The Silverfish
WouterThe silverfish is a small, wingless insect. It belongs to the phylum Arthropoda.
Silverfish are nocturnal and are often found in dark and damp areas. They can live for many months without food. However, they have been known to feed on carbohydrates and dead insects.
Adult silverfish have a length of around 12mm. Their body is covered with tiny scales and they are usually silver or pearl-gray in color.
They are classified in the order Zygentoma. In order to reproduce, the female lays a clutch of eggs. Once the eggs have hatched, the adult silverfish can reach sexual maturity in a couple of months.
During this period, the female silverfish takes up a spermatophore from the ovipositor. This spermatophore is spun into a Y-shaped silk structure by the male.
Silverfish can be a difficult pest to get rid of. They can also be difficult to find. Most infestations are chronic and rarely get completely resolved.
They are a type of cosmopolitan pest. Several species are found in the United States and Australia. These include firebrats, common silverfish, and tasseltails.
The silverfish’s exoskeleton is made of chitin. Besides being a pest, silverfish can be a natural predator for spiders. Earwigs are another natural predator of silverfish.
The life cycle of the silverfish is ametabolous. Unlike most ametabolous insects, silverfish adults can molt several times. Depending on the species, the molting period can range from 25 to 66 days.
A silverfish’s eggs are deposited one to three at a time. They take 19 to 43 days to hatch.
