Ever heard of the household pest the Silverfish? Their nickname may have you believing that these household pests are a type of fish, but they are a part of the Zygentoma order. The Zygentoma Order have exposed mouthparts that are adapted for biting, antenna, and compound eyes – which means their eyes are similar to a large cluster of eyes! Their bodies consist of a variety of segments, with 11 segmented abdomen and 2 to 4 segments in their legs. Unlike other household pests, the Silverfish does not have wings, but instead crawls around. These pests can live for up to eight years.
The nickname ‘Silverfish’ is derived from two different concepts. The ‘Silver’ is for the light grey silvery colour of their bodies. While the ‘fish’ is descriptive of the way that Silverfish move - their bodies have a tendency to sway side to side, and their tapered tails flick, similarly to a fish swimming in water. The scientific name for the Silverfish is Lepisma Saccharina, which is indicative of its feeding habits, predominantly feeding on carbohydrates such as starches and sugars.
The reproductive system of the Silverfish can take up to half an hour and is three part. Phase one involves the male and female Silverfish intertwine their antennae facing each other. Phase two shows the male running away while the female chases him down. And the third and final stage is the pair standing side by side, while the males tail vibrates and impregnates the female. The female can then lay up to 60 eggs per reproduction period.
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