Surf Sunglasses

David G. - Mentawais

Danny Hart - Photo: Wilderness

Kinsley Wong from XtremeBigAir Kite Boarding with Silverfish

Special Today - Buy 2 Get 1 Free

Standard ($49.95)	Elite Series Whistler ($99)	Elite Series S Rat ($69-$99)
Our Standard frame is perfect for the weekend warrior	Our Elite series is our premium line, combining Performance, Functionality and Style to keep the Hard Core at the top of their game

Lepisma saccharina (commonly called the fishmoth, urban silverfish or just the silverfish) is a small, wingless insect. Its common name derives from the animal's silvery grey colour, combined with the fish-like appearance of its movements, while the scientific name indicates the silverfish's diet of carbohydrates such as sugar or starches. It belongs to the basal insect order Thysanura, and the species is estimated to have existed for 300 million years, originating in the Palaeozoic Era.

An eyeless species of silverfish, or a close relative, was discovered in January 2006 in caves in Sequoia National Park, California.

Appearance

The body of a silverfish is approximately 10 mm long, excluding the antennae and caudal furcae. The metallic sheen is due to silvery scales, which only appear after the third moult.

Development

Silverfish require between four months and three years to grow from an egg to an adult. Silverfish may live up to eight years, and moult up to eight times. Under favorable conditions, silverfish may molt up to four times per year. At temperatures between 25 and 30 °C, females lay clutches of about one hundred eggs, usually in a crevice. If conditions are too cold or dry, silverfish cannot reproduce.

Diet

The favorite food of silverfish is any matter that contains starch or polysaccharides, such as dextrin in adhesives. These include glue, book bindings, photos, sugar, hair, dandruff, and dirt. Silverfish can also cause damage to books, tapestries, and textiles. Apart from these cases, the damage caused by silverfish is negligible, and they have no direct effect on human health beyond psychological distress to people who dislike them. Other substances that may be eaten include cotton, linen, silk and synthetic fibres, and dead insects or even its own exuvia (moulted exoskeleton). During famine, a silverfish may even attack leatherware and synthetic fabrics. In extreme cases, silverfish may live for several months without feeding.

Habitat

The silverfish is a widespread commensal in human dwellings, much like its relative, the firebrat (Thermobia domestica). Silverfish can often be found under refrigerators or around a well-heated toilet, if the crevices in the floor tiles are large enough. It is also common to find them near the crevices of the wood that has been bonded with starch glue (from which they feed), especially where the wall and floor meet. They are quite shy and most of them come out at night, when there isn't much human activity nearby. Firebrats prefer warmer conditions, and can be found in bakeries, where they feed on flour and bread, as well as other animal products.

Reproduction

A silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) without its silvery scales, which are only developed after its third moult.

Because of their nocturnal nature, the reproduction of silverfish has only recently been studied. The male lays a spermatophore, a sperm capsule covered in gossamer. Having located the spermatophore via a variety of biochemical signals, the female finds the spermatophore and takes it up for fertilisation, which will then turn into an egg.

Predation

Earwigs, house centipedes, and in rare cases spiders are known to be predatory upon silverfish.

Elimination

In buildings, silverfish can only exist in sufficiently humid, crevice-rich environments. If these two conditions are removed, the silverfish will not be able to survive. Other measures that may be taken to eliminate silverfish, at least temporarily, include the following:

• A 1:1-ratio dispersion of borax or Boric acid and sugar is a reliable bait to kill silverfish (relatively non-toxic to non-insects).
• The scent of a sal ammoniac solution should drive away silverfish within 24 hours.
• To capture silverfish, sprinkle plaster on a wet, white cotton cloth, put it in a corner overnight, near the silverfish's hideout. Or trap in small glass containers -- silverfish cannot climb up the smooth inside walls.
• Adults can be killed by freezing, but it is difficult to kill the eggs.
• By far the most effective way to be rid of Silverfish for sure is to keep an area or room tidy, limiting the possible number of breeding grounds they have.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Lepisma saccharina

Wikispecies has information related to:

Lepisma saccharina

External links

• Silverfish factsheet at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Harvard University fact sheet on silverfish and firebrats


Silverfish prescription ready sports water sunglasses and eyewear for Surfing or other water, snow or extreme sports and conditions. In and out of the water. In and out of the snow powder.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


	Web www.silverfish.com

Silverfish Information / links - Lepisma saccharina (commonly called the fishmoth, urban silverfish or just the silverfish) is a small, wingless insect. Also, Silverfish prescription ready sports water sunglasses and eyewear for surfing or other water, snow or extreme sports and conditions. In and out of the water.  In and out of the snow powder. silverfish, silver fish, Lepisma saccharina, fishmoth, fish moth, urban silverfish Silverfish Information / links - Lepisma saccharina (commonly called the fishmoth, urban silverfish or just the silverfish) is a small, wingless insect. Also, Silverfish prescription ready sports water sunglasses and eyewear for surfing or other water, snow or extreme sports and conditions. In and out of the water. In and out of the snow powder. silverfish, silver fish, Lepisma saccharina, fishmoth, fish moth, urban silverfish http://www.silverfish.com/

Elegant Insects silver jewelry Exotic insects in sterling silver, small editions and one of a kind, featuring Beatles, Moths, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Silverfish, and other unusual creatures. Insect Greeting Cards and interesting non insect jewelry. http://www.elegantinsects.com/

Sub categories:

Pages:

1

Previous

Next

Back to the link directory home page