Silverfish

Scientific name: Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus
(Thysanura: Lepismatidae)

Facts: Silverfish are considered very primitive insects. They are flattened from top to bottom and have a scale-like covering that gives them a silvery appearance. These insects are a pest in homes and in libraries, where they can damage books. They require very little water but do need a source of sugar or starch in their diet. Silverfish have long antennae and three long tail-like structures (cerci) on the end of the abdomen.

Photo credit: Bastiaan (Bart) Drees