Class: Insects
Size: 0.5 to 1.5cm
Weight: Variable
Age: Up to five years
Appearance: Shiny silver-metallic
Sexual dimorphism: No
Food: Cellulosic materials
Distribution: Worldwide
Original location: Unknown
Sleep-wake rhythm: Nocturnal
Habitat: Behind wallpaper and under tiles; dark rooms with high humidity
Natural enemies: Earwig, spider
Mating season: All year round
Egg laying: Up to 100 eggs
Social behaviour: Solitary
Threatened with extinction: No

• The silverfish or Lepisima sacharina belongs to the Zygentoma species and is one of the most ancient insects that have lived on earth for more than 300 million years.
• It is found all over the world, but in Europe almost only in damp and dark indoor areas.
• Most people do normally not think of these insects as pests. In fact, however, they are a material and hygiene pest. Especially in libraries, they can cause devastating damage when they destroy valuable books. They can cause a so-called scrape-frass on the book cover, pages and wallpaper can even be completely perforated. They also eat starchy or sugary substances such as flour, semolina or oatmeal, which contaminates the food.
• Silverfish are harmless by nature. In large numbers, however, they can certainly cause damage by eating or contaminating.
• Silverfish live mainly in pipes/water pipes because they like warm and damp places. They only come out of the pipes into the home if they find enough warm and damp corners and dark cracks to hide in during the day, as well as enough food.
• The silverfish is named after its shiny metallic body, which is about one centimetre long and covered with tiny scales.
• Silverfish and their close relatives do not have wings.
• The characteristic appearance of silverfish is the long antennae, a broad thoracic segment that narrows progressively towards the hindquarters, two cerci and a central epiproct, and three long bristly appendages at the end of the body.
• Silverfish are nocturnal insects that hide in joints, wall cracks or wallpaper during the day.
• They only thrive in high humidity and mild temperatures between twenty and thirty degrees.
• Silverfish can be found in bathrooms and toilets or under the refrigerator.
• In the wild, they also settle in the nests of some songbirds.
• Silverfish are conspicuous for their unique mating ritual, which begins with the male dancing. When the female indicates that she is ready, the male weaves a long thread with his sex organs under which the seed packet is deposited. The female touches the thread, freezes and collects sperm with her rump.
• The reproduction of the silverfish has nothing to do with age, as long as the ambient temperature does not drop below 25°C, it can reproduce again and again throughout its life.
• After hatching, silverfish develop into adult insects within a few months to a few years, depending on habitat conditions, and go through a total of eight moults.
• Silverfish feed on cellulosic materials as well as mites, mould, sugar, textiles and adhesives.
• They are an important food source for spiders and earwigs.
• Contrary to popular belief, silverfish can hardly be considered pests. However, a heavy infestation may indicate mould or damp walls.