(Lepisma saccharina)
Biology:
Silverfish are flat, silvery-grey, shiny, completely wingless insects that can grow up to approx. 12 mm long. They are nocturnal, nimble runners and are bound to moisture, which explains their occurrence mainly in bathrooms, kitchens, cellars, laundry rooms, etc. They are characterized by their long antennae and approx. 3 mm long tail filaments. They are not very picky when it comes to food, preferring carbohydrate-rich substances – especially sugar confectionery (“sugar guest”) – but also live on dander, dirt particles and mold. Under optimal conditions, adults can live for up to 5 years, whereby they regularly moult as “urine insects” even as imagines. They can starve for up to 10 months.
Damage:
Silverfish are harmless in themselves. However, their presence is an indicator of increased humidity and mold infestation in buildings, as they also feed on existing mold growth. The animals themselves only cause problems when they occur in large numbers and can then cause damage to food, wallpaper, book bindings, pictures, leather goods or textiles through scraping and pitting.
