Silverfish and Firebrats

Family Lepismatidae

Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Some species inhabit buildings and feed on starchy substances including books and paper, wallpaper, curtains, linens, and food scraps. Outdoor species can be found in caves, in debris, under stones and leaves and in ant nests. These are torpedo shaped, wingless insects whose bodies are covered with very small silvery or brown scales.