Silverfish facts SHeet

Insect

Description of adult

Description of immature form

Life Cycle

General Remarks

Silverfish

(Ctenolepisma)

Up to 15mm long. Often silver. Body flattened, slender, scale covered and tapering towards rear end (fish-like appearance). Antennae long and slender, 3 long appendages from rear of abdomen)

Young similar to adults but smaller.

6 – 36 months

Widespread pest that affects human foods, stored books and papers, wallpapers, starchy cotton and linen, glues, and pastes. Fast moving. Nocturnal.