Silverfish

silverfish, common name for primitive, wingless insects of the family Lepismatidae. The silverfish, which has two long antennae and three long tail bristles, is named for its covering of tiny, silvery scales. It develops directly in six or more molts into an adult about 1-2 in. (1.27 cm) long. It has chewing mouthparts set in a head cavity and eats starch from book bindings, wallpaper, and clothing. The silverfish is common indoors in cool, damp places such as basements. The firebrat, in the same taxonomic family, is found in warm places, e.g., near steampipes and boilers. Silverfish are classified in the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Thysanura, family Lepismatidae.

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silverfish

Species (Lepisma saccharina) of quick-moving, slender, flat, wingless insect having three tail bristles and silvery scales. Silverfish are found worldwide. Females deposit fertilized eggs in cracks and hidden places. The hatched young are scaleless and have short appendages. Silverfish normally live indoors and, because they eat starchy materials (e.g., paste, bookbindings, and wallpaper), can cause much damage. They live two to three years and molt throughout life.

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silverfish

1. a silver variety of the goldfish Carassius auratus

2. any of various other silvery fishes, such as the moonfish Monodactylus argenteus

3. any of various small primitive wingless insects of the genus Lepisma, esp L. saccharina, that have long antennae and tail appendages and occur in buildings, feeding on food scraps, bookbindings, etc.: order Thysanura (bristletails)

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silverfish [′sil·vər‚fish]

(invertebrate zoology)

Any of over 350 species of insects of the order Thysanura; they are small, wingless forms with biting mouthparts.

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Silverfish 

(Lepisma saccharinum), a wingless insect of the subclass Apterygota of the order Thysanura. The narrow body reaches 11 mm in length. It has three long caudal bristles and is covered with fine silvery scales after the third molting. Silverfish reach sexual maturity after ten moltings; development from the egg to adult takes about three years. Adults are able to molt as well. Silverfish are thermophile but can be found everywhere. The insects prefer moist and dark places. They are nocturnal. Silverfish inhabit houses, food storehouses, stores, mills, libraries, and other places. They can infest sugar, bread, flour, groats, paper, wallpaper, and leather.