Silverfish

Lepisma saccharinum · The silverfish is a small, wingless, silvery-grey insect found on every continent except Antarctica's listed regions, living in moist places like basements and bathrooms.

Also called Fishmoth.

Silverfish
Photo: Aiwok, CC BY-SA 3.0
Silverfish
Photo: Gregard Pallotta, CC BY-SA 4.0
Silverfish
Photo: Christian Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderZygentoma
FamilyLepismatidae
GenusLepisma
SpeciesLepisma saccharinum

Where it lives

Damp, dark corners of buildings worldwide.

Fun facts

  • Silverfish can digest paper by themselves, because their midgut makes an enzyme called cellulase.
  • Before mating, silverfish perform a three-phase ritual that can last over half an hour, including a chase where the female runs after the male.
  • Silverfish keep moulting even after they are adults, which few insects do, and may moult 17 to 66 times in their lives.
  • A silverfish can live for a year or more without eating, as long as it has water.

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The Silverfish was the creature in a regional daily on November 12, 2026. Can you identify tomorrow's from its photos? Every day brings a new creature to place from kingdom to genus, map and name.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).