Common Name: Silverfish, Bristletail
Scientific Name: Various
Class/Order/Family: Insecta/Thysanura/Lepismatidae
Metamorphosis: No Metamorphosis
Introduction
All members of the order Thysanura have a teardrop/carrot/fishshaped body and get their common name of bristletail because of their 3 long, bristlelike or taillike appendages on the posterior/rear end of their body. Silverfish is a common name for species of this group whose bodies are covered with silvery scales. Silverfish are found throughout the United States and the world.
Recognition
Adult body length, not including tails, about 1/2-3/4″ (12-19 mm). Wingless with flattened body. Shape teardrop/carrot/fishlike, tapering from head to rear, and generally covered with scales. Color silvery to gun metal, 1 species with dark lines running length of body. Antennae long, threadlike. Posterior end of abdomen with 3 long, bristlelike appendages (2 cerci. 1 median caudal filament).
In addition, compound eyes small, widely separated; ocelli absent; coxae lack styli (fingerlike processes); tarsi 3- or 4-segmented; some abdominal segments with a pair of styli; abdominal sternites (underside of segment) lack median setal combs (tufts of hair) or if present, last abdominal tergite (upper side of segment) longer than wide; abdominal tergite with outer dorsal setal combs (tufts of hair) or if lacking, last abdominal tergite longer than wide. Immatures similar to adults in appearance, except for size. Scales appear with 3rd or 4th molt.
Similar Groups
(1) Firebrats (order Thysanura) lack silvery sheen, usually with mottled color, abdominal sternites (underside of segment) with median setal combs (tufts or hair) and last abdominal tergite (upper side of segment) wider than long. (2) Jumping bristletails (order Microcoryphia) have large compound eyes which touch each other, middle, hind coxae usually bear styli (fingerlike processes), jump when disturbed. (3) Diplurans (order Diplura) have only 2 appendages (cerci) at end of abdomen, body without scales, lack compound eyes, tarsi 1-segmented. (4) Springtails (order Collembola) lack 3 abdominal appendages/tails but usually have a forked appendage at end of abdomen, lack styli on abdomen, antenna short. (5) Larvae and wingless adults of insects with complete metamorphosis lack 3 bristlelike/taillike appendages on abdomen and styli on abdominal segments.
Damages
Feeding marks are irregular whether they are holes, notches along an edge, or surface etchings. Yellow stains, scales, and/or feces may be seen on infested materials.
Representative Species
1. Silverfish, Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus. Uniformly silver to steel gray to almost black, with metallic sheen; abdomen without setal combs (tufts of hair) on top but with median setal combs present on abdominal underside; adult body length excluding tails 1/2″ (12-13 mm); throughout the United States. 2. Fourlined Silverfish, Ctenolepisma lineata (Fabricius). Scales dark gray with 4 dark lines running length of body; abdomen lacking median setal combs (tufts of hair) beneath but with setal combs above; with 3 pairs of styli (fingerlike processes) on rear of abdomen; adult body length excluding tails about 5/8″ (16 mm); eastern United States, southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. 3. Gray Silverfish, Ctenolepisma longicaudata Escherich. Scales uniformly gray; abdomen lacking median setal combs (tufts of hair) beneath but with setal combs above; with 2 pairs of styli (fingerlike processes) on rear of abdomen; adult body length excluding tails about 3/4″ (19mm); midwest, south, and southern California.
Biology
The silverfish (L. Saccharina) female lays about 1-3 eggs per day, placing them in cracks, under objects, or left exposed. Egg hatch requires 72-90F (22-32C) and at least 50-75% relative humidity. Developmental time (egg to adult) is 3-4 months under favorable conditions, but may require up to 2-3 years otherwise. The majority live about 3 years. The most favorable conditions are 72-80F (22-27 C and 75-97% RH. The fourlined silverfish (c. Lineata) produces the enzyme cellulase in its midgut and can therefore digest cellulose. The gray silverfish (C. Longicaudata) female lays her eggs in batches of 2-20, placing them in cracks. The first instar lacks setae (hairs) and scales, scales appear in the 4th instar, and genitalia in the 14th instar. Sexual maturity is reached din 2-3 years and it may molt 3-5 times per year for another 5 years. Cellulose-digesting bacteria and enzymes are found in its midgut.
Habits
All these silverfish species hide during the day and prefer to hide or rest in tight cracks or crevices. They can be found almost anywhere in a house including living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, attics, basements, and garages. Silverfish infest commercial structures such as offices, stores, and libraries. They tend to roam quite some distance while searching for food, but once they find a satisfactory food source, they remain close to it. Within structures, they can be breeding in a variety of areas, including wall voids, in/under the subflooring, attics, etc. Silverfish can survive for weeks without food or water. Silverfish (L. Saccharina) prefer areas of room temperature (70-85F/21-29C) and high relative humidity (70-100%).
They prefer proteins to carbohydrates and are cannibalistic. Silverfish are often introduced onto buildings via cardboard cartons of books and papers from an infested location. They are pests of paper, particularly of glazed paper and paper with sizing, wallpaper and wallpaper paste, etc. Silverfish eat proteins such as dried beef and dead or injured of any kind. The fourlined silverfish is not so limited by temperature and moisture. It may be found throughout a building, in the basement, in wall voids, the attic especially if the roof has wooden shingles, and in the garage.
Outdoors, it occurs int he mulch of foundation flower and shrubbery beds, and under the bark of Eucalyptus trees in California. The gray silverfish can be found throughout a building from basement to attic, but are not found outdoors. Often heat ducts and ventilators from the basement serve as avenues for widespread infestation. They survive well in both dry and moist conditions. Gray silverfish feed on carbohydrates and proteins of both plant and animal origin. They are fond of wheat flour and beef extract, especially when used as a paste on paper. Gray silverfish prefer papers of high chemical pulp content such as onion skin, cleansing tissue, cellophane (almost pure cellulose), etc., as opposed to newsprint, cardboard, and brown wrapping paper. They readily eat artificial silk, linen, rayon, lisle (long-strand cotton), and cotton, but not wools or true/natural silks; linen is most preferred.
Control
The key to control is identification which directs one to the preferred areas of habitation and food materials as outlined above. Identification is followed by a thorough inspection of preferred habitat areas and where appropriate food materials are present. Once the infestation (s) is found, selection of an appropriate pesticide and formulation is followed by a thorough application. Many infestations are very localized and environmental modification can greatly enhance control e.g. controlling or eliminating moisture by repairing leaking pipes, sealing up easily accessible cracks and crevices, removal of potential food sources, etc.
Dust, especially inorganic, are particularly effective in wall voids, attics, crawl spaces, bathroom and kitchen fixture voids, subflooring voids, etc. Treatment for control of the fourlined silverfish will probably require treatment of foundation mulch beds and possibly the underside of shingles. Bookshelf treatment involves a thorough crack and crevice treatment of the bookcase itself, not treatment of the books. ULV treatment of heavily infested rooms is helpful in reducing numbers as is the use of a vacuum.