THE INSECTLIBRARY FIELD GUIDES
SilverfishIdentification, facts & practical guidance
Silverfish are wingless, tapering insects with long antennae and three tail filaments. They are often noticed in quiet indoor hiding places.
Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated · Editorial policy
Identification and lookalikes
A silvery, scaly body is characteristic of the common silverfish. Firebrats are related but commonly mottled. Do not confuse either with a centipede, which has many pairs of legs along the body.
What silverfish eat
They can damage starchy materials, papers and some stored goods. Moisture, shelter and accessible food can support indoor populations. Different species tolerate different indoor conditions.
What to do next
To get rid of silverfish, inspect hiding places, fix dampness, reduce clutter and protect vulnerable papers and foods. Monitor activity before adding a pesticide; an occasional insect may only require physical removal.
Silverfish: species profiles
Explore 18 species profiles covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.
Gray Silverfish
Ctenolepisma longicaudatum
(c) Ren, some rights reserved (CC BY)Four-lined Silverfish
Ctenolepisma lineatum
Common Silverfish
Lepisma saccharinum
Firebrat
Thermobia domestica
Ctenolepisma ciliatum
Ctenolepisma ciliatum
Allacrotelsa spinulata
Allacrotelsa spinulata
Egyptian Firebrat
Thermobia aegyptiaca
Ghost Silverfish
Ctenolepisma phantasma
Allacrotelsa kraepelini
Allacrotelsa kraepelini
Lepisma chlorosoma
Lepisma chlorosoma
Mirolepisma deserticola
Mirolepisma deserticola
Leucolepisma arenarium
Leucolepisma arenarium
Showing 12 of 18 species. Browse all in Zygentoma →
Sources and further reading
- ipm.ucanr.edu - silverfish and firebratshttps://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/silverfish-and-firebrats/
References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.