1070–2. ↩

  13. "Silverfish – Pest Control Infestation.ca". http://www.infestation.ca/insects/silverfish.html ↩

  14. Yates, Julian R. III (December 1992). "Silverfish". University of Hawaii. Retrieved 2009-11-27. http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/Kbase/urban/site/silverfish.htm ↩

  15. Barnes, Jeffrey K. (October 6, 2005). "Silverfish". Arthropod Museum Notes. University of Arkansas. Retrieved 2008-12-25. http://www.uark.edu/ua/arthmuse/silfsh.html ↩

  16. Jackman (1981). "Silverfish". AgriLife Extension. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-11-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001329/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg2.html ↩

  17. Sturm, Helmut (1956-01-12). "Die Paarung beim Silberfischchen Lepisma saccharina". Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie. 13 (1). 1956. doi:10.1111/eth.1956.13.issue-1. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie, Band 13, Heft 1. Wiley Online Library (paywall). Access date: 2020-08-26. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Sturm_(Biologe) ↩

  18. Houseman, Richard (August 2007). "Silverfish and Firebrats". University of Missouri Extension. Retrieved 2009-11-24. http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G7376 ↩

  19. Koehler, P. G.; Branscome, D.; Oi, F. M. "Booklice and Silverfish". Electronic Data Information Source. University of Florida. Retrieved 2009-11-27. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig094 ↩

  20. Day, Eric (August 1996). "Silverfish factsheet, Department of Entomology". Virginia Cooperative Extension. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University. Retrieved 2008-12-25. http://sites.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/silverfi.html ↩

  21. Parkinson B. J. & Horne D. (2007). A photographic guide to insects of new zealand. New Holland. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-86966-151-9. 978-1-86966-151-9 ↩

  22. Houseman, Richard (August 2007). "Silverfish and Firebrats". University of Missouri Extension. Retrieved 2009-11-24. http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G7376 ↩

  23. Hubbell, Sue (1993). Broadsides from the Other Orders: A book of bugs. ISBN 0-679-40062-1. 0-679-40062-1 ↩

  24. Benson, Eric (January 2001). "Silverfish & Firebrats". Clemson University Extension. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/silverfish-firebrats ↩

  25. Sturm, H (2009). "Zygentoma". In Resh, V.H.; Cardé, R.T. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Insects (2nd edn.). Academic Press / Elsevier. pp. 1070–2. ↩

  26. Jackman (1981). "Silverfish". AgriLife Extension. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-11-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001329/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg2.html ↩

  27. "Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina): An Overview and their Management". Retrieved 13 February 2023. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340862380 ↩

  28. Day, Eric (August 1996). "Silverfish factsheet, Department of Entomology". Virginia Cooperative Extension. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University. Retrieved 2008-12-25. http://sites.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/silverfi.html ↩

  29. Jackman (1981). "Silverfish". AgriLife Extension. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-11-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001329/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg2.html ↩

  30. "Bristletails (Silverfish and Firebrats) (Department of Entomology)". Department of Entomology (Penn State University). Retrieved 2016-04-25. http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/bristletails-silverfish-and-firebrats ↩

  31. Day, Eric (August 1996). "Silverfish factsheet, Department of Entomology". Virginia Cooperative Extension. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University. Retrieved 2008-12-25. http://sites.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/silverfi.html ↩

  32. Jackman (1981). "Silverfish". AgriLife Extension. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-11-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001329/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg2.html ↩

  33. Hahn, Jeffrey; Kells, Stephen A. (2006). "Silverfish and Firebrats". University of Minnesota Extension. Retrieved 2009-11-27. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1018.html ↩

  34. Jacobs, Steve Sr. (January 2006). "House Centipedes — Entomology — Penn State University". Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 2009-11-23. http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/house-centipedes ↩

  35. Pehling, Dave (November 2007). "Spiders". Washington State University. Archived from the original on 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2009-11-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20100210000812/http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/inse005/inse005.htm ↩

  36. Beijne Nierop, Badda M.; Hakbijl, Tom (2002). "Ctenolepisma longicaudatum heeft ongemerkt bebouwd Nederland veroverd". Entomologische Berichten (in Dutch). 62 (2): 34–42. https://edepot.wur.nl/51909 ↩

  37. Wang, Sheng-Yang; Lai, Wan-Chi; Chu, Fang-Hua; Lin, Chien-Tsong; Shen, Shi-Yen; Chang, Shang-Tzen (2006). "Essential oil from the leaves of Cryptomeria japonica acts as a silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) repellent and insecticide" (PDF). Journal of Wood Science. 52 (6): 522–526. doi:10.1007/s10086-006-0806-3. S2CID 44205750. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10086-006-0806-3.pdf ↩

  38. Lepisma saccharinum - IRMNG https://www.irmng.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=10602510 ↩

  39. Jackman (1981). "Silverfish". AgriLife Extension. Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-11-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20091212001329/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg2.html ↩

  40. "Silverfish". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved 2009-11-20. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/silverfish ↩

  41. Linnaeus, Carolus (1758). Systema Naturae. Vol. 1 (10th ed.). p. 608. /wiki/Carl_Linnaeus ↩

  42. Harper, Douglas (November 2001). "Silverfish". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2009-11-20. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=s&p=22 ↩

  43. ICZN (2018). "Opinion 2427 (Case 3704) – Lepisma Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta, Zygentoma, Lepismatidae): Direction 71 (1957) reversed". The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 75 (1): 290–294. doi:10.21805/bzn.v75.a064. S2CID 91927954. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩

  44. Houseman, Richard (August 2007). "Silverfish and Firebrats". University of Missouri Extension. Retrieved 2009-11-24. http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G7376 ↩

  45. Yates, Julian R. III (December 1992). "Silverfish". University of Hawaii. Retrieved 2009-11-27. http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/Kbase/urban/site/silverfish.htm ↩

  46. "Thysanura – silverfish". CSIRO Entomology. Australia. Retrieved 2009-11-20. http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/thysanura.html ↩

  47. "Silverfish and firebrats in homes : Insects : University of Minnesota Extension". www.extension.umn.edu. Retrieved 13 December 2017. https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/silverfish-and-firebrats/ ↩