| Gray Silverfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Common Name | Giant Silverfish and Long-tailed Silverfish |
| Range | Midwestern and Southern United States can be a pest in Southern California |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Thysanura |
| Family | Lepismatidae |
| Genus | Ctenolepisma |
| Species | C. longicaudata |
The Gray silverfish, giant silverfish, or long-tailed silverfish, (Ctenolepisma longicaudata), is a primitive insect of the order Thysanura.
Numbers[]
One of 5 species in this genus in North America listed at nearctica.com
Size[]
Body length about 15-19 mm (or 5/8 to 3/4 inch)
Identification[]
Body uniformly light to dark gray; abdomen lacks median setal combs (tufts of hair) beneath but has setal combs above; rear of abdomen has two pairs of styli (fingerlike processes)
Range[]
Midwestern and southern United States; can be a pest in southern California
Habitat[]
Cracks and crevices in all areas of homes from basement to attic: closets, storage areas, kitchens, garages, etc. hides during day, and avoids light not found outdoors
Season[]
Year-round indoors; not found outdoors
Diet[]
Paper of high chemical pulp content such as onion skin, cleansing tissue, cellophane wheat flour and beef extract, especially when used as a paste on paper; starched clothing and dry foods
Life Cycle[]
Female lays eggs in batches of 2-20, placing them in cracks; first instar lacks setae (hairs) and scales; scales appear in 4th instar, and genitalia appear in 14th instar; sexual maturity reached in 2-3 years; adult may molt 3-5 times per year for another 5 years.
