Silverfish

Description:

The silverfish is a wingless insect that is almost 13 mm long. Its body is like a teardrop. The head has two long antennae and the abdomen ends in 3 caudal filaments. The silverfish is covered with metallic-gray scales which give it its silvery colour.

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Food:

Silverfish feed on products containing starch, such as book bindings, paper or taping glue, as well as dried beef, and may even eat their injured or dead peers. This insect can survive for a few weeks without eating or drinking.

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Habits:

Silverfish prefer places where it is between 21 °C and 29 °C with a humidity rate of 70% to 100%, but it can be found just as well in the basement as the ground floor, the house or the garage.

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Reproduction:

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The male produces a spermatophore (envelope containing several spermatozoa) which the female introduces into her genital tract. She will then lay 1 to 3 eggs per day which will hatch if the temperature is between 22 °C and 32 °C and with a humidity of 75% to 97%.