FARMERS 
BULLETIN 
WasHINGTON, D. C. O81 JuLy 14, 1915. 
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chief. 
THE SILVERFISH;' AN INJURIOUS HOUSEHOLD 
INSECT. 
By C. L. Martarr, 
Entomologist and Acting Chief in Absence of Chief. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The silverfish (fig. 1) is often one of the most troublesome enemies 
of books, papers, card labels in museums, and starched clothing, and 
occasionally of stored food substances. Its 
peculiar fishlike form and scaly, glistening 
body, together with its very rapid movements 
and active efforts at concealment whenever 
it is uncovered, have attached considerable 
popular interest to it and have resulted in its 
receiving a number of more or less descrip- 
tive popular names, such as silverfish, silver 
louse, silver witch, sugarfish, etc. The species 
named above is the common one in England, 
but it also occurs in this country, and, like 
most other domestic insects, it is now prac- 
tically cosmopolitan. It has a number of 
near allies, which closely resemble it, both in 
appearance and habits. One of these, 
(Lepisma) Thermobia domestica Pack., has 
certain peculiarities of habit which will be 
referred to later. The unusual appearance 
of the common silverfish early drew attention Fie. 1.—The silverfish (Lepisma 
to it, and a fairly accurate description of it, ans Adult, Eolared. 
given in a little work published in London pal 
in 1665 by the Royal Society, is interesting enough to reproduce: 
It is a very small, silvery, shining werm or moth which I found much conversant 
among books and papers, and is supposed to be that which corrodes and eats holes 
1 Lepisma saccharina L. Thysanura, family Lepismatide. 
Note.—This bulletin is of special interest to housekeepers throughout the United States. It isa revision 
of Circular No. 49 of the Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
95807 °—15 
