This is The silverfish (Lepisma saccharinea), or silverfish, is a species of apterous insect in the order Zygentomes and the family Lepismatidae. It is sometimes still referred to as belonging to the order Thysanurae, although this order is no longer recognized. ideal to tell more about you, give details about what you do and what you offer on your site. Your visitors want to know more about you, don't hesitate to share with your visitors anecdotes and make this text more friendly.

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Description

Measuring between 10 and 15 mm adult, the silverfish has a head with partially developed faceted eyes, head extended by two long antennas. Its flattened body is covered with scales. It is nicknamed "silver fish" because of its scales that give it a metallic appearance and by its rapid movements evoking the swimming of a fish. Its abdomen ends in three long thin extensions (the two lateral ones are called cerci, the median one, covered with bristles, is called the epiproct).

The young are white and take the silver color three to four weeks after their birth. The eggs are whitish and oval and measure about 0.8 mm in length. The silverfish being ametabola, the larval development is carried out by successive moults without notable modifications of the general aspect. A silverfish lives on average three years, although some individuals have exceeded seven years. However, the populations grow slowly in spite of the absence of predator.

Habitat

The silverfish is native to tropical regions and has subsequently adapted to temperate regions. Common in forests among dead leaves, in the litter and at the bottom of tree trunks, in homes, especially in kitchens, windowsills, bathrooms and toilets; it is particularly fond of dusty environments and humid and warm premises: a humidity level of over 75% and a temperature of 27 ° C seems conducive to its development.

Lucifuge, rather nocturnal, it is very skilful and fast to take refuge in cracks and other narrow passages (in particular under the baseboards) of the houses. It is generally found in a house because of its accidental displacement by the man via a means of transport out of wood, paperboard or paper such a box. Several species live exclusively in ants' nests, on parasitic or symbiotic modes, according to the species.

 

Food

Polyphagous, it feeds on detritus, foodstuffs, mold, mite exuviae, animal hair, hair on the floor, paper, cotton, linen, silk, viscose. It can remain several months without feeding and is therefore resistant to the "famines" imposed by impeccably clean homes1. Its presence in a human dwelling is therefore not synonymous with uncleanliness.

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Relationship with humans

Silverfish are not dangerous to humans. However, they are considered undesirable in homes, archives and libraries because of the damage they cause to books and paper bundles. In the libraries of monasteries, where they caused considerable damage, they were considered a symbol of the passing of time and the destruction of everything.